Looking for the New Baghdad (Iraqis pray for McCain victory)

Time ^ | Apr. 03, 2008 | Bobby Ghosh

[do the dhue]

The Baghdadis caught between these extremes know that the only thing standing in the way of another sectarian conflagration is the U.S. military. This may explain why every Iraqi who offers me a view on American politics seems to be praying for a McCain victory.

[do the dhue]

I don't think Rumy missed it. I just think he had a plan and he stuck to it for to long. I think it is ok to adapt and improvise your plan. I think he was set on a small footprint and was not willing to adapt to the situation. Rumy is great. I love the way he handled the media. Being a Monday morning QB, I think he could have saved his job by saying we can increase the Troop level until the violence stops.

I think folks need to give credit where credit is due. McCain did stand behind Troop levels while a lot of others did not. McCain is no genius, he was just brave enough to stand up for something he believed in while the tide was against him.

[dforest]

I don’t blame many Iraquis for being afraid if we leave Iraq, however, if McCain wins this race, and the democrats increase their numbers in Congress, the Dems will be very vindictive and evil. I have no doubt that this scenario will lead them to defund the Iraq war. McCain would have no choice, just like Nixon had no choice.

The Dems will have nothing to lose, and they will make the GOP pay with a loss stamped on their behinds.

Does anyone really believe they will allow McCain to keep up the war in Iraq? I just doubt it.

[do the dhue]

I concur with your post.

[Grunthor]

“Does anyone really believe they will allow McCain to keep up the war in Iraq? I just doubt it.”

I didn’t post what I did with that belief in mind.

[Grunthor]

“When the Iraqi government can govern themselves.”

“When the Iraqi military can protect themselves from threats foreign and domestic”

So. This war and those fighting it will continue to be a political issue for only God knows how many decades. Wonderful.

[Grunthor]

“Like it or not, we are there.”

Not.

“I don’t know about you, but I supported going into Iraq.”

I did based on the WMD....”mistake.” That has proven fruitless. I no longer support the war. I do support the troops, I WAS one for many years. I am beginning to feel, however that the longer the war goes on, the longer both parties can use it for political purposes and fundraising. Lets face it, take away the war as an issue and Juanito is dead meat in November.

[Grunthor]

Iraqui’s are enlightened?

[do the dhue]

Well, when folks bring the issue of WMDs up to me, I clearly state that Saddam signed a cease fire agreement. In the agreement, He was to prove to the world that he removed all WMDs, but he failed to do so. He clearly violated the cease fire agreement and there were 17 resolutions in a 12 year period. Also, many demorats during the 90s (Clinton, Kerry, Dean, Albright and many others) stated that Hussein had WMDs. So, it was either faulty intel, or they really do exist somewhere and we have yet to find them.

Now, there were chemical weapons and missile were outside the range that Saddam agreed upon in the cease fire. Not a huge stock pile like we thought, but some were found. So, if some were found, that means more could exist. The media and Dems always downgrade any WMD our Troops find, but they have found some items. Including a nuclear trigger buried under a rose bush in a scientist back yard. So, I am not totally convinced that the WMDs did not exist. And again, I fall back on the fact that the cease fire agreement was violated. After 911, why should we trust a person who used WMDs on his own people and never proved he totally removed all WMDs and we were legally at war with?

[do the dhue]

It took our nation 12 years to get things under control after the Revolution. It took Germany over five years to calm things down there. It will take time, but like I said earlier, tough times never last; tough people do.

[Grunthor]

“He was to prove to the world that he removed all WMDs, but he failed to do so.”

Really? And what did the Chief Inspector have to say about that?

[Grunthor]

“It took our nation 12 years to get things under control after the Revolution. It took Germany over five years to calm things down there.”

Both far more important missions than the daily tragedy unfolding in Iraq. Those people and that nation are not worth one drop of American blood as far as I am concerned.

[safeasthebanks]

Great job, but you’re wasting your breath with this.....person.

[Grunthor]

“Great job, but you’re wasting your breath with this.....person.”

Thanks for the ping, hero.

[Right Wing Assault]

Iraqui’s are enlightened?

Many of the everyday folks are enlightened in the sense that they now realize the US is not the enemy and that our presence is not as bad as they first thought. They now see AQ and it's ilk as the enemy. They would rather have us hang around a bit longer rather than leave tomorrow. The dems, on the other hand, would rather cut and run ASAP. The average Iraqi guy knows that would be bad. Therefore, they don't want Obama or Hillary. That's what I meant but didn't have time to get into.

[do the dhue]

There were plenty of people who questioned it. Including myself. I remember seeing videos on the news that showed Weapons Inspectors being held up at the front door of a facility and trucks being loaded and pulling away from the back door before the inspectors were allowed in.

[do the dhue]

That would be your opinion.

[molette67]

humm that they are stupid? or just clueless and gutless?

[Grunthor]

Thank you for expounding on that, it really was very helpful. It likely will not change my thinking on the war, but I can at least understand why others feel differently.

[Grunthor]

“That would be your opinion.”

Not one drop.

[death2tyrants]

What did the chief inspector say about it? The council declared Saddam in breach of this obligation. It even gave Saddam a final opportunity to comply with this obligation.