Iraq bombing is costing American taxpayers $7.5 million a day

Iraq bombing is costing American taxpayers $7.5 million a day

By Roger Caldwell

      “It’s too soon to say what steps the United States will take against ISIS in Syria. I don’t want to put the cart before the horse,” said President Obama last week. At this time in the world, there is confusion and President Obama is correct to remain patient, and develop a well thought out strategy and plan.

There are imminent threats in different parts around the globe, and America should understand that we can no longer afford or desire to police the world. The GOP lawmakers, the conservatives, the media, and some liberals argue that President Obama’s foreign policy needs to be more aggressive and defeat our enemies. But many political experts forget that today an international political organization can be our enemy, and in six months it can be our friend and an ally.

Internationally, the lines are blurred and it is costing the United States $7.5 million a day to protect Iraq by bombing ISIS. It is very easy when you are on the sidelines and telling the president what he needs to do. From early in the morning to late at night, the talking heads have all the answers, but all they really have is an opinion that really does not change anything.

On one hand the president says that the United States will not entertain a military solution in Iraq, but on the other hand there are over 100 bombing attacks against ISIS in the past weeks. It appears that the president is talking out of both sides of his mouth. America is bombing Iraq every day but he says, he is against using a military solution.

When President Bush made a decision to attack Iraq, he told the American people that there were weapons of mass destruction. There were never any weapons of mass destruction found, but now American companies own the oil fields, and the country is the second largest exporter of oil in the world. Even though Bush said he was not attacking the country for oil, now we control and own a large portion of the oil fields.

America and other Western countries can hand pick the leaders of Iraq, but there will always be a battle of who controls the resources. Today the name of the new terrorist organization is named ISIS, but tomorrow there will be a new contender. Oil flows out of the ground like water in Iraq, and everyone is fighting for the same thing.

It is very sad when a terrorist group operates on a barbaric level, and they decapitated journalist James Foley. But when America has over 100 air strikes in a country, people die, property is destroyed, and a path of destruction is left.

Our leaders need to tell its citizens the truth, when it comes to our foreign policy. Even though the United States has one of the greatest militaries on the planet, it must respect the sovereignty of smaller states.

Spending $7.5 million a day makes no sense to me, but protecting billions in oil profits is another reason to fight a war. ISIS is the new enemy, but eventually the entire country can become the enemy. In 2014, there are no friends or enemies; it’s all about what I can give you and what you can give me.

Who thought we would be back in Iraq fighting another war so soon. In the last war in Iraq the United States spent over $2 trillion. All Americans can do is hope that our leaders will get smarter, and turn off the funding faucet, before it creates another recession.