Iraq

[bobbylien]

What would you do if you were in the presidents shoes?

Edit: Kill them if they don't like it is refering to the Iraqis who oppose our occupation.

[lily]

I voted for the Murtha proposal. Pull out in one year, stay close by. This slogan of if you pull out, the terrorists will just sit and wait is just that, another catchy phrase. We gave them deadlines for all their elections. We gave them deadlines to get their constitution. We gave them deadlines to get their Parliment in order. As long as we are there doing their fighting for them, why should they? If they want their freedom, it's time for them to fight for it, otherwise it's worth nothing to them.

[Cobra]

Pull them out now.

[Mayberry]

Sure, pull them out now, let the Iranian nut job take over, and in six months or less, gas will be $10 a gallon and there will be nukes pointed at us. Great plan, cut and run. Iraq is not ready to fend for it's self.

[Elrathin]

Iraq is not ready to fend for it's self.


And when will it be, 2059?

[Cobra]

Great plan, cut and run.
I so agree, cutting and running should be the plan, call Bush and let him know will ya.
let the Iranian nut job take over, and in six months or less, gas will be $10 a gallon and there will be nukes pointed at us.
Someones paranoid, probably the same type that was telling us Iraq had those WMDs, was in sync with OBL, and was about to get a nuke any day now. I think I'll risk it to end the loss of American lives for this hopeless cause.

[Mayberry]

I think I'll risk it to end the loss of American lives for this hopeless cause. No offense, but I hope it's your city that gets turned into charcoal then. Anyway you slice it, radical muslims want to convert us or kill us. They won't stop. So either you face the problem now and deal with it, or run away and wait for them to bring the problem to you, in your back yard. Personally, I'd rather keep the fight on the other side of the planet where it is. And I served in the military, so I know what it is I am asking. And when will it be, 2059? Bush said from day one that this would probably be a 10 year ordeal, so we're half way home. If it takes another 5 years to defeat radical islam, so be it.

[lily]

Sure, pull them out now, let the Iranian nut job take over, and in six months or less, gas will be $10 a gallon and there will be nukes pointed at us. Great plan, cut and run. Iraq is not ready to fend for it's self.

Um.......you do know that Malaki has been to Iran several times last month, don't you? They are not exactly mortal enemies.

[Mayberry]

Um.......you do know that Malaki has been to Iran several times last month, don't you? They are not exactly mortal enemies.Wouldn't you want to make nice with your neighbors? That doesn't mean that 15 minutes after we leave that Iran won't invade them.

[lily]

It doesn't mean that they will either......they both share the same religion.

[Labrocca]

I say get out in a year. I understand what the administration is trying to do but after 3 years progress hasn't been impressive enough for me to support staying. I say we take out troops slowly over a year and move them to Korea.

There are other parts of the world that need some attention not just Iraq. After N. Korea gets spanked we should head to Iran for a recap.

I think the American Army is best suited as an attack force. We have nothing left to demolish in Iraq so let's just leave. We can always go back in and kick more ass if we need to. Heck I am for using nukes in the region and straight up stealing their oil. F'em.

But I don't see the benefit staying the course. Where is it? Yeah it's easy to say the extremists win if we leave..so what...they win if we stay or leave. They will continue to make us look bad and kill American soldiers. Where is the real benefit of staying. Let the region go to shit is my opinion. It's been crap for hundreds of years and if we stayed 20 I am not sure it would change 1 damn thing in their minds...heck it might make it worse. Here is a radical thought...let Saddam back in power under the condition that he our puppet (again). Let Saddam kick their asses...he seems like the only guy to ever control these freaking morons.

[Cobra]

I could go along with Labrocca's plan too, oil stealin and all.

[firefox]

This is true, but there were many inter-Christian wars in Europe during the middle ages/renaissance. My issue with a "one year pull-out", though OK in theory, is that one year will be come two, etc etc. This happens every time, so why should Iraq be different? There are still US troops in Germany, Japan, etc. for crying out loud.

[lily]

Congress blocked Bush's fantasy of building permanent bases Friday, when they passed the latest "emergency funding".

[Mayberry]

Congress blocked Bush's fantasy of building permanent bases Friday Bases in Germany, peace since WWII. Bases in Japan, peace since WWII. Bases in South Korea since the Korean War, peace ever since. Seems to be a pattern here...

[firefox]

Yes. They are redundant and need to be eliminated as of 50 years ago. If you want to patrol foreign borders, go do it yourself and do some private fund-raising. Come to me and explain exactly why and how you're doing it, and maybe I'll support you, perhaps even a lot. But don't steal my income at gunpoint to finance some foreign military adventure and expect me to like it!

[Mayberry]

But don't steal my income at gunpoint to finance some foreign military adventure and expect me to like it! Sorry, but like it or not, if we just sit around with our heads stuck in the sand, that leaves a great big bullseye on our butts. We have to maintain a foreward presence to keep those who would attack us at bay. Imagine a large scale attack on the US mainland. Where would your income go then? A weak US military is like an open door.

[firefox]

Self defense is the only way to win this. Is the US military spending much time HERE defending US? No, they are out invading and occupying foreign lands for dubious reasons. How is that protecting Americans? How old are you, BTW, Mayberry?

[lily]

Mayberry

We have to maintain a foreward presence to keep those who would attack us at bay. Imagine a large scale attack on the US mainland.

I'm not quite clear on how bases in Germany are going to protect us, if we are attacked here?

[Mayberry]

Bases in Germany help PREVENT us from being attacked here.

[bobbylien]

How old are you, BTW, Mayberry?

Hes older than you, I'm curious how old you are.

[Mayberry]

firefox Wrote:

How old are you, BTW, Mayberry?


Hes older than you, I'm curious how old you are. I am 33, though I don't see what the relevance is. But since we are sharing, how old are you 'Fox? I guess 21.

[firefox]

Close, 20. You're older than 25, so that puts you out of the likely potential draft range. This is the fundamental thing I'd like to point out.

[Mayberry]

And being outside the draft range means what? I've already served in the Navy, and I enlisted during the first Gulf War, so I believe I am qualified to speak on the subject.

[firefox]

Exactly. Why do you want to push others into supporting your favorite conflicts through blood or taxes? This doesn't make any sense. Just because you've been "in the service" doesn't mean you have more credibillity. Why do you think the founding fathers put the military under civilian control rather than the other way around? For perspective, my 35 year old cousin served in the Marines at the same time and doesn't share your attitudes about all this.