'Freedom fries' politician calls for Iraq pullout

stuff.co.nz ^ | 17 June 2005

[Eighth Square]

Whatever it takes! We, and a couple of other western nations, located the oil, developed the fields and have been the running the entire process since day one. And yes, the plan has been to carve out a buffer zone in the middle of that very unstable area from which we can protect and if necessary launch protective strikes against any 'nut group' that want's to stir up the status quo. It is going to take a long, long time. Bush's only mistake has been in the area of information - although he told us that it was going to take a long time he has failed to follow through with aggressive statements and explanations. I would imagine that many Americans still don't get it.

[Hugin]

Well, it's worth keeping in mind that the reason our troops are still in Korea is because the reason that they went there in the first place is just as urgent and valid as ever.

As for Japan and Germany, our troops are still there because it's more convenient than moving them elsewhere.

Quite true. It's also true that both reasons apply to Iraq today.

[angkor]

We, and a couple of other western nations, located the oil, developed the fields and have been the running the entire process since day one.... I would imagine that many Americans still don't get it.

Always glad to find a fellow realist.

Yes, they have been derelict about being realistic and truthful with the American people.

It's understandable. It's more palatable to say what has been said, than to directly state "The oil is ours (the West's), and we're going to stir up the stuff in these Middle East dungpiles; we're going to put them under the watch of a longterm American presence; and we're going to topple their vile, barbaric, and degenerate regimes one country at a time, over the long term."

I'm not sure that finessing the PR is the best approach, but that's what they're doing.

[rahbert]

Well, there was the Zimmermann telegram, intercepted by
Royal Navy cryptanalysts in London, which promised Mexico
its lost territories back in exchange for a pact with
Germany.

There was also the resumption of unrestricted submarine
warfare which resulted in the sinking of US vessels
in the "war zone" declared by Gerrmany.

I believe these were the reasons cited by President Wilson.
There also was a popular fervor resulting from the lurid
Allied propaganda of the time.

[Destro]

Our nation was suckered into WW1 as it was suckered into the Spanish American war.

[rahbert]

WW1 was a chemical reaction - those ridiculous monarchies
were bound to destroy themselves one way or another ...
too bad it turned out to be a useless war fighting over
squat.