Somebody tell me again, why are we there?
Geno
184 Posts
Some are saying that the Vietnam-Iraq comparison is unfair. They are right, it's worse.
[url]http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/20/AR2005082001317.html[/url]
...and all the king's horses and all the king's men......
Geno
[url]http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/20/AR2005082001317.html[/url]
...and all the king's horses and all the king's men......
Geno
Comments
I don't feel we will lose as many troops in Iraq as we did in Vietnam (58,000) simply because of technology. We can fight from a more secured position and body armor has contributed to the lower mortality rate (the downside is that we are seeing more amputees in Iraq because the extremities are unprotected).
Frankly, I think we all know by now that the hunt for WMD's was bogus...and we just have to deal with the reality that Congress gave the President what he wanted in the face of a horrible tragedy...and now we'll fix it.
Questioning the reason we're there doesn't equal not supporting the troops. If we didn't question, I'd be more concerned.
Our military personnel have done wonderful things in Iraq/Afghanistan...and history will reflect that. I don't know that the motives for the war will fare so well, though.
JMO
"Life is a tragedy when seen in close-up, but a comedy in long-shot."
Charlie Chaplin
No commission or report has shown that Iraq had ties to 9/11. Even the administration has backed of from this claim, however unwillingly. We did "start it"...and in doing so, we now must finish. The government must be stabilized and order restored to the country.
We can't leave now.
My BF will be coming home on Sept. 12th (keeping my fingers crossed as I haven't heard from him for 45 days now) for 10 days of leave after serving in Iraq for a year. He will return for at least another 6-8 months. I honestly hope that while back in the US he realizes how much we are supporting them and doesn't have to go back with anything additional on his mind.
I see it as the exact opposite. We value their lives, families, and committment...therefore, it is important to ask the hard questions and know that their service is for the greater good. They are following orders, serving their country, and bringing honor to themselves and families.
I hate the Vietnam references, but what if the country as a whole and never asked WHY. When would it have ended? When would our troops have returned?
This situation is different in many ways. But I hate the thought that seeking answers makes anyone think that I don't support our military or am any less patriotic.
Now you hear them say end the war and bring our troops home. The mother who protested outside of Bush's home in Texas admitted the other night on tv that she was against all war, even the war against Afghanistan, and would have been even if she hadn't lost her son. It looks to me like she leads the call to bring our troops home.
My husband served in Nam. He can attest to being fully aware of the protests happening here, even without some of them being brought to him there (ie Jane Fonda, etc.) And that was before cable tv the internet was so available.
I asked him months ago his opinion of how the troops were taking the protests here. Could they feel support of the protestors, as well as understand the protests? He didn't think so. He said when you are so far from home you need to feel your country is behind you. This was before I ever heard anyone call for an end to the war. It must be much worse for them now.
I don't know if we should have gone there or not. I don't know everything Bush knows, and I don't know that I would have made the same decision even if I did. What I do know is that you can't go into a country, destroy its leadership and government, and then walk away because you suddenly decide the original reason no longer matters.
And, more importantly, you can't expect your troops to feel your support when you constantly say their presence over there is a mistake. It really doesn't matter how much you feel you support them, if all THEY feel is that you don't.
"Life is a tragedy when seen in close-up, but a comedy in long-shot."
Charlie Chaplin
By the same token, they comprehend why there is and always will be a need for war.
Most countries and the UN (another story there) thought Iraq had WMDs, even Saddam thought they did, so why aren't all those leaders and the UN and Saddam considered LIARS? I guess because their last name isn't Bush.
I know all of you must be tired of my always same old line, but it is so crystal clear to me.....it is either them over there, or us over here. Personally, I prefer them, over there and believe this war will help ensure for our kids or at least our grandkids that there continues to be a free America.
Albert Einstein
I find it unfortunate that we are in a situation where questioning our leader results in our troops feeling they are loosing support. But what would happen if we stopped questioning and gave him free reign? That is a frightening thought I’d rather not entertain.
I am not military, but in 1996 I spent 4 months in Kuwait setting up day camps for American dependents. We traveled all over the country (yes, we didn’t have far to go), visited the Iraqi tank graveyards, met with government officials, interviewed Kuwaiti students, etc. In that time, I gained an interesting perspective from the youth of that country on why we were really there in the “conflict”. Whether founded or not, they truly believed it all a matter of economics and thought Americans to be greedy and ruthless…..to engage in a conflict solely for economic gain. To support their theory, they pointed out all the establishments I’d visited that were new to their country…..McDonalds, Dairy Queen, Burger Queen (nothing can have the title of King besides himself), Victoria’s Secret, and of course, the oil.
I know that’s a little off subject, but that experience will always make me question why.
Personally, I don't view our strategic intent as shifting because I seem to recall in my feeble memory that along with WMDs, freedom for millions, etc., and et al, there was at the onset and continues to be through today an ongoing thread from Mr. Bush that we fight them there or we fight them here. But then, I don't need him to tell me that. Those who died on 9/11 provide me all the proof I need.
Ooops! Meant "Saudi," but you get the idea. It just seems to me that the terrorists responsible for 9/11 have a much stronger connection to Saudi Arabia than they do to the former Iraqi gevernment, yet there we are in Iraq, just as the neo-cons have wanted for years, WAY before 9/11.