Illustration by Arnulfo Bermudez

There was never any question that the U.S. (and British) forces would topple Saddam Hussein and accomplish their strategic initiatives. Last week, with images of Saddam's statues falling, and soldiers lounging around in his gorgeous palaces, it became evident that our remarkable display of technology and firepower had overcome the elite Republican Guard and toppled the Hussein power stranglehold.

For anyone in the world, trying to fight the U.S. military is like throwing rocks at somebody who has a machine gun. We spend more money on the military than the next 15 countries behind us combined.

Nope, our military strength was never in doubt.

Bill Wetzel columnist

What is in doubt is our ability to deal with the aftermath. What is in doubt is the fact that well-connected companies are going into Iraq with contracts they never had to bid for, and will be making billions at the taxpayers' expense. Not rich taxpayers, mind you, but poor and needy ones. Like returning veterans, for example. What is in doubt is our ability to stick it out and implement proper aid for the "liberated" people. Even more in doubt is our ability to work together with a region (and world) we tremendously pissed off. The United States, specifically President Rove · I mean Bush, has proven it cannot work with other countries diplomatically.

Are we going to give the Iraqi people real freedom or freedom like we gave Bosnians and Afghanis? These are countries ruled by thugs, warlords, pimps and gangsters. This is nothing new ÷ our last several conservative administrations have a history of tossing out dictators and backing thugs for monetary benefit.

Humanitarian aid?

Our administration "forgot" to include Afghanistan in their budget last year. Oops. They pop off about regime change and building democracy, but never back it up. They can't even back up aid in their own country. After Sept. 11, they approved billions to be given to the city of New York. They also gave millions to airlines and travel agencies to alleviate their business crisis. New York has yet to see a significant portion of that money, and the airline cash was used as a wealthy stockholder bailout. Heaven forbid that one of those guys might get down to his last 50 million. What an outrage!

Meanwhile, back in the real world ·

A baggage handler with two kids who scrimps by on 15 grand a year is fired and has to look for one of those nonexistent 2.5 million jobs that this country once had three years ago. Much like Saddam, you'll find that our leader has never had to miss a meal, while people in his country suffer to find one.

And to think this guy ran for office in 2000 on a liberal agenda. Whatever happened to "compassionate conservatism?"

Our neglect transcends to the Middle East issue. This is an entire regional effort, not just an Iraqi one. Keep in mind that we are trying to establish a democracy in a region and country that has had autocratic regimes for thousands of years. The typical misinformed, media-droned American has been led to believe that we are going to waltz in, kick ass, make a democracy and get out. That's not going to happen. We will occupy Iraq because this is what great powers do. We will stay there, like we have in Korea, and spend lots of money for the next 10 to 20 years. If we don't, the "liberation" crumbles and factions with scores to settle will be fighting and murdering for what's left over. Like in Afghanistan. Like in Bosnia.

From here on out, political and diplomatic tact must be used in order for America to heal the angry wounds around the world that were gashed open as a result of action in Iraq. Not to mention, the United States is cutting benefits for our deprived soldiers. And not to forget, our government has the responsibility to protect the American citizens who live near viable targets who are, by geographical fault, at a greater risk of terrorist attacks due to the anti-American sentiment our leaders have created.

Too much has to go right for this to work, and our political maladroitness leading up to the present places the Iraqi aftermath in jeopardy. Any way you put it, people like you and me lose. Average people with real problems. The genuine tragedy is the American people are worse off and less safe than we were one month ago.

There is no moral clarity in that.