When "Anti-War" Becomes Synonymous with Being "Pro-Peace"

"They have not wanted peace at all; they have wanted to be spared war- as though the absence of war was the same as peace."
- Dorothy Thompson

When the goals of an anti-war humanitarian and the pro-victory movement are one and the same: Peace and stability for Iraq.....by staying the course and completing the mission.

Angelina Jolie, who does not share her father's conservatism, nevertheless, is an anti-war proponent whom I can respect. She has come to the realization, through her experience, that the path to peace will be paved not by a hasty retreat, but by a committed resolve to remain until the task is complete. From The Washington Post, Angelina Jolie writes:

My visit left me even more deeply convinced that we not only have a moral obligation to help displaced Iraqi families, but also a serious, long-term, national security interest in ending this crisis.

Today's humanitarian crisis in Iraq -- and the potential consequences for our national security -- are great. Can the United States afford to gamble that 4 million or more poor and displaced people, in the heart of Middle East, won't explode in violent desperation, sending the whole region into further disorder?

What we cannot afford, in my view, is to squander the progress that has been made. In fact, we should step up our financial and material assistance. UNHCR has appealed for $261 million this year to provide for refugees and internally displaced persons. That is not a small amount of money -- but it is less than the U.S. spends each day to fight the war in Iraq. I would like to call on each of the presidential candidates and congressional leaders to announce a comprehensive refugee plan with a specific timeline and budget as part of their Iraq strategy.

As for the question of whether the surge is working, I can only state what I witnessed: U.N. staff and those of non-governmental organizations seem to feel they have the right set of circumstances to attempt to scale up their programs. And when I asked the troops if they wanted to go home as soon as possible, they said that they miss home but feel invested in Iraq. They have lost many friends and want to be a part of the humanitarian progress they now feel is possible.

It seems to me that now is the moment to address the humanitarian side of this situation. Without the right support, we could miss an opportunity to do some of the good we always stated we intended to do.

Angelina Jolie, an actor, is a UNHCR goodwill ambassador.

Hat tip:
The Strata-Sphere

Also Blogging:
Flopping Aces