A recent report on “VICE” revealed the truth I have been reporting for a very long time; ISIS is the creation of the Iraq invasion in 2003 under a veil of lies and assumptions. Under Saddam Hussein’s ‘Ba’ath Party,’ Sunnis ruled the nation, often with cruel and deadly results for Shiites. As our government began to realize that we had lost the war, our military left Iraq, but had altered the big picture in Iraq. Shiites were now in control, and immediately began their revenge on Sunnis. A virtual civil war began. A small group of religious extremists viewed the situation as an opportunity to wage war not only in Syria, but also capture ground in Iraq.

ISIS stole weapons, and used military equipment left by the United States to strengthen its army. The truth is that ISIS cannot be defeated with a ground war. The same results our military experienced in Iraq and Afghanistan would be the result. This must be a Muslim War. The large armies of Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and other Muslim nations must lead in the defeat of what remains a relatively small army of thugs and villains.

So why is the Republican Party’s only focus another unwinnable war in the Middle East? The answer is rather simple and obvious; it fails to recognize the truly great dangers to the American people in the present tense.

The wage gap is eliminating the middle class as the number of wealthy Americans grows. The numbers of those living at or below the poverty level is also on the rise. Most Americans cannot support their families on one income. Campaign finance reform is a must; corporations and the one-percent cannot be allowed to buy elections and void a section of the first amendment. Congress must accept that the American people demand term limits to aid in the elimination of political corruption. Women must have total equality in the workplace and in all of society. Insuring that our young men and women can afford to attend colleges and universities should be a priority. Gains for the working class made over the last 60 years must be protected, including social security, Medicare, and health care. The minimum wage must be raised to prevent even more Americans from slipping into poverty or a life of homelessness. Sensible immigration reform can no longer be denied. Nearly twelve-million people must be allowed to end their existence in limbo. In a nation where there are nearly 1,000 billionaires, not a single American should go to bed hungry. Finally, we must end the division of our nation’s people intentionally created by politicians. Elimination of the Electoral College would end the label of ‘red’ and ‘blue’ states.

Our Constitution is under attack by special interests and a corrupt government. For the only purpose of obtaining votes, one political party is attempting to revoke a part of the first amendment with voting restrictions. The Christian religious right is seeking the repeal of another party of the most important amendment to the Bill of Rights and be allowed to institute a single religion as our national religion. The Patriot Act and other measures by the NSA to circumvent the fourth amendment must cease; the courts must be involved in any surveillance of American citizens. The tenth amendment has not been enforced for years, as the federal government has become an oligarchy as it claimed additional rights from the states and individual Americans. The fourteenth amendment guarantees ‘equal protection under the law’ for all Americans, but some want to pick and choose those who are covered. The right wing wants to make it difficult or entirely prevent minorities from their right to vote and repeal the fifteenth amendment.

The future of the majority of the American people is in jeopardy, but only one party is speaking to them. The defeat of ISIS will and must happen, but the defeat of the lives of most Americans is imminent unless immediate action happens now.

Op-Ed

By James Turnage

Photo Courtesy of Franco Folini

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