War on Iraq

As everyone knows, on September 11, 2001 terrorists from Iraq attacked our homeland. We have been over there now for, almost, four years and there have been mixed emotions from everyone about what is really happening over seas. Are we helping? Or are we only hurting ourselves even more? It has been said that the war in Iraq is supposed to be benefiting us, as well as them, but there are many factors that have proved to be more hurtful rather than helpful. We are losing family members and friends because of the shootings and bombings that are going on, gas and other prices have gone through the roof do to us being over there, and terrorism has struck America, as well as parts of Europe.

First of all, our soldiers are over there losing their lives because the people in the Middle East are so bitter and hostile toward us. Brutality seems to be bred into the people of Middle Eastern countries. Children as young as ten and eleven are armed and trying to kill our troops. I can't imagine how hard it would be to walk up to a child with a gun, and threaten to kill them if they don't surrender. Not only are our troops over there having their lives threatened, but they are also missing out on a life here, with their families that they have created. I feel, especially bad for the men that had to go over there and leave their pregnant wives at home. The babies that are born have had to live the first couple of years without a father. Some of the fathers have even been killed, leaving behind only a widow and small child to mourn their death. Some of the young men that were sent over seas never planned to be shipped out. They only joined the military forces to have a way through college. The saddest thing to see is a young boy, straight out of high school getting on a ship or plane, gun in hand, leaving home, to go kill people they have never even met. Even though the military is the backbone of our country, it is still sad to see all of those men that have to leave for a war that doesn't even appear to be getting settled.

Secondly, the financial stability of the United States is slowly going down the drain. We only have so much money for ourselves, let alone enough to give an entire country full of poverty. It seems that the price of everything has gone up therefore, crime rates have gone up. I know how hard it is as a lower middle class citizen to pay for everything. I can't even fathom what it would be like to be on welfare and food stamps and still have to pay for gas, and other household needs. Gas prices have skyrocketed. I can remember when it used to be .98 cents a gallon, now it is three dollars. How most people can still afford it, is beyond comprehension to me. House taxes just went up also. How much money does the government think that we have? The USA is trillions of dollars in debt, yet we still seem to be able to squeeze out a few million more for a country