Iraq: Front and Center Once Again

Bad news again for America and its men and women in uniform concerning Iraq.  On a day when 3 more Americans were killed in Iraq the Associated Press reported the Pentagon is prepared to have U.S. troops stay in Iraq for a decade despite the agreement between the U.S. and Iraq to withdraw all U.S. troops from that country by 2012.

 

General George Casey, the army chief of staff said "global trends are pushing in the wrong direction, and that the world remains dangerous and unpredictable."  Not much information there to explain the U.S. presence in Iraq for another 10 years.  It seems some in the military want another Viet Nam.  President Obama should immediately announce no such thing will happen and that the U.S.-Iraq agreement will be honored in full.

 

This unnecessary war has been a major recruitment tool for creating more terrorists.  Our men and women in uniform do not need 10 more years of dying in Iraq or being rotated in and out of Iraq for seven or eight times.  They have already been there and done that.  Another 10 years in Iraq will guarantee the U.S. will be in a unnecessary perpetual war with terrorists.

 

The world will always be  dangerous and unpredictable like it was during the "cold war" and like it was on 9/11.  It was dangerous when Iraq invaded Kuwait and President Bush 41 responded.  Bush had the wisdom to withdraw from Iraq after the defeat of Saddam Hussein's military and ejection from Kuwait.  Many of the people who supported the present war in Iraq was not happy with Bush's 41 decision not to occupy Iraq or go after Saddam.  Some of them now want another 10 years to occupy Iraq.  Those people care nothing about our men and women in uniform and would use any excuse to occupy middle east lands.

 

The war in Iraq over WMD that did not exist is in its 7th year.  It was never about terrorism, but it created people to join terrorists organizations and wage war against our men and women in uniform.  If President Obama agrees to occupy Iraq for another 10 years the 21st century will be devastating to our country and to our men and women in uniform.  President Obama should reject this thinking immediately.

Smoking Ban For Louisiana Casinos And Bars

The Louisiana senate on May 28 voted to expand Louisiana's smoking ban to include bars and casinos.  The bill now goes to the house for action.  It is an undisputed fact that second hand smoke is a danger to people's health and should have been banned in the 2006 legislation but the casino lobby prevailed at that time. There is also no question that casino smoke dangers more people because more people are exposed in a casino and are so tightly together. 

 

Four senators who represent the New Orleans metro area voted against the bill.  Alario, Duplessis, Heitmeier and Murray.  Alario attempted to exempt casinos from the ban but it was turned back.  Their no vote fell in line with the casino lobby.  It will be interested to see how those four senators vote on Jindal's plan to cut health care in the proposed budget.  Members of the legislature continue to put the demands of the lobby industry ahead of the people's needs.

 

On another vote that favors common sense, the house shot down a bill that would allow qualified college faculty and students 21 years or older to carry fire arms on campuses.  The vote was overwhelming 86-18.  The sponsor of the bill Ernest Wooton said he may bring it back next year.  Mr. Wooton, a republican blamed the lost support for the bill on politics.  Sadly, the bill was about republican politics and their support of everything the NRA wants.

 

Lobbying in Louisiana should be given the cold shoulder to those that care nothing about the needs and safety of our citizens.  Lets see if the full house and senate carry through with its vote to finally ban smoking in casinos.  It should have been done a long time ago.  The people of Louisiana will have an opportunity to see how the members of the legislature cast their final vote on the subject.