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.