Thursday, December 16, 2004

More on PTSS in Iraq

Here's another story on the burgeoning crisis of soldiers returning with Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome from Iraq. So let's do a little tally here.

Goal:
Establish American hegemony in the Middle East, get control of long-term oil supplies, not allow Iraq to become a haven for terrorism, establish a democratic state allied with the US.

Costs:
Impoverishing the Iraqi people even more than they were under Saddam, making Iraq the world's terrorism center, death of 1300 Americans, around 150 allied troops, and many thousands of Iraqis; many more thousands of Iraqis and Americans wounded, the long-term damage to the physical and mental health of thousands of Americans that taxpayers will be paying for over the next 50 years, skyrocketing American debts, and the damage of America's image abroad.

Make your own judgments as to whether the costs are worth the goal. I know I have.