Posted by By IKE NNAMDI, The Sun Reporter, Washington DC on
Hundreds of Nigerians, who joined the American Army as a quick path to citizenship are now fighting in Iraq as the country marks the fifth anniversary of the unpopular war.
…Deployed to Iraq warfront
Hundreds of Nigerians, who joined the American Army as a quick path to citizenship are now fighting in Iraq as the country marks the fifth anniversary of the unpopular war.
Although Pentagon officials have refused to release the number of those who may have been killed or injured in action, they said those who are fighting in Iraq freely signed up 'knowing the risks they face."
Sources said many of the Nigerian men and women joined as Green Card holders, who wanted to speed up their citizenship status. 'The U.S Army has a process of fast-tracking the dream of members of the armed forces who wish to become citizens," officials stated.
Meantime, President George W. Bush, said the war will continue despite the 'high cost in lives and treasure."
He said a withdrawal would leave the country at the mercy of terrorists. 'A withdrawal will embolden Iran and provide al-Qaida with money for weapons of mass destruction to attack the United States," he said.
Pentagon officials said that at least 3,990 members of the U.S. military have died since the beginning of the war in 2003. The war has also cost about $500 billion. Democrats have called for an end to the war. 'On this grim milestone, it is worth remembering how we got into this situation, and thinking about how best we can get out," said Democrat John Dingell.
'The tasks that remain in Iraq - to bring an end to sectarian conflict, to devise a way to share political power, and to create a functioning government that is capable of providing for the needs of the Iraqi people are tasks that only the Iraqis can complete," he said.
Bush, however, said the war will continue. 'The successes we are seeing in Iraq are undeniable, yet some in Washington still call for retreat," the president said. 'War critics can no longer credibly argue that we are losing in Iraq, so now they argue the war costs too much. In recent months, we have heard exaggerated estimates of the costs of this war. 'No one would argue that this war has not come at a high cost in lives and treasure, but those costs are necessary when we consider the cost of a strategic victory for our enemies in Iraq," Bush said. The U.S. now has about 158,000 troops in Iraq.
That number is expected to drop to 140,000 by summer in draw downs meant to erase all but about 8,000 troops from last year's buildup. 'If we were to allow our enemies to prevail in Iraq, the violence that is now declining would accelerate and Iraq could descend into chaos," Bush said. 'Al-Qaida would regain its lost sanctuaries and establish new ones fomenting violence and terror that could spread beyond Iraq's borders, with serious consequences to the world economy.
'Out of such chaos in Iraq, the terrorist movement could emerge emboldened with new recruits, new resources ... and an even greater determination to dominate the region and hurt America," Bush said in his remarks.
'An emboldened al-Qaida with access to Iraq's oil resources could pursue its ambitions to acquire weapons of mass destruction to attack America and other free nations. Iran could be emboldened as well with a renewed determination to develop nuclear weapons and impose its brand of hegemony across the broader Middle East. And our enemies would see an American failure in Iraq as evidence of weakness and lack of resolve," he stated.