IRAQ AIN'T OVER

We sometimes forget about the Iraq occupation. It's still costing US taxpayers about $10-12 billion a month. An election was held there in the last few days - with the lowest turnout for a "free election" yet.

Obama has promised to get us out of Iraq in the next 16 months but we've always known that the military industrial complex, and their partners in the oil industry, are in no such hurry. Designs are still being made for the US and Israel to take down Iran. Bases in Iraq will likely be there for years to come.

The Inter Press Service News Agency is reporting that in a January 21 meeting with Obama, "CENTCOM commander Gen. David Petraeus, supported by Defence Secretary Robert Gates, tried to convince President Barack Obama that he had to back down from his campaign pledge to withdraw all U.S. combat troops from Iraq."

Let's face the facts. The Iraq occupation is great for weapons industry profits. The weapons factories are pouring out orders to replace guns, bombs, missiles, ammo, flak jackets, vehicles, helicopters, and the like. New weapons like robot warriors, advanced satellite communications devices, new generations of ordinance, and more are being funded by Congress. The weapons industry does not want to end this gravy train of profits.

In the end it won't just be Obama though who has to make this tough decision. It will also be the Congress who has the power to stop funding the Iraq occupation and the accelerated war in Afghanistan.

For those out there who thought the peace issue was dead now that Obama has won the presidency the time has come to rethink that position. Obama will need massive grassroots pressure to have the courage to stand up to the Pentagon. Congress will also need tremendous pressure from their constituents telling them to cut the war funding and spend the money on health care, education, green jobs, and other such human needs.

There is no rest for the weary. It's time to lace up the boots, grab the signs, hit the streets, get on the phone to Washington and make some noise.

If we wait for someone else to act it will be too late.