Bush's "conversation" w/troops staged

[frndshpcptn]

Wars are bad. The loss of any life is horrible. Freedom comes at a cost. Look back at the wars that were fought so we could have our freedom. Many lives were lost. I'm glad we stuck it out. If not,we could not be writing so freely such disrespect for our President. Not a pathetic posse, just a more informed posse. Americans should show more respect for our troops in Iraq and the mission they are there to accomplish. Osama,WMD's, at this point are irrelivent. We freed human beings from a horrible,inhumane,evil dictator. That alone should give Bush a good nights sleep. Our troops should be praised for the work they have done. Not reminded at every media event "We should have not invaded Iraq, No weapons have been found. Bush lied. Go after the real terrorist, Osama." Our troops deserve better.

I agree - our troops do deserve better. And I have the utmost respect for our military.

I do not, think, though, that Bush should sleep better because we "freed human beings from a horrible, inhumane, evil dictator." I truly believe that was not his original intention for going into Iraq. If it was, he could have gone into a number of other countries to free those people and he didn't - and won't. And I'm not sure these same people won't be under the control of another, equally bad ruler once the U.S. troops have left and the fundalmentalists gain more power. They prey on the hard-of-luck and it works for them. I may only see the negative here - but I'm not at all confident that "democracy" will sustain in the long run. Outside of Israel, I don't think the people who have power in the Middle East really want it. It doesn't suit their purpose. Sure, the average person there may want democracy - and I hope for their sakes they find a way to live peacefully - but the fundamentalist leaders are not served by peace and democracy and will do everything they can to stop it.

The question is, how do we stop the extremeists who don't want democracy and don't want peace. I don't know how we do that. I hope we find a way, though. I think it's important to our future and the future of Israel to find a way to stop all the violence committed in the name of "noble purposes" and we should work to find a way to make that happen.

 

[frndshpcptn]

If we were to go and fight the Palestinians, there would be political fallout from the Israeli's. The Syrians or Lebanese? Perhaps next. The North Koreans? We have to worry about the political fallout from the Russians and Chinese. To take action in that neighborhood (like Kerry wanted to) is unrealistic and suicidal.

We could have gone after many countries - but not all at once. Was Iraq a good choice? Maybe, maybe not (and it is looking like it wasn't a good choice) - but the answer at this point doesn't matter. What does matter is that we are there. We cannot go back and uninvade, nor should we just pull out as others would have us do.

So I have a question for you - should we do nothing because it is difficult? Because we cannot attack all terrorists at once we should not attack any? I grant you, another target might have worked out better, such as Syria or Lebanon - but maybe not. Just my thoughts.

What would the political fallout be from the Israeli's if we tried to bring democracy to the Palestinians? Wouldn't they welcome a more peaceful existance with their neighbor?

In terms of whether we should do anything or nothing - I don't think we should do nothing. I realize we can't target all terrorists at once, but perhaps we can analyze who we are targeting and make sure that the results of our actions are going to have a lasting impact before acting on them. Why not target leaders of Hezbollah or Hamas? Why not take away the feeders that keep the terror cells afloat? It seems that it would be a smarter move to cut of the head of the beast. But maybe not - I am not a foreign policy expert.

It somewhat reminds me of the Gaza pull out by the Israeli's. They left the Strip under the rule of the Palestinian Authority and it was utter chaos orchestrated by the militant leaders of Hamas. They smashed the greenhouses that were left for the Palestinians to use to improve the economy, burned...looted...the "government" could not maintain control. I fear that's exactly what will happen here - the "government" won't be able to control the militants and they will bully the general public with fear tactics to capture all the power in the state.

 

[LoraJ]

Wars are bad. The loss of any life is horrible. Freedom comes at a cost. Look back at the wars that were fought so we could have our freedom.

What the heck does invading Iraq have to do with OUR freedom?

Our troops definitely do deserve better.

 

[Charade]

What the heck does invading Iraq have to do with OUR freedom?

Our troops definitely do deserve better.

What the heck did Bosnia have to do with our freedom? Or the first Gulf war??

The majority of the troops think their mission is for a noble cause. They deserve better from everyone including the media for not shining an equal amount of light on their success.

 

[LoraJ]

What the heck did Bosnia have to do with our freedom? Or the first Gulf war??

The majority of the troops think their mission is for a noble cause. They deserve better from everyone including the media for not shining an equal amount of light on their success.

I don't recall anyone equating our freedom with either Bosnia or the Gulf War. But it comes up often when justifying the war in Iraq.

 

[Charade]

I don't recall anyone equating our freedom with either Bosnia or the Gulf War. But it comes up often when justifying the war in Iraq.

Ok, so what was the justification for Bosnia (we're still there) and the first Gulf war?

 

[transparant]

For those of you who are misinformed thinking that we have given up looking for OBL...you are wrong. Why do you say things like "We've given up trying to capture OBL?" I work for SA (Soldiers Angels). I talk or email with lots and lots of guys/girls who are still in Afghanistan fighting and searching every single day for that SOB. Just a little FYI - they get extremely pissed when they here our MSM saying things like "we've given up looking for OBL" - they are still going out on dangerous missions every single day (searching for him and still fighting taliban). I personally hope he got crushed to death in Pakistans earthquake. Our troops have not given up searching for him.

 

[yeartolate]

Not reminded at every media event "We should have not invaded Iraq, No weapons have been found.

This sounds like a justification for staging his "conversation" with the troops. Finall we hav ecome full circle in the thread, we got back to OP.

 

[yeartolate]

For those of you who are misinformed thinking that we have given up looking for OBL...you are wrong.

Our president said OBL doesn't concern him any more.


But I don't think most Americans believe we gave up looking for him.

 

[transparant]

Wars are bad. The loss of any life is horrible. Freedom comes at a cost. Look back at the wars that were fought so we could have our freedom. Many lives were lost. I'm glad we stuck it out. If not,we could not be writing so freely such disrespect for our President. Not a pathetic posse, just a more informed posse. Americans should show more respect for our troops in Iraq and the mission they are there to accomplish. Osama,WMD's, at this point are irrelivent. We freed human beings from a horrible,inhumane,evil dictator. That alone should give Bush a good nights sleep. Our troops should be praised for the work they have done. Not reminded at every media event "We should have not invaded Iraq, No weapons have been found. Bush lied. Go after the real terrorist, Osama." Our troops deserve better.

TnkrBellA012 - its plain and simple: The left think our victories in Iraq don't count - we weren't supposed to be there anyway.

 

[transparant]

Our president said OBL doesn't concern him any more.


But I don't think most Americans believe we gave up looking for him.

Then why do so many say it?

 

[yeartolate]

Then why do so many say it?

In real life I do not hear people say this, do you? He clearly is not THE primary military focus. Mainstream media has not forgotten him as well. But again, since he is not the main focus of our military presence he is not the primary focus of our attention. But have we given up looking for him? Of course not.

But when the Commander - in - CHief states (concerning a question regarding OBL)

So I don't know where he is. You know, I just don't spend that much time on him......

what do you think that says to the American public?

 

[TnKrBeLlA012]

This sounds like a justification for staging his "conversation" with the troops. Finall we hav ecome full circle in the thread, we got back to OP.

You find it funny that our troops are fighting a misssion in Iraq and at every turn they are told we went for the wrong reasons?? I don't find it funny. I have stated I will look beyond the WMD's thought and focus on what is occuring now. American troops fighting for the freedom of the Iraq people. Lives that have been lost and the respect for the mission they are accomplishing now. We have no proof any conversations were staged. The media and non-Bush supporters need to stop grasping at straws to serve their own purpose. This does nothing to help our soldiers. All this stupid media rhetoric does is bring them down and diminish the job they are trying to do. Lets remember who is most important at this time. Our troops and their families. Lets show them some respect. You know who I think our own worst enemy is? Ourselves.

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

Ok, so what was the justification for Bosnia (we're still there) and the first Gulf war?

Aren't the reasons behind why we have gone to war in the past unimportant to the actual debate, Charade?
Sadly, America has been forced to go to war in the past over many different things and for many different reasons, but never have we gone to war on a sliding scale of reasons. With this Administration, if their main objective turns out to be inaccurate or flat out wrong, they come up with another one, and another. Finally, the Bush Administration has come up with the warm and fuzzy, politically correct "nation building" objective that most Republicans do not believe in and something that this President promised the nation he was dead set against. That kind of war planning shows just the kind of credibilty gap that this President is suffering from and why his own party is abandoning him in droves.

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

You know who I think our own worst enemy is? Ourselves.

Uh oh...the "blame America first" Republicans have taken the floor...look out!!

 

[Laura]

You find it funny that our troops are fighting a misssion in Iraq and at ever turn they are told we went for the wrong reasons?? I don't find it funny. I have stated I will look beyond the WMD's thought and focus on what is occuring now. American troops fighting for the freedom of the Iraq people. Lives that have been lost and the respect for the mission they are accomplishing now. We have no proof any conversations were staged. The media and non-Bush supporters need to stop grasping at straws to serve their own purpose. This does nothing to help our soldiers. All this stupid media rhetoric does is bring them down and diminish the job they are trying to do. Lets remember who is most important at this time. Our troops and their families. Lets show them some respect. You know who I think our own worst enemy is? Ourselves.

I don't think it's funny at all that Bush sent troops into Iraq for a trumped-up purpose. I think it's outrageous. If you want to completely ignore the fact that Bush said the reason for the war was WMDs, then fine. But not everyone is willing to close their eyes to the spin Bush put on the WMDs to send our military in there when the focus should have been on bin Laden. I'm not willing to let any president get away with something like that.

In sending our troops into Iraq, Bush wound up sacrificing the lives and the physical/mental well-being of our troops. There are lots of good reasons to send troops into war, but honestly toppling Saddam and rebuilding a country is too much for the US to take on virtually alone, without a real coalition.

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

TnkrBellA012 - its plain and simple: The left think our victories in Iraq don't count - we weren't supposed to be there anyway.

The Iraqis just voted on a constitution a couple days ago, transparent. One, mind you, that they were already talking about ammending while the ink dried on their signatures. Let's not start patting ourselves on the back and declaring victory until every last soldier is brought home where they belong.

 

[Teejay32]

I personally hope he got crushed to death in Pakistans earthquake.

Me too. And if he did, I wonder if it would ever be confirmed.

 

[LoraJ]

Ok, so what was the justification for Bosnia (we're still there) and the first Gulf war?

What does that have to do with what we are discussing. You know the answer, so why ask? What is your point you are getting at?

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

Me too. And if he did, I wonder if it would ever be confirmed.

Me three...but it's not a reason to stop the hunt or for the President to concede that he really doesn't give Bin Laden much thought.

In the Arab world, Bin Laden still has a major political following and is seen as a hero who attacked the "Great Satan". They see things differently than we do. Remember during Bush 41's first Gulf War? Ever though we beat Iraq out of Kuwait in less than a month, the Arab world saw the entire war as a win, just because Hussein stood up to America and held on as long as he did. Every day they hold on, even though they are obviously losing, is a win in their eyes. That's why Bin Laden is so dangerous. Every day he is alive, on the run, or even missing for that matter, he gives Al Queda and it's hundreds of sister groups hope.

That's what happens when you take your eyes of the prize...you get what happened in Spain or London...