Given the current state of Iraq with a new elected government and Prime Minister, the fact they the Iraq Army and Police are taking over many coalition duties in rooting out insurgents. PM Maliki offering an olive branch to insurgents who don't have blood on their hands and have not been involved in terrorist activities. Al Zarqawi dead, Saddam near death (once found guilty at trial). The Japan forces leaving and the leak that U.S. Forces who are returning will not be replaced. It appears that things are starting to wind down.
Does the events over the past year or two change any of your opinions or position on the Iraq War?
I thought that it was fine that we went over there, but we should have NEVER stayed this long. So, my opinion hasn't changed. I think that we've helped, in a lot of ways. But, we've also caused more animosity toward the U.S. and that doesn't help us. Then again, having a brain dead president, in my opinion, wouldn't help, at all, no matter what.
:::>^..^<::: ~*~The Journey is more important than the end or the start~*~ :::>^..^<:::
Edward Teach said this in post #1 : Given the current state of Iraq with a new elected government and Prime Minister, the fact they the Iraq Army and Police are taking over many coalition duties in rooting out insurgents. PM Maliki offering an olive branch to insurgents who don't have blood on their hands and have not been involved in terrorist activities. Al Zarqawi dead, Saddam near death (once found guilty at trial). The Japan forces leaving and the leak that U.S. Forces who are returning will not be replaced. It appears that things are starting to wind down.
Does the events over the past year or two change any of your opinions or position on the Iraq War?
There are many unresolved and important issues in Iraq that the media hardly talks about. Iran is the greatest beneficiary of the US war with Iraq, which is one reason why it now feels confident enought to push for nuclear power and no doubt the bomb. What is, or should, or can the US do about that? Islamic fundamentalism is now a strong force in the country with strong ties to Iran. Hardly a succesful outcome. Amerca's reputation is at an all-time low world-wide and its military might has struggled to control the insurgency, or maintain peace or security etc etc
Then of course there is the oil. How much influence can America hold onto in Iraq to make sure it can have good access to the energy reserves. Hugely important issue.
Until these issues are resolved (if they are even possible to resolve) then there is no winding down, unless of course the US intends to high tail it out of there leaving Iraq no better or even worse than when it went in.
Absolutely it's changed. It's kind of like watching a movie, and right when you thought it couldn't get any worse, Tom Arnold walks into the room.
Ergo, it's like a giant turd rolling down a turd mountain, gaining more velocity and more turd as it wreaks a turdly havoc in all that come in contact with it.
Iraq is a mess and nothing that has transpired so far leads me to believe otherwise. So Iraq has a new government so what. That’s like waxing over the dirt of a dirty car and talking about how nice a wax job it is.
I really wish I could say otherwise but nothing so far has changed my position that this invasion was based on delusions of grandeur.
However you're right, we can't just leave now but this was predictable to the rational. It's like they've learned nothing of history. Again we're bogged down in an endless battle that will never end as long as we're in that county. In fact, even when we leave (if we can) I don't see the violence ending.
Too many miscalculations here ET. Why you continue to have confidence in this guy (Bush) defies logic.
Absolutely, They want us to stay until they are sure they can handle security. Then they want us to go.
You'll be wrong again about the bogged down thing. Nothing's bogged down.
What do you believe he miscalculated. He said it would take a long time right up front. So did Rummy remember the when he said it would be a long hard slog.
They already admitted ET that this war hasn’t gone as planned. They never foresaw this insurgency nor did they believe they would be still there fighting to this date. In fact, they miscalculated from day one.
The budget us bursting at the seams, our troops are dying slowly bet steadily and there’s no end in sight to the conflict. So I ask you, do you honestly believe they thought this would be the case?
I believe Bush knows this was a mistake and if he could take it back he would. Now he's in the position to have to, instead of want to.
oneofpeace said this in post #11 : They already admitted ET that this war hasn’t gone as planned. They never foresaw this insurgency nor did they believe they would be still there fighting to this date. In fact, they miscalculated from day one.
The budget us bursting at the seams, our troops are dying slowly bet steadily and there’s no end in sight to the conflict. So I ask you, do you honestly believe they thought this would be the case?
I believe Bush knows this was a mistake and if he could take it back he would. Now he's in the position to have to, instead of want to.
The budget may be bursting at the seams, and our troops may be dying slowly, but most of them are proud to be doing what they're doing.
Bush obviousely under estimated the insurgency, but the insurgency also underestimated our patience. If everyone like you had their way the insurgency would win. So ask yourself, and be honest with yourself, what if we stayed long enough to win?
And by win I mean weaken the insurgancy enough so that Iraq can defend it's self.
That's the goal. Perhaps reaching that goal is a matter of attitude. Are you an American or an American't?
Please pardon my pseudo-intellectuaphilisophicalismysiticality.
Edward Teach said this in post #10 : Absolutely, They want us to stay until they are sure they can handle security. Then they want us to go.
Do you see it as your patriotic duty to believe everything the President says, despite him being perhaps the biggest BSer America has ever had the misfortuen to have as president?
quote:
June 2005: Eighty two Iraqi lawmakers from across the political spectrum have pressed for the withdrawal of the US-led occupation troops from their country. The Shiite, Kurdish, Sunni Arab, Christian and communist legislators made the call in a letter sent by Falah Hassan Shanshal of the United Iraqi Alliance (UIA), the largest bloc in parliament, to speaker Hajem Al-Hassani, reported Agence France-Presse (AFP). “We have asked in several sessions for occupation troops to withdraw. Our request was ignored,” read the latter, made public on Sunday, June 19.
Sayzak said this in post #12 :
but the insurgency also underestimated our patience.
You wish! Ten long years it took the Russians to admit they were quagmired in Afghanistan. That's a lot of dead troops for nothing.
quote:
If everyone like you had their way the insurgency would win. So ask yourself, and be honest with yourself, what if we stayed long enough to win?
US Generals and politicians have already admitted Iraq is militarily unwinnable. And anyway who knows what the word "winning" even means in relation to Iraq? An Islamic power? An Iranian ally?
Just because Bush says he's getting out doesn't mean it's true. Are we just going to let Iraq cosy up to Iran and hand over all that oil to a bunch of Arabs? I think not!
I remember hearing this administration say it wouldn't take long and wouldn't cost a lot of money. Chalk that up with all the other fluff we've come to expect.
And now a special guest, the President:
"First, just if I might correct a misperception. I don't think we ever said -- at least I know I didn't say that there was a direct connection between September the 11th and Saddam Hussein. We did say that he was a state sponsor of terror -- by the way, not declared a state sponsor of terror by me, but declared by other administrations. We also did say that Zarqawi, the man who is now wreaking havoc and killing innocent life, was in Iraq. And so the state sponsor of terror was a declaration by a previous administration. But I don't want to be argumentative, but I was very careful never to say that Saddam Hussein ordered the attacks on America."
-President George W. Bush, Mar. 20, 2006
"The reason I keep insisting that there was a relationship between Iraq and Saddam and Al Qaeda, because there was a relationship between Iraq and Al Qaeda."
-President George W. Bush, Jun. 17, 2004
06-25-2006 03:00 PM
