Every Monday evening, I join a group of protestors who stand out on the four corners of Delmar to protest the war in Iraq. We stand there to increase public awareness of the war and to force people to think about the terrible mess our country has gotten into. Protesting the war won't bring political change in Washington and get new leaders into office that will get us out of the war, but it will encourage more people to get involved and work towards the much needed leadership.

I used to support the War in Iraq on pragmatic grounds. Iraq before the war appeared to pose a serious threat to our interests, and their leader, Saddam Hussien committed terrible acts towards their many peoples. It's good that Saddam Hussien is no longer leader and I have to wonder why we must spend so much in resources to try and prove that he was a bad guy. If he didn't do terrible things, then we wouldn't be there.

Yet, Iraq has had a terrible toll both on our country and the Iraqi people. Too many of our boys have been killed over their Iraq, and we've decimated a country in the process. Saddam did horrible things to his people, but the level of violence there are far lower then it is today. It's clear that our attempt to liberate Iraq has been a failure. We've instead slaved a people. Billions of taxpayer dollars have been burnt up in that country and we have nothing to show.

We must now get out of Iraq. It is difficult because we have created a mess, and ultimately the Iraqi people must clean up from us. We have left a power vacuum in the Middle East, likely to be filled up by another despotic Middle Eastern reigeme, Iran. Getting out won't be easy, but ultimately that is the only solution we have. I encourage you to get involved and make sure your voice is heard on the war.