The reasons for invading Iraq in 2003 have been debated and analyzed in full. But no matter what conclusions you've made, the U.S. is now left with a serious situation that deserves careful attention. We must determine how long -- or even if -- the military stays. Is it time to start bringing troops home or is more time needed to complete our goals?
The U.S. military is the single largest consumer of oil in the world and the world’s larger polluter, generating 750,000 tons of toxic waste annually. It maintains over 700 bases worldwide, contaminating local communities and causing increased rates of cancer, kidney disease, birth defects and miscarriages.
Nowhere is this more evident than in Iraq, where oil spills have devastated bird and marine life, bombs have destroyed water and sewage plants, and the use of massive amounts of toxic depleted uranium has led to skyrocketing rates of cancer and birth defects.
In addition, many Americans have long questioned and resented American dependence on foreign oil -- including that of Iraq. If we wish to break from that control, we must invest in clean, reusable energy. Many Americans have long committed to that, and an increasing number of corporations and leaders. And why not? We've been pioneers in every industry, science, we can in this, too. We can lead the way in green energy movement and free ourselves from our vulnerability to Iraq and its oil production. In addition, we cannot base the decision to remove our troops on the idea of whether Iran would take control over Iraq, a political future current research and facts cannot prove.
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