U.S. needs to help out America, not Iraq

As the pope recently said, “Not one good thing has come out of the Iraq War.” However, I feel there has been much bad from this war. Iraq is now divided into secular provinces with their own military. There is no central control, which could result in more civil war — a country divided cannot stand. This is not what Bush wanted.

There was more stability when Saddam was in power. We went to Iraq to protect our oil supply; we are even failing in this work. As the General Accounting Office has reported to Congress, every day millions of dollars of oil are disappearing. This oil may even be going to fund the terrorists. There have been millions of civilians displaced, taking with them hate against us, which will result in more violence. We have become the most hated nation in the world, losing former allies. The cost of this war is estimated at $2 trillion with more costs continuing. This has put our country in debt, which will result in more taxes and cuts to needed programs, including Social Security.

The U.S. with two other members of the U.N. voted against outlawing capital punishment. This shows little respect for life. The danger to our country is greater at our borders than in Iraq as thousands are illegally crossing our borders each day, bringing drugs, women for prostitution and perhaps terrorists.

Congress needs to pass a one-item bill securing our borders and later work out other details, instead of trying to put it in one bill, which is only allowing more to come across each day. If Congress would cut the pork out of the new budget, they would have more money for health care, veteran benefits, education and other needed programs. The surge in Iraq isn’t working as it is only spreading the fight to other regions.