Is America really at war?

Here is the embarrassing question: Is America actually at war? We have a war president, war hawks, war planes, war correspondents, war cries, even war crimes -- but do we have war? We have war dead, but the question remains. With young US soldiers being blown up almost daily, it can seem an absurd question, an offensive one. With thousands of Iraqis killed by American firepower, it can seem a heartless question, as if the dead care whether strict definitions of ''war" are fulfilled. There can be no question that Iraq is in a state of war, and that, whatever its elements of post-Saddam sectarian conflict, the warfare is being driven from the Pentagon.

But, regarding the Iraq conflict as it involves the United States, something essential is lacking that would make it a war -- and that is an enemy.

This is a very thought provoking article which echoes some of my earlier posts.

It makes the point that the Iraqi insurgency is completely understandable if you put yourselves in their place. Invaded, bombed, relatives murdered, occupied by an unwelcome force, and the loss of electricity and sewer for months on end. I would start shooting at the Americans as well.

So we create an enemy and then spend billions fighting them. Just more of that good Neo-con logic that we have come to appreciate so much.

The real sin is that this administration is taking money from our much needed social programs to pay for this much unneeded "war".