For many Americans who would love to see the war in Iraq put to an end, it looks, yet again, as though we will have to wait. It was reported last Wednesday that a 300-member transportation unit of the Wisconsin Army National Guard has been ordered to active duty overseas, effective Oct. 21. The thought of a looming war has become a deeply divisive issue around the world and, most recently, a primary issue in our nation's presidential election. Only one of this year's candidates, John Kerry, holds the most promise in ending the insurgency in Iraq and bringing our troops home to their families.
Despite the fact that Kerry's rhetoric on the war has only recently become his prominent topic of debate, he is taking a strong stance that holds out hope for lasting peace. When thinking about Bush's vision of the future in Iraq, all that appears is a seemingly dead-end road, paved by the failed policies of our current president. As with any election, both sides take different stances important to our nation and the satisfaction of our people, but the issue of stopping the war should remain the most relevant in our minds. What we need, in a word, is change.
A recent CBS poll showed 56 percent of Americans maintain things are going badly in Iraq, while only 42 percent felt things were going well. Moreover, the current administration has lumped the war with the Sept. 11 attacks and the decision to battle al-Qaida. It is important, however, that these two issues be viewed separately. A diversion has been created that has allowed this country to lose sight of the real issues in a fight that has simply produced more and more casualties with each passing day. America searches now for new leadership-leadership that will bring an element of hope and promise for this country.
Not only have the sentiments of Americans been ignored, but those of Muslims as well. Pakistan's president, Perves Musharaf, has spoken out to condemn the path of the war and its ignorance of the Islamic world. He joins his countrymen and many in our own nation in believing that the war in Iraq was not a mistake, per se, but certainly a complication of our original intentions. Kerry agrees with such statements, asserting that the diversion has long since moved past the claim that Bush simply had the best intentions when he decided to invade.
What is particularly troubling about this war is that insurgency has become dangerously commonplace. Even more startling is the fact that Bush's \misjudgment, miscalculation and mismanagement of the war,"" as Kerry puts it, have proven he is living in a ""make-believe world,"" fantasizing success without the help of allies. If Kerry is elected, however, we would have a new chance in Iraq, as only a new president can possess the credibility to convince foreign leaders to cooperate in the reconstruction effort. The reason Kerry's plan is so fool-proof is that he recognizes the challenges in his promises and the dedication required to start withdrawing U.S. forces while maintaining the safety in both Iraq and America. Yes, America is taking a chance in choosing either candidate this November, but taking the risk of replacing our president with Kerry's perseverance and loyalty to the American people seems an obvious choice.
I doubt many Americans would turn down a chance to return to peace; we just need to become more aware of the leadership that will grant us such peace. Though I empathize with the critical decision-making demanded of our current president in perilous times, I also recognize the bleak chance that his re-election can correct the mistakes of the last four years. Let us not reward Bush's failure with another term, but instead hold steadfast to the promise of a greater tomorrow with a more qualified candidate, John Kerry.
Jessica Sprang is a sophomore majoring in journalism.
