I Need Help

[Salamjohn]

Ok guys, I'm a 15 year old boy living in northern Virginia. I was selected along with about 250 other high school students from from across the nation to a summer school on the campus of Georgetwon University. The summer schools i by the Junior Statesmen Association of America, and we study American government and we practice speech by participating in real debates. Like issues of fetal rights, Arctic Wildlife Refuge, "Under God" in teh pledge of alleigence. There are a ton of liberals, i mean alot of liberals. At least 80% Anyways, i have been assigned to defend the the US-led coalition's war on Iraq was a success not a failure. As a Bush supporter I beleive that it was, but the other side has some good arguments against it (Like where are the Weapons of mass destruction, and why are Iraqi people discontent with the US presence). If any of you guys can help me by giving me good arguments to support my case, then please do. I am researching stuff myself, but anything you guys can do is great. Thank you, John Francis Marion Clifton, VA Bethlehem Baptist Christian School

[Salamjohn]

I need help big time

[DeSoto]

Can't help with answers but I can give you a BUMP to the top.

[I_Love_My_Husband]

bump!

[Feiny]

Good Luck. The existence of WMD was never in question. Clinton believed they were there when he bombed Iraq. The UN also believed it. Saddam never proved he destroyed what he claimed to have...that was the problem. It was up to him to prove he destroyed the weapons...not us to find them.

[Salamjohn]

Major Thanks to you guys for at least trying. I'm coming across a good article by Thomas Friedman that i find helpful.

[jmc813]

Best of luck to you. I can tell from your writing that you're quite intelligent. Only advice I can give you is keep your cool, and argue heavy on logic, light on emotion.

[Djarum]

Also on the WMDs, there is a list somewhere of exactly what he had that was unaccounted for. Of special annoyance to the liberals would be any excerpts from speeches of Clinton explaining why he initiated the bombing (with Britain) when Saddam forced out the inspectors.

[Salamjohn]

thanks i get nervous when speaking in public but i can do it.

[Rabid Dog]

Hang in there - somebody will weigh in. It's kind of a ridiculous question because it had both failures and successes - and it isn't even close to coming to the end of the first chapter. Just prepare three areas that it was a success in and be prepared to rebut the obvious picks for "failures" - where are the WMD's?, what did Saddam do to us, what about us going against the UN. All of these issues have been addressed on this site so do some searches while you wait for people to respond. If you can, try to interview/quote some Iraqi's here in this country that are grateful for our actions. And keep us posted on how it goes.

[OREALLY]

You have been on free republic since you was 12 ?

[Feiny]

Also, Saddam has had over a decade to hide these weapons. Iraq is about the same size as Caifornia. The only reason the UN inspectors found anything was due to an Iraqi defector. Just yesterday, a centerfuge was dug up from a civilians back yard....under a rose bush. The man was ordered to bury it back in 1991. That is what we are up against. That and underground bunkers...possible relocation of the WMD to Syria....the possibilites abound.

[hellinahandcart]

but the other side has some good arguments against it (Like where are the Weapons of mass destruction, and why are Iraqi people discontent with the US presence).

I'd relax. Those aren't good arguments. Only liberals would think they were.

I'm trying to remember the name of the Assyrian Christian minister who recently converted from pacifism; he had a good article recently on what the Iraqi people DO want, and it definitely isn't our absence.

[Salamjohn]

yes

[Unknown Freeper]

Industrious student bump

[Rabid Dog]

My son's been a freeper since he was 11 or 12. There are quite a few young people on this board.

[ladyinred]

Of course we all know there were WMD in Iraq. Not only did Saddam himself admit it, but the liberal Bill Clinton while President said he did also. Research his statements and quote him and any other liberal who said so, there will be many.

I would point out also, that he had several months to hide them, dismantle, move, etc. while we played around with getting permission from the UN. Most of all, a lot of what your school chums are saying are only repeats of what they are hearing from the media and the DNC, they have no proof there aren't any. More evidence is on your side! They have found some things, but the left is trying to act as though they haven't.

[Salamjohn]

anyway thanks and good night guys ill go up saturday ill re-post another after the debate saturday night telling you guys how it goes

[doug from upland]

1. Saddam Hussein used poison gas on his own people.

2. It was known by U.N. weapons inspectors that that he had a huge quantity of biological and chemical weapons. He has never proven that he destroyed them. That is what 1441 called for him to do -- prove they were destroyed. Iraq has documentation for everything. If they destroyed the weapons, they would have a record of it and would have proven it.

3. Had Israel not hit the nuclear facility (in the late 80s, I think), he could likely have the capability now to make a nuclear weapon. He was clearly working on that. We had to stop it.

4. During his two and a half decades of tyranny, he is responsible for over a million deaths of Iraqis. That is over a hundred people a day, many of whom suffered horrific torture. The U.S. is directly responsible for saving over 100 lives every day he is gone.

5. We know that Iraq has been the staging ground for terrorist camps. He has funneled money to terrorists.

6. His goal was to be another Nasser and unite the Arab world under his leadership. He would have ultimately destroyed Israel and was a very dangerous threat in the region.

7. CIA info given to both Clinton and Bush indicated he possessed WMDs.

8. If there is any doubt about his ability to do us great damage, we have to err on the side of protecting America. That is the most important part of the oath taken by our president.

9. The attack on Iraq has let all other tyrants know that they do not mess with us. It is changing the world for the better.

10. Could there be any greater result of the war than freedom for a nation that has endured unspeakable evil for 25 years?

[Rabid Dog]

Also check out www.townhall.com - they have lots of excellent commentary.

[Wolverine]

Use this link to load your choice of key words or variations. FR is a treasure of information: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/search