I planned to join the Iraq war protest today until I received an email from the Campus Anti-War Network. I am vehemently opposed to the war in Iraq and have been since the very beginning. I believe our troops have been placed in an unnecessary war with no clear mission and no clear exit strategy. I believe the administration knowingly distorted intelligence in order to lead our nation to war. I believe Americans need to protest this war and the actions of an administration that failed to outline a clear mission. Victory in this war is not possible through military strength, not because our troops have failed, but because the administration has repeatedly changed their mission. The American people were lied to, there were no weapons of mass destruction, Iraq was not sponsoring Al Qaeda and there was no direct threat to the United States.

I will not be at the protest however because I cannot support many of CAN's list of ten demands. The list is completely ridiculous and a departure from reality. The group demands an end to military and CIA recruitment on campus as well as an end to military research. The group argues that the recruitment process is predatory. This fails to recognize that the United States military is broken by this administration's policies. Soldiers and their families have been forced to further sacrifice due to a lack of sufficient forces. The National Guard and Reserves have effectively become active duty, a capacity they did not sign up for. This University is a public institution, funded in part by the federal and state government. They have every right to recruit and those who sign up for duty should be revered for their service to country. Hatred and protest directed at recruiters is despicable, like it or not, recruiters are Americans that have signed up to serve and defend our nation. If CAN has a problem with the military, or the recruitment process, they should direct this at policy makers, not those who deserve our thanks and admiration on a daily basis. CAN's opposition to the CIA also baffles me. The lies leading up to the war was based largely on bad intelligence. We should be so lucky if the best and brightest at this institution could improve the intelligence our nation relies upon for its security.

CAN also states its demand for "No strings attached reparations to the Iraqi people." I visited their website in order to understand this demand more clearly. I cannot however understand what reparations we owe the Iraqi people. Our country has spent hundreds of billions of dollars and thousands of American lives in Iraq. The administration and the Iraqi political leaders have bungled the reconstruction and sacrificed both American treasure and lives. I fail to see how the American people should be asked to hand over "no strings attached" money.

No matter your feelings regarding this war, the reality is the military is necessary for the security of our nation. The greatest tragedy of this war is that only military members and their families have been asked to bear the brunt of the burden. Our lives on campus are allowed to go on as normal while our military families sacrifice daily. I am in opposition to this war, but not to the military. Service and sacrifice for this country should be honored. I agree with CAN that we must take care of our soldiers on their return. However their demands against recruitment and for reparations to Iraqi's are misguided. The US needs a military and without mandatory service for all Americans, recruitment is necessary. I will continue to oppose this war and this administration, but I am disappointed that the protest today has been given an alternative agenda by CAN.

Joe Paulsen
Senior
Political Science Major