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IRAQ WAR
All the talk is how the Democrat party has a cakewalk for 08. Well traditionally war rips the Democrats in half, and the caucus members elected in 06 swing districts - to give them majority - were quite conservative by modern liberal standards. Vietnam is being re-fought today with Democrats trying to mirror their past victory strategy (what most in the U.S. call defeat). What they have not accounted for is market efficiency. WW1, WW2, Korea, and Vietnam were all fought with the draft. Government did not have as great an incentive to prevent battle deaths as they do now - without a limitless supply of conscripts. The military is now all volunteer and must compete in the U.S. job market (or at least good enough for all those poor dumb school dropouts according to Kerry/Moore) In one way all the prostration over every soldiers death is good - current wars are fought with very few casualties by the U.S. But on the other hand, death is a part of war and life and must be kept in perspective. Over 3000 Americans have died in Iraq - in another 55 years Iraq will reach Vietnam's 58,000 death status. The soldiers volunteered for a knowingly dangerous career - and did so for the benefit of their lives and others. Everyone alive today owes an unpayable debt to the many who have believed and fought for: live free or die - give me liberty or give me death.
3 comments:
Everyone alive today owes an unpayable debt to the many who have believed and fought for: live free or die - give me liberty or give me death.
Yes. Everyone alive (Americans) owe these selfless heroes a debt of gratitude. Gratitude for fighting in a senseless battle urged by liars. I am not a fan of any particular party and their obvious flaws. I am in no mood for more thievery. I am in no mood for blind patriotism. I am in no mood for faithful ignorance following the cowards over the cliff. There are many legitimate reasons to defend ones country, but outright aggression is never acceptable. When war, or better yet battle, is inevitable I will be behind any president when it comes to defending our nation, but when it comes to the obfuscating slew of neocons rattling their sabers, to be quite frank, it’s time to rise up and beat them back by any civil means necessary.
Because of the occupation in Iraq the US and the world are less safe. Using the non sequitur of "we haven't been attacked since 9-11" is a very weak excuse for our continuing efforts toward failure. (Reinforce success, never failure.)
I respect your right to speak your mind, but it might behoove you to look more peripherally. The future is not a single line. It is a great number of living things and it is coming rapidly toward an eye-opening conclusion if we continue down the path of aggression and empire.
I find patriotism to be a weakness (nationalism, jingoism, blind flag waving). I am sure of my allegiance to my country, more importantly to humanity. I am certainly not aligned with our current commander in chief and I will fight with all I have to assure that the myth of “pullout equals defeat” is beaten back where it belongs; mythology.
TS REPLIES:
I agreed with your comments almost 100% before the war. The course of history is always in flux never predetermined. One cannot know how things would have been if actions happened differently. The fact that there is a perception that we are bogged down may be preventing other needless military actions. If nothing was done maybe things would have come out ok, maybe not. This does not justify past action, but now we are there and its not as bad as critics like to make out. The U.S. should have never invaded with the intent to rebuild, just as we should not of been involved in Korea or Vietnam - national security was not at threat in any of these wars. General consensus thinking may have been flawed at the time but only apparent now in hindsight (then again no one knows what the world would look like today without these actions). Ideally we would just strike rouge nations' military capabilities when they are a threat, but I don't believe in this age (of modern liberal democracy) that it is accepted by the global community or softies in the US to just devastate a country - eliminating a threat - and then leaving. Rebuilding would always be a precondition (despite its impossibility) on the US by the west even though Europe was against the use of force in the first place. The sanctions on Iraq were about to collapse because of European and Russian opposition. Saddam could have prevented the war by just letting the weapons inspectors free access. France announced that it would veto any explicit UN security resolution that allowed force to be used even if Saddam did not cooperate (none of this justifies war though in and of itself). But the US had reason to be paranoid over weapons of mass destruction. This is what we are up against. An idealistic world environment not capable of dealing with reality. Most Iraq war critics readily supported the Kosovo intervention and think the US should intervene militarily in Darfur (I don't believe you to be one of them) I agree we must vigilantly defend the US proper, not engage in empire building, and let world opinion fall where it may. If a country or non state actor becomes a threat they should be put down using the best military means necessary - no amount central planning, aid and redevelopment, will win hearts and minds in the darker parts of the world. Diplomacy is often an exclusive club of dinner parties and wearing fancy shoes. Democracy cannot be forced onto a society without the institutional infrastructure to support it. Natural rights have to be secured by a nation of people themselves as in Afghanistan with the Northern Alliance with minimal US support. The Kurds also seem to be in line with this. So I do not consider myself a blinded by the flag patriot but I do support the surge so we can get the hell out of there!
ts,
**I agreed with your comments almost 100% before the war. ** You can’t be serious. It is not possible, for if you did think 100% like me you would see that failure is not a policy. That Iraq was not a threat. That the lie to invade a sovereign nation was treasonous. That all the Iraqi deaths on our hands is a crime against humanity. That the course of history did not change with 9-11, it changed with GW and his preemptive attack on Iraq for strategic PNAC reasons. That I am not soft and I have not wavered from my position. That Iraq had nothing to do with 9-11. That Saddam was weakened already and just blowing smoke, but the illusion was beneficial to the neocon and their quest for oil. Yes. I said “oil”. It is after all the only reason. And if you believed 100% like me you would know this would be your truth. I know you said you agreed with my comments and not “thought like me” but they are one in the same with me. I do not waver in my convictions. I was against it before I was against it. I am always against “needless” wars despite the flux of history in its indeterminate state.
** The course of history is always in flux never predetermined. **, sure even my little girl knows that one; it is GW that seems unable to grasp this fact.
**One cannot know how things would have been if actions happened differently.** Oh my… That’s a bit inane.
**The fact that there is a perception that we are bogged down may be preventing other needless military actions.** Methinks that is a non-sequitur.
**This is what we are up against. ** No. It is what the Iraqis and our troops are up against. It is what nations unsupportive of the US are up against.
100%? You might want to analyze this particular percentage again…
Peace, my friend.
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