North Korea: Lets Not Forget Iraqs Greatest Lesson

Of the many lessons Americans should take away from the Iraq War debacle, one of the greatest and more important lessons is that the U.S. government, indeed all governments, lie. Shock and awe. That was the battle cry of the Iraq War. Its a military principle meaning rapid dominance. Predicated on the military success of the Gulf War, the Iraq war was to be quick and easy through the employment of rapid and overwhelming firepower to destroy the Iraqi will to fight. President Bushs Mission Accomplished speech a month and eleven days later, exemplified that expectation. But quick and easy it was not. The war raged on for approximately another nine years. "Shock and awe failed Iraq. The idea behind the theory was that it would shorten the war and thereby reduce its devastation and save lives. Instead, the war took the lives of 4,487 and wounded 32,226 of Americas warriors. It took the lives of tens of thousands coalition troops, Iraqis, and contractors. It destroyed the lives of the families of millions of innocent Americans, Iraqis, and those of other nations. The Iraq War cost the U.S. more than a trillion dollars. Widespread waste and fraud were prevalent. Six billion dollars may have been stolen. All in all, the U.S. cannot account for thirtytwo billion dollars. Today, Iran has more influence in Iraq than they had prior to 2003. And today, Iraq is a failed state, teetering on the brink of another sectarian bloodbath, and beset by chronic political deadlock and economic disaster. Its social fabric has been all but shredded by nearly a decade of brutal occupation by the U.S. military and now by the rule of an Iraqi government rife with sectarian infighting, according to Dahr Jamail, a reporter who covered the Iraq War. The only true winners in war are those who profit from it. Of the many lessons Americans should take away from the Iraq War debacle, one of the greatest

and more important lessons is that the U.S. government, indeed all governments, lie. Now, after nine years of war in Iraq, and while Americas longest war is still raging in Afghanistan, the U.S. has threatened military action against Iran and faces the threat of another war from North Korea. As the drums of war begin, lets not forget that governments lie. Lets not heed the propaganda from either side. We need to pay close attention folks because the United States may be equally culpable in the threat to peace. Bellicosity, provocative intimidation, and warnings have come from both sides. Consider Global Research organizations report of What is Behind the US-North Korea Conflict. North Korea is not Iraq. They would be a formidable opponent. Shock and awe turned into a disaster for Iraq and America. North Korea could be even more so. Lets not jump to premature conclusions.