Michael Haber – 1/2/06

This page was last updated on January 3, 2006.

‘Maybe when the wells go dry’; Michael Haber; Beaver County Times; January 2, 2006.

This at least the third letter from Mr. Haber since August 2005 alleging the Iraq War is a war for oil.

Other than “war for oil,” I have to admit I don’t know what points Mr. Haber is trying to make.

Below is a detailed critique of the subject letter.

“Much too often, critics of war are likened to feces-throwing individuals set out to discredit the accomplishments of the troops.

“During the Gulf War, my unit received a feces-smeared ‘any service member’ letter calling us baby-killers. Our colonel displayed it for all to see, and then discarded it. It wasn’t bothersome. What was bothering was veterans returning home to get discredited by people they least expected to get discrediting from.

“Joe Paxton’s letter (‘Support, don’t hate,’ Dec. 4) made me search my mementos.

“In a May 19, 1991, article, older veterans expressed their thoughts regarding the Gulf War. Three World War II, two Korean, and two Vietnam vets made remarks like ‘the whole thing is silly,’ ‘they’re overdoing it,’ ‘the hero thing bugs me’ and ‘stick it.’

“They noted they were conscripted and insinuated wars fought by volunteers aren’t really wars. Nowadays, similar groups praise wars fought by an all volunteer military. Talk about flip-flopping.

“Apparently, ridicule of the troops’ accomplishments doesn’t always come from anti-war socialists, as Paxton calls them.

“I assume a quick ‘mission accomplished’ with low casualties isn’t something to be ecstatic about, but a prolonged ill-conceived bloodbath is. I guess troops weren’t warriors in 1991 because we weren’t sitting ducks. It was a blitzkrieg, not a quagmire.”

[RWC] Is Mr. Haber claiming vets from previous wars showed disrespect for Gulf War vets? If so, this is the first I heard of it.

“No news media have to explain Iraq. Just contact the Defense Department for a casualty count.

“The supposedly accomplished mission of shock and awe has lasted nearly three years and now has overall casualties above 18,300 killed, wounded and captured.

“We’re just exercising Reagan’s-reaffirmed Carter Doctrine - protecting oil under the guise of spreading democracy.”

[RWC] I don’t know about “Reagan’s-reaffirmed Carter Doctrine,” but what would be bad about protecting the world’s oil supply? Like it or not, the world depends on oil. Even relatively small supply disruptions can cause major economic havoc.

“Overt military involvement began in Southwest Asia with Operation Earnest Will in 1987. From reflagging tankers in the Persian Gulf to elections in Baghdad in 18 years.

“Will it ever end? Maybe when the wells go dry.”

[RWC] Maybe it ends as the result of seeding democracies in the Middle East.