Ending the Iraq war?

On Friday,  just a little more than a year since President Obama declared an end to the U.S. combat role in Iraq, the President announced that the last American troops in Iraq will be gone by January 1.

V-J Day celebration in Times Square
V-J Day celebration in Times Square (Photo in public domain)

The war in Iraq will effectively, finally, be over, he says–the longed-for goal of most Americans.

When President Truman declared the complete end of World War II on August 15, 1945 (V-J Day), American citizens went wild; office buildings emptied out; there was dancing (and kissing) in the streets.

The world was safe for democracy; fascism had been defeated. Joy abounded.

The WWII troops came home not just to countless celebrations but to the GI bill, with its new opportunities for education, job training, and home ownership.

What will be the aftermath to the end of the Iraq war? Will the troops come home to enthusiastic receptions and opportunities that they tried to earn through their service to their country?

Will the troops stay home or be redeployed to Afghanistan? Is the war really over for them?

Will the ever-growing financial costs for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, always visible in our sidebar, start decreasing, or will the costs in Afghanistan increase more than the costs in Iraq decrease?

Will any money saved by ending the occupation of Iraq help the recently recognized 99% of the population, including our veterans, service personnel, teachers, doctors, social workers, laborers, etc., find jobs, safeguard their health, and keep their homes?

What will it take to make people feel good again about being Americans? What will it take to make the US safe for democracy and a beacon of justice and fairness?  Please send us your ideas.

And if you want to be inspired, read some of the stories at 7billionactions.org of people making a difference. Add your own story there and here. We all count.

Kathie Malley-Morrison, Professor of Psychology