People who continue to complain about Iraq...

[warbeak2099]

Read this you uninformed ignoramus's:

http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/01/11/damon.baghdad.reaction/index.html

Now do you get it or are you really too stupid / unwilling to actually learn about what's going on?

[Lohman446]

Read this you uninformed ignoramus's:

http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/01/11/damon.baghdad.reaction/index.html

Now do you get it or are you really too stupid / unwilling to actually learn about what's going on?

Yeh, there idiots because they disagree. I actually agree that we had to go in, that our action was required.

That being said... when was the last time that an occupying force, or a foreign "puppet government (even if thats not what it was)" was successful in the Middle East?

[Eagle]

"If you are going to start something, you have to see it until the end -- whatever that end may be."

Nuff said.

Also check out patdollard.com, good stuff there.

[jenarelJAM]

Read this you uninformed ignoramus's:

http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/01/11/damon.baghdad.reaction/index.html

Now do you get it or are you really too stupid / unwilling to actually learn about what's going on?

That was dangerously close to a flame, but not directed at anyone specifically. I disagree with the war in Iraq. I have since the beginning. I'm not getting into it, but I resent the implication that my views are not valid, especially when the last line of your quoted article reads: "Increasing troops could show more force, could incite the insurgents or get them to back off. You never really know. They do what they want to do -- that's what makes it so hard."
And I probably won't be coming back to this thread.

[Lohman446]

"If you are going to start something, you have to see it until the end -- whatever that end may be."

Nuff said.

Also check out patdollard.com, good stuff there.

Im alarmed that our planning was not more thorough, considering the historical context of the area / society we were invading.

[MoeMag]

Wow. You would think after the crusades we would have figured out not to mess with these folks.

I would like to say more but its hard to not step on toes.


Where is Osama?

OH yeah...
Fellas (gals too if your arround) Lets try to keep this thread open minded. I have been wanting to hear what other people with similar intrests and mindset to me (pro gun/paintball) accross the nation have to say about this.

Dont flame, cause the moment you do you ruin for the rest of us.

kthxbye

[warbeak2099]

I'm sorry, I did come off very flame-ish. What I meant was that it "irks me to no end" when people say the war is unwinable no matter what and they have absolutely no clue what's going on. The troops over there will tell you that good things are happening and great strides are being made. People who disregard that and comment from their armchairs... that's not an opinion. It's like the people that Sgt. Casper complains about in the article. People who oppose the war simply because they are Democrats or simply because they don't like Bush. When in fact, the war is quite winnable and a lot of good is being done in Iraq by our troops and also by the Iraqis. So basically, it's the ignorant scumbags who basically state that the troops are wrong and they are right when it's clear that they have no clue what they're talking about, who bug the excrement out of me. I don't mean it's not ok to disagree. I just mean it's illogical to disagree with someone who's on the frontlines and knows what he's talking about. It's like a frycook arguing physics with Einstein.

[skife]

i dont support the war, however i do support the troops and hope that they all come home safe, i've got quite a few friends that are going over there and my friend bill that is in the army is excited about the 20,000 more being sent over there.

i just hope they all come back.

you know, on the other hand, i have no opnion of the war really.

[MedicDVG]

I am actually here in Iraq. I speak to the troops every single day about what is going on. Some are frustrated by the lack of support and nebulous mission. Some are gung ho and just want to get the job done. Others just give you that 1000 yard stare and say nothing.

I support the effort in Iraq or I wouldn't be here. That being said, I am also very glad that I am here as a healer and not as a soldier. I have seen the horror of battle, and I am not keen on repeating it.

That being said, we need to be here. We need to stabilize this country. We need to offer the resources of our nation to ensure a better way of life here.

Iraq can be such a beautiful country, they have skilled people, incredible natural resources, and a burning desire to shape their own destiny. They have languished under the heal of a brutal dictator for far too long. Of the Iraqis I have spoken to, ALL have been effected by Saddam in one way or another. Many have had family members disappear or were jailed themselves.

It must be realized that to rebuild Iraq is an effort that will not happen overnight. Look at our own birth as an independent nation in the 1700's. Iraq has many of the same challenges as our fledgling country. But they are making strides. Iraq has a freely elected government. I have heard stories, and seen the pictures from the day of the election -- 80% turn out!!! Take that and compare it to our USA 3-5% turnout for elections. I say we have no stone to throw in this argument.

I thank those that support the troops. I understand the reasoning behind those that disagree with the war, and I respect their right to a dissenting opinion. In fact that is what makes the USA great, is that we are able to express an independently defined opinion. There is no "this is the way you will think or you will die" pressure. Thankfully that too has passed in Iraq.

So I have probably said more then I should. But being here gives me a unique perspective. I love this country, and I believe in Iraq's future. With our help hopefully Iraq will believe in its future as well.

MedicDVG
Balad Iraq

[warbeak2099]

I am actually here in Iraq. I speak to the troops every single day about what is going on. Some are frustrated by the lack of support and nebulous mission. Some are gung ho and just want to get the job done. Others just give you that 1000 yard stare and say nothing.

I support the effort in Iraq or I wouldn't be here. That being said, I am also very glad that I am here as a healer and not as a soldier. I have seen the horror of battle, and I am not keen on repeating it.

That being said, we need to be here. We need to stabilize this country. We need to offer the resources of our nation to ensure a better way of life here.

Iraq can be such a beautiful country, they have skilled people, incredible natural resources, and a burning desire to shape their own destiny. They have languished under the heal of a brutal dictator for far too long. Of the Iraqis I have spoken to, ALL have been effected by Saddam in one way or another. Many have had family members disappear or were jailed themselves.

It must be realized that to rebuild Iraq is an effort that will not happen overnight. Look at our own birth as an independent nation in the 1700's. Iraq has many of the same challenges as our fledgling country. But they are making strides. Iraq has a freely elected government. I have heard stories, and seen the pictures from the day of the election -- 80% turn out!!! Take that and compare it to our USA 3-5% turnout for elections. I say we have no stone to throw in this argument.

I thank those that support the troops. I understand the reasoning behind those that disagree with the war, and I respect their right to a dissenting opinion. In fact that is what makes the USA great, is that we are able to express an independently defined opinion. There is no "this is the way you will think or you will die" pressure. Thankfully that too has passed in Iraq.

So I have probably said more then I should. But being here gives me a unique perspective. I love this country, and I believe in Iraq's future. With our help hopefully Iraq will believe in its future as well.

MedicDVG
Balad Iraq

Thank you on so many levels.

[Piranti]

I could go on and on and on about this subject, however I will try to keep it short.

First, the reason we went into Iraq, and the dolts who only think we went in because of WMD. Well there was a nice list of over 100 reasons to go in and WMD was somewhere in the middle. First and foremost of the reasons to go in there and kick his arse is, the bloody surrendered in '91, and surrendered unconditionally. Now they had this nice little no fly zone that they were not supposed to shoot at planes flying in these areas, specifically alliance planes. They shot at them on a regular basis. Also there were close to 50 UN resolutions (all of which legal and binding with military force as a consequence) and they violated them all. They also had mandatory UN inspections of thier weapons facilities, 99% of the time these inspectors were harrased, prevented form visiting sites unnannounced (as per their UN mandate), and kicked out of the country altogether. These few reasons alone we had ample justification in going in and removing him from power.

Now what really 'grinds my gears' are people in politics who use everything to thier posturing to furthur thier political career even when nearly everything they spew is either utterly false or so twisted it is completely false. Of course 90% of them are Democrats, and if a Republican 'god forbid' try it Democrats swarm all over them nearly ruining thier careers.

But the true kicker and sad part of this whole situation is this Sheehan **** who is dishonoring her son and everything he stood for. Her son was an elite soldier who went through hell jsut to have the honor of being able to fight for our country above and beyond what normal soldiers endure. A Navy Seal seeks these types of situations. They want to be able to use thier training. I have a friend whos son was a Navy Seal and he died as well in this mess. The one thing she said that makes me despise Sheehan even more is 'He died doing what he loved doing and wanted to do his whole life.'. Why cant this witch respect her son and afford him the dignity that he was doing exactly what he wanted to do. I cannot understand her grief, however her actions have gone far above and beyond, everything she does and says is a publicity stunt.


grrr... I better stop here before I get too much more worked up and rant for hours......

[minimag86]

I've got two brothers in the armed forces. I don't like that they are put in harms way. I don't like that we have to fight wars at all.

But I don't think anyone who has said anything against the war can say they would do a better job than whats happening now.

I would pose the question: should we just sit back while the terrorists attack us and slowly eat away our freedoms? Do we just cower and let them run around like the bully in the school yeard?

That bully has got to get the crap kicked outa him before he will leave you alone. We have to kick the crap out of the terrorists so they will leave us alone. We as the US are the only people who have stuck out our necks and try to kick some but on someone else's account so that they can have a bit of the freedom we got.

No one said this war was gonna be easy. No one said it would be short. No one said it woulden't have set backs.

I want to know how trying to help someone else, is a war fought for the wrong reason?

[jenarelJAM]

Okay, I lied, I'm back.
Wow, I would like to say that even though I don't agree with everything that's been said, I am impressed with the level of mature discussion here. Thank you.

I am actually here in Iraq. I speak to the troops every single day about what is going on. Some are frustrated by the lack of support and nebulous mission. Some are gung ho and just want to get the job done. Others just give you that 1000 yard stare and say nothing.

I support the effort in Iraq or I wouldn't be here. That being said, I am also very glad that I am here as a healer and not as a soldier. I have seen the horror of battle, and I am not keen on repeating it.

That being said, we need to be here. We need to stabilize this country. We need to offer the resources of our nation to ensure a better way of life here.

Iraq can be such a beautiful country, they have skilled people, incredible natural resources, and a burning desire to shape their own destiny. They have languished under the heal of a brutal dictator for far too long. Of the Iraqis I have spoken to, ALL have been effected by Saddam in one way or another. Many have had family members disappear or were jailed themselves.

It must be realized that to rebuild Iraq is an effort that will not happen overnight. Look at our own birth as an independent nation in the 1700's. Iraq has many of the same challenges as our fledgling country. But they are making strides. Iraq has a freely elected government. I have heard stories, and seen the pictures from the day of the election -- 80% turn out!!! Take that and compare it to our USA 3-5% turnout for elections. I say we have no stone to throw in this argument.

I thank those that support the troops. I understand the reasoning behind those that disagree with the war, and I respect their right to a dissenting opinion. In fact that is what makes the USA great, is that we are able to express an independently defined opinion. There is no "this is the way you will think or you will die" pressure. Thankfully that too has passed in Iraq.

So I have probably said more then I should. But being here gives me a unique perspective. I love this country, and I believe in Iraq's future. With our help hopefully Iraq will believe in its future as well.

MedicDVG
Balad Iraq

I would like to say that I 100% support the troops. I believe that they(you) are doing great things over there in Iraq. I would say they are the most noble men and women of our country. The troops give their lives over to our country. The very least we can do is support them.
The problem I see, and fear, is that there isn't a defined exit strategy, and no end in sight. We are sending more and more troops to Iraq, and, contrary to what politicians have foretold, the war hasn't ended. The war is costing more and more, both in money and American lives. America may be a great country today, but we have to pick our battles. The war has run up an unprescedented debt.(http://www.brillig.com/debt_clock/). It may be selfish, but I feel that if we don't look out for our own country, we won't be around to protect other countries in the future. There is only so much we can do, and I feel like we have extended ourselves past our ability to help.
Medic, I am truly sorry for what is happening in Iraq. I really don't mean to sound cold. I just see the war as a "lost cause," if you will, and if I felt we could do it and survive, I would support it. I fear, however, that it will have serious long-lasting consequences for our own country.

[lather]

Great post Medic and thanks!

So....to all the pro continuting US occupation of Iraq folks--what conditions have to be met in Iraq for us to consider the job done?

I am actually here in Iraq. I speak to the troops every single day about what is going on. Some are frustrated by the lack of support and nebulous mission. Some are gung ho and just want to get the job done. Others just give you that 1000 yard stare and say nothing.

I support the effort in Iraq or I wouldn't be here. That being said, I am also very glad that I am here as a healer and not as a soldier. I have seen the horror of battle, and I am not keen on repeating it.

That being said, we need to be here. We need to stabilize this country. We need to offer the resources of our nation to ensure a better way of life here.

Iraq can be such a beautiful country, they have skilled people, incredible natural resources, and a burning desire to shape their own destiny. They have languished under the heal of a brutal dictator for far too long. Of the Iraqis I have spoken to, ALL have been effected by Saddam in one way or another. Many have had family members disappear or were jailed themselves.

It must be realized that to rebuild Iraq is an effort that will not happen overnight. Look at our own birth as an independent nation in the 1700's. Iraq has many of the same challenges as our fledgling country. But they are making strides. Iraq has a freely elected government. I have heard stories, and seen the pictures from the day of the election -- 80% turn out!!! Take that and compare it to our USA 3-5% turnout for elections. I say we have no stone to throw in this argument.

I thank those that support the troops. I understand the reasoning behind those that disagree with the war, and I respect their right to a dissenting opinion. In fact that is what makes the USA great, is that we are able to express an independently defined opinion. There is no "this is the way you will think or you will die" pressure. Thankfully that too has passed in Iraq.

So I have probably said more then I should. But being here gives me a unique perspective. I love this country, and I believe in Iraq's future. With our help hopefully Iraq will believe in its future as well.

MedicDVG
Balad Iraq

[lather]

I've got two brothers in the armed forces. I don't like that they are put in harms way. I don't like that we have to fight wars at all.

But I don't think anyone who has said anything against the war can say they would do a better job than whats happening now.

I would pose the question: should we just sit back while the terrorists attack us and slowly eat away our freedoms? Do we just cower and let them run around like the bully in the school yeard?

That bully has got to get the crap kicked outa him before he will leave you alone. We have to kick the crap out of the terrorists so they will leave us alone. We as the US are the only people who have stuck out our necks and try to kick some but on someone else's account so that they can have a bit of the freedom we got.

No one said this war was gonna be easy. No one said it would be short. No one said it woulden't have set backs.

I want to know how trying to help someone else, is a war fought for the wrong reason?

Not sure where you live but no terriorist has ate away my freedoms. In the USA lawmakers have the ability to pass bills that can potentially eat away my freedoms.