Posted on 08/05/2007 3:39:26 AM PDT by BlueSky194
Thanks. R&R can’t get here soon enough. I’m sure you have fond memories of the August climate here. {wilt} ;-)
Or we lose this, radical Islam will be emboldened and expand their reign of terror in the Middle East and Eurabia. USA will no longer be a superpower. China will have an increasing role in the world and will project power to secure their interests.
That is a great thought. I enjoy people that have a positive outlook and know that there are alternatives to their view, but they have faith in their ideas. Keep it up.
Wrong. The Iraqi gov't wants us to stay to do the work for them. A lot of the locals want us gone b/c we're foreigners in their country. Believe me, I talk to a lot of locals in their homes, in their neighborhoods. Most aren't openly hostile or anything, but they don't like our presence here.
The Kurds, on the other hand, very much want us to stay, and are very loyal to the U.S. From everything I've seen of them, they would be very strong regional allies. Of course, how we would explain that to Turkey would get tricky...
I respect your take on this, but I think you’re confusing an idealistic take on the part of the Iraqis, with what they also see as the ultimate reality if we do leave.
The Iraqis know that if we leave the nation will sink into a massive bloodbath. Hundreds of thousands if not millions would die. Look at Vietnam and Cambodia for an example of what it would probably devolve into.
Yes, I do think the Iraqis want us out. As far as it goes, I agree with you. I don’t doubt that for a second, but I do think they are capable of seeing nations like Japan, Germany, France, the Philipines and other places where we’ve been and the societies the better for it after a period of reduced self-rule.
Ultimately, I have to say that I still thik the Iraqi citizens want us to remain until the situation stabalizes.
Now we may not like the time frame, but the world will be better if we stick it out and ten years from now ther is a stable moderate Iraqi nation. The only alternative IMO is to leave prematurely and watch the situation turn worse in Iraq than it was in Iran under the Ayatollahs.
Terrorist governance consolidated in Iraq would turn the whole region into one massive dark ages, our citizens as their focus.
If instead Iraq refuses to allow terrorists on it’s own soil, won’t that make it hard for terrorists to use it as terrorism central? And won’t that ultimately make it’s and our citizens more safe?
I think they can see that.
And what tremendously negative effect did those outcomes have on the U.S.? They were intent on slaughtering each other, we sacrificed over 50,000 people to keep them from doing it, and it still happened. Our nation was largely unaffected by it.
I do think they are capable of seeing nations like Japan, Germany, France, the Philipines and other places where we’ve been and the societies the better for it after a period of reduced self-rule.
Those are all cultures that are not enslaved by Islam. Iraq doesn't have that advantage. We definitely can't change that.
Ultimately, I have to say that I still thik the Iraqi citizens want us to remain until the situation stabalizes.
Meaning a totally open-ended commitment to this dump. Did you know their police and soldiers get a week of leave for every two weeks of work? You should have seen the amazing turnout of IA and IP forces for when the Iraqi soccer team came back from winning the Asian Cup. I've never seen so many Iraqi forces anywhere for anything. Did you know a police Lt. Col. in Mosul said that "it's not my fault that American Soldiers are on their 2nd or 3rd tour. I would tell their families they have to stay until Iraq is secure and free." Security is a low priority for these people, as long as we're here to do it for them.
Terrorist governance consolidated in Iraq would turn the whole region into one massive dark ages, our citizens as their focus.
True terrorism (in the sense of what we're trying to fight for OUR country) is rapidly losing the war, and their influence is all but gone--fear and intimidation is all they have left. Everything else here is sectarian. Sectarian and fighting against the infidel foreign occupiers. So the Sunnis win and the Saudis control them, or the Shi'ites win and Iran has their way. Neither Saudi or Iran are good for us (we just like to pretend and make nice with SA).
The bottom line is, I would really like to know there is a very good reason my Soldiers and I are putting our lives on the line every day, that there is a good reason for the six Soldiers in my battalion who were recently killed in two separate attacks (one by Shi'ites, one by Sunnis). There has to be a reason for all of it, and all we can see is that we're trying to do the IA and IP's jobs for them, sacrificing our lives (at home with our families on deployments or WIA with lost limbs or flat out KIA). These people aren't worth it.
I will respond to this in the next day or so. Thanks.
What reasons does the Military Chain of Command state for not attacking Iran.
I can’t stand the fact that Bush hasn’t lifted a stinking finger against Iran while the kill our troops. Worse than Nam, at least then we bombed the enemy sanctuaries!
Well, we probably are attacking them, at least on a very low, Special Ops level. A full-scale attack is absolutely out of the question, though, since we’re tied up in Iraq. We hit them when we find them in Iraq at least, but that’s all I know of.
Google Nashville Kurdish gangs. They are a bunch of thugs.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.