How To Bring Peace To Iraq and Afghanistan

"We've got to kill the terrorists before they attack us again," we are often told.

The answer is more violence. Pulling out of these wars is "cut and run" and would only bring the U.S. enemies to the "homeland" to attack us. But after all these years of fighting, what have these wars gotten us? Endless war and intense bitterness toward us from the many victims of our aggression.

If that's not enough, the War on Terror spread to Pakistan and now to Yemen. It will keep spreading for the U.S. government is determined to kill everyone it views as a "terrorist," never seeing itself in that role, as it kills others.

But there is a solution. Instead of continuing what time and massive bloodshed have shown us doesn't work, let's seek peace by peaceful means. As the perpetrator of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, let's call a cease fire and invite all the parties to join us and discuss what it will take to end the fighting.

If this sounds odd to you, it's because we are inundated with propaganda to scare us into killing and destroying endlessly into the future. But throughout history, a cease fire and negotiation is the approach used to end most wars.

Eventually it will be used to end these wars. So why not do it sooner before there is more bloodshed and more families destroyed?

The cease fire will stop the killing while the parties talk. If they can't find a peaceful resolution, they can start fighting again and we are no worse off than we are now.

If a peace agreement is reached, the U.S. can withdraw, taking with it the people who supported America, for they may later be viewed as traitors to their countries. If after the U.S. leaves, the parties return to war, it will be their choice for in each case, it is their nation.

If war does return, the U.S. through the United Nations could become a mediator rather than a murderous invader, and as such, a true and respected voice for peace.

Dick [last updated, 1/4/10]