I'm still in taper mode for the big on, the Mercedes Marathon, in 2 weeks. I ran with the group again. Although, Dan and I ran a bit in front for the first 7 miles. We rejoined the group at Brownell as we took off for the last 6 miles. I got on a rant about politics and how we need to stay the course in Irag and that it will take a long time. This rubbed at least one of the folks in the group the wrong way and I was reminded that moms and dads of soldiers may feel different. Of course, I made a stupid remark about how they voted George W. in twice. And, there was some mention about how "they" have been fighting for 2000 years and nothing we do in the next 10 will make any difference.
I still think we Americans went into Iraq uninvited and violently. We shook up the balance of power and created a situation where fundamentalists and various factions brought murder, suicide bombs, and all kinds of evil to bear on those that may have not been directly exposed to such violence under Sadaam. And, no I am certainly not playing that jerk up as some kind of nice guy. My point is we may have created an environment that is not just reflective of some 2000 year old battle that was underway when we showed up with our "Shock and Awe". We made a mess. I was totally opposed to going in the first place. I was totally opposed to voting yes for George W. Bush, both times. But, my country (and by extension me) is responsible for the current street climate in Baghdad. I hate it. I hate that anybody is dying . And, everyone who dies, American and otherwise, has parents that likely wish they hadn't. I still believe we have an obligation to make what we created at least as good as what we found. That ain't saying much for Iraq, but I do believe it is worse than when we got there. To simply leave feels so wrong. Knowing American kids (the young soldiers) are dying does also feel so wrong. Hell, knowing that any human anywhere is intentionally causing harm to another human feels so wrong. War sucks! Mean people suck!
The "they have been fighting for 2000 years" feels like lumping 1.6 billion muslims into one group and saying "stick 'em behind a wall and let 'em fight it out". I have a hard time with that too. One need only hear about female runners being beaten with sticks in Pakistan because they dare wear something closer to running apparel than a burka to feel a morale obligation to right such wrongs. I sure don't know the right answers or definitively how to change the tide in such places. But, I don't think isolationism is one of them. At some level, what is wrong is wrong and it is not a theological question. Somebody has to stand up and say "stop it". "They", those that are willing to kill, beat, and maim in the name of theology are not going to say "ok". It will take a fight and some will get hurt.
And last, but not least, if we leave, "they" will regroup and we will hear from them again. Of that, I'm sure. Our leaving would be their victory. Their victory will be their rallying cry. It must end, not continue. But, it is also true that there is probably no easy way to be rational about the right thing to do when regardless of what option is selected somebody, somewhere will die. We will have Americans dying if we stay. We will likely see more Iraqis die if we leave.:(
Data
| January Total: | 151 Miles |
| 2008 Total: | 151 Miles |
| Distance: | 13 Miles |
| Time: | 2:01:15 |
| Heart Rate: | 148 |
| Pace: | 9:19 |
| Weather: | Cloudy Temperature-35° Humidity-85% |
| Route: | Brownell 7 Miler + Brownell/Crestline 6 Miler |
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