Letter to the editor: Why KU students should care about the Iraq war : The University Daily Kansan

Letter to the editor: Why KU students should care about the Iraq war

This generation foots the bill

KANSAN

Wednesday, November 28th, 2007

You and your children will pay for the war. Although George Bush has repeatedly insisted that the Iraq War is vital to American security, he has refused to ask his generation to pay for it. Instead, he is making you and your children foot the bill. Every dollar spent on the war has been borrowed. Someday you and your children will have to pay off this debt–or pay interest on it forever. The cost so far is $460 billion. The expenditure rate has risen each year. Currently the war costs $320 million each day. Rudy Giuliani is an enthusiastic supporter of the war, and Hillary Clinton has said that she expects the war to continue at least through her first term as President. By that time the cost to you and your children could approach $1 trillion.

Your contemporaries are making the ultimate sacrifice. The vast majority of the 3,867 American soldiers killed in Iraq are members of your generation. The same is true of the tens of thousands of men and women who have suffered injuries, including many who have returned to their families blinded or without legs or arms. As has so often been true in the past, “Old men send young men (and now women) into battle.”

You and your children will bear the consequences. The bipartisan 9/11 Commission concluded that (1) Saddam Hussein had nothing to do with the 9/11 attack, (2) Saddam Hussein had no connection with Al Qaeda and (3) Saddam Hussein never attacked America or American interests. The WMD claims proved bogus. From the viewpoint of anyone in the Middle East, the invasion and occupation of Iraq is understandable only as a continuation of Western imperialism or as an assault on Islam. Each day of continued occupation breeds more embittered youths who will be the 9/11 attackers of tomorrow. Long after today’s leaders are gone, the world will be a more dangerous place for you and your children because of the invasion and continued occupation of Iraq.

It’s your war. Today’s leaders will move on, leaving you and your children to bear the costs of the war, both material and human. You should ask hard questions of the leaders who have ordered your generation into battle but refuse to pay any of the price themselves.

Martin Dickinson

Robert A. Schroeder Professor of Law

Discussion

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vladislav

28 November 2007

at 10:34 a.m.

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Is this really the job of our law professors? I would advise the professor to stick to teaching law classes and leave his politics at home. If nothing else, take a job in a political science department. It sounds like he would be a good fit in most of them these days.

RPie

29 November 2007

at 9:29 a.m.

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Isn't it everyones job to question why our "leaders" take us to war? ...... Why our "leaders" are keeping us in this war? I say, Bravo Professor!

rogerpaulmartin

29 November 2007

at 2:01 p.m.

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An extraordinary statement. I've been wondering for the last couple of years why students at universities aren't appalled by the depletion of the treasury on this war. Why they're not up in arms. When it means, in effect, that their future will be passed paying taxes to service debt. And that's the happy scenario. The bad one is that an utterly stupid war drains us of resources so thoroughly that nobody wants to finance our debt. If that notion became a virus caught by the rest of the world, things will be much, much nastier. The silence of students is, indeed, disturbing. Thank you, Martin Dickinson, for saying what needs to be shouted from rooftops all over this country. Roger Martin

em1

29 November 2007

at 8:04 p.m.

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It amazes me that this professor talks first about the money that's being spent on this war. At least we know what's really important. True this war is costing a whole lot of money, and could probably be managed better, but just what do you suggest from your law department at the university? I see no solutions, just the constant whine from everyone that refuses to bring any real answers to the table in this conflict. Sound familiar? It’s the same thing your democrat controlled congress has been doing since they took over in 06. Yet their approval rating is even lower than the president's, and at the end of the day, for better or worse, we're in this one now. Iraq refused to admit weapons inspectors; Sadam thumbed his nose at the UN and the US for many years. Congress approved our invasion. Positive progress has been made recently in the region, and if you listen to reports from those who have actually served on the ground, they will tell you the same. I agree the whole situation is a mess. Getting out of it would probably be best left to the military commanders that are actually serving in this conflict, which, believe it or not is what Bush, and Clinton have both pledged to do. The only thing congress has attempted to do is cut off military funding, which is tantamount to murdering our soldiers as they fight our war on the ground in Iraq. When you have some real ideas for ending this conflict, let me know. If all you want to do is complain about the bill, perhaps you should run for congress.

beauj

30 November 2007

at 3:11 p.m.

Suggest removal

Excellent commentary, Prof. Dickinson. Thanks for saying what needs to be said. Indeed, our generation is paying -- and will continue to pay -- the outrageous costs of this unnecessary war.

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