Joint Chiefs Study Plan to Invade Iraq

NEW YORK, Dec. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Under heavy political pressure to produce options for military action against Iraq, Newsweek has learned, the Joint Chiefs of Staff have been looking at a study that suggests putting 50,000 U.S. troops on its southern border; another 50,000 U.S. troops on its northern border; then sending the two forces towards Baghdad in the middle. But planners doubt that even that force would be enough to take the Iraqi capital.

What usurpation of the Constitution are you talking about. Most Constitutional scholars agree that the War Powers Act would never hold up under a direct challenge by the executive branch because it seeks to limit the Presidents authority as Commander in Chief. With that in mind it seems pretty clear that there is no threat to our constitution from GW pursuing an attack on Iraq. The only thing Congress could do to stop it would be to invoke the War Powers act and that would be political suicide. Who in their right mind would seek to cut off funding for American soldiers in the middle of a War against terorism...especially in light of 9/11. No that fact is that there is no constitutional threat by the POTUS going after Iraq...and thank heaven that congress is not in a position to do anything about it politically since it badly needs doing.

"Please tell me why we should care what they think? What can they do if we just ignore them?"

We should care what they think now so that we can remain trading partners after the shooting stops. After all, they do provide us with a large chunk of our oil. If they cut off the oil, we can always send in troops to take it and hold it. That would probably only require a half million or so US soldiers, plus the oil workers, if we held on to Saudi Arabia. It would be a lot easier in the long haul to maintain relations with those 'repressive governemnts' (isn't government repressive to some degree by nature?) than to attempt to conquer them by military force.

"Will the Islamic world hate us more than they do now? "

You base this statement on the actions of 20 fanatics? Have you been to the Islamic world? Why do the Northen Alliance of Afghanistan, Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and so many other 'Islamic' governments consider us friends? Do you believe the actions of those 20 fanatics on 911 represent the attitudes of the entire Islamic world? That's a fascinating concept.

"Please tell me why we should care what they think? What can they do if we just ignore them?"
We should care what they think now so that we can remain trading partners after the shooting stops. After all, they do provide us with a large chunk of our oil. If they cut off the oil, we can always send in troops to take it and hold it. That would probably only require a half million or so US soldiers, plus the oil workers, if we held on to Saudi Arabia. It would be a lot easier in the long haul to maintain relations with those 'repressive governemnts' (isn't government repressive to some degree by nature?) than to attempt to conquer them by military force.
"Will the Islamic world hate us more than they do now? "

You assume that these nearly bankrupt nations can stop selling oil. You also assume that they could keep oil from reaching us, the oil market is a world market and an embargo isn't feasible. You ask why a number of Islamic governments consider us friends and then you don't answer the question so I will. Governments are only friendly when it is in their interest to be that way, and authoritarian governments are friendly dispite what their people think. Polls show that Islamic peoples already hate us and support OBL, and nothing we do can change that. So we should do what we have to, to protect ourselves and our way of life, no matter what it costs us in foreign good will. Let's face it, if our good deeds to date haven't generated enough foreign good will that we can't do what's necessary to protect ourselves, then nothing we do ever will.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.