An Apology for Peace

President Bush is spending this holiday season pondering what to do about the mess he created in Iraq. “Cut and run,” “Phased withdrawal,” “Stay the course,” and “Double down” or “Surge” have been offered as options. But these political-military options fail to treat the people of Iraq as rationale and moral beings.

President Bush should speak directly to the Iraqi people. “I’m sorry,” would be the appropriate opening line. “I’m sorry for bringing death and destruction on your country. I now know you had nothing to do with 9/11. I now know you had no weapons of mass destruction and no plans to harm us. Please forgive me.” The President should then turn to his American audience and repeat, “I’m sorry.”

President Bush then needs to announce that he is halting all offensive military actions in Iraq. Pledge to pay reparations for the harm we have done to their nation. Finally, ask the Iraqi people to allow our military to leave peacefully.

The violence being inflicted on the Iraqi people is horrible and increasing. In addition to the “collateral damage deaths,” murder, suicide, kidnaping, theft, water pollution, diseases, hunger and numerous other forms of violence are much higher than before our invasion.

The Iraqi people deserve an apology from those who launched this violence upon them. Al Qaeda might have started the “war on terror,” but we started the war on Iraqi. An apology is the least we can offer.

The moral option offers the best chance of reducing violence. The “collateral damage” caused by our military would stop immediately. American soldiers should limit their actions to self defense.

Will the Iraqi and al Qaeda forces quit firing on us? Probably not everyone, at least at first. But apologies are moral messages that go a long way toward healing broken relationships. In virtually all cultures and religious communities, the individual receiving a sincere public apology has a moral obligation to consider, if not accept the offer. Iraqis are very religious people. Seeing the American President sincerely apologize and offer reparations would have real impact on the average Iraqi citizen who just wants this violence to end.

Iraqis would have less reason to attack our retreating soldiers if they had an apology and were busy filling out reparation’s forms. Additionally, many experts believe the al Qaeda suicide squads, which were not in Iraqi before we invaded, will be run out by the Iraqis once we leave.

For those of us praying for “Peace on Earth” this holiday season, let’s try to see this war from the perspective of the average Iraqi. They want the violence to end so they can get on with a life. They blame us and want us to leave. If not check quickly, the violence could easily spread beyond Iraq.

Would you think more or less of President Bush if he addressed the world and said, “I’m sorry”?

A grave mistake has been made. We need to end our war on Iraq immediately. We owe the people of Iraq and apology. If President Bush is not big enough to give the apology for us, we need to think of ways to tell the people of Iraq that we believe in their humanity and we are truly sorry.

George, Let go of the fucking rope!

It was close to 50 years ago. Our boy scout troop (Iowa 171) had made its way north, crossing the border into the “Land of a Thousand Lakes.”

It was probably early June. We would leave immediately after school let out. The Minnesota waters were still a bit chilly but the mosquito population was minimal compared to want it would be in weeks to come.

Being young, the cold water wasn’t that much of an issue.

So, it was that I decided this was my year to water ski.


Donning a bright orange vest life jacket, I jumped off the dock into the chilly waters. A fellow scout dropped me two skis. I struggled to get them on but finally I was ready. I recall sitting in the water, my knees were bent, and the tips of the skis pointing just above the water.

The motor boat swung around and they threw me the rope. I grabbed it with both hands.

I get last minute instructions. “Hang on tight. Keep your skis pointed up. After a successful victory lap around the lake, the boat will swing by the dock and you just let go of the rope.”

As with many things in life, that victory lap was not to be. It started well - at least it seemed right at first. As the boat picked up speed, I started rising out of the water. Bouncing across the surface of the lake, I never quit gained control of the situation.

Then it got worse. My right ski dipped down, I lost both skis and total control of the situation. But I hung onto the rope!

I’m sure there is some scientific principle that explains what happened next but either it had not been covered in my science classes or missed that day. Rather than being dragged across the surface of the water, I felt my body diving into the lake.

But I didn’t let go of the rope - at least not right away. I hung on and kept sinking deeper into one of Minnesota’s 10,000 lakes.

To this day I remember thinking, “Should I let go of the rope?” I really didn’t want to. All my scouting buddies were looking on. If I let go there would be no victory lap.

As I sank deeper and deeper and my brain was running out of oxygen, a voice inside my head finally ordered my hand to “Let go of the rope!”

As I read the morning news about how President Bush is thinking over his plans for his disastrous war on Iraq, I have some advice for him.

George, let go of the fucking rope!