I've been paying most precise attention to what is going on in both places. I have very close friends there in the military who paint a different picture.
We have done astounding things in both Afghanistan and Iraq.
Define astounding. We are indeed doing some admirable things there. I see nothing at all that would justify, historically, if one is cognizant of the past 100 years of Iraqi history, describing what is happening there as 'astounding'. Please support your contention.
If you cared, you'd listen to the troops who are there, volunteering to risk their lives for freedom, and a better future for their families, or listen to the Iraqi people - not the Ba'athists and enemies of America our free press use as sources, but the many bloggers, and the new Iraqi free press...
Don't try to patronize me, and please don't bore me.
If you really care, spend a few hours here. Be warned, if you really care, and learn, it will be difficult repeating the popular AP anti-war pap without at least a twinge of a guilty conscience in the future...and you may even lose a few elite, popular friends.
I have no 'elite friends' to lose, thanks.
It may come as a surprise to you, but those who think freely, and consider all sides and sources of information, might just come to different conclusions than you already, apparently, have.
I also have been paying close attention to what is going on in both places. I have a son who just left Iraq that has been there for 13 months. I have another son who is in the Stan. I have been getting phone calls from them on a regular basis. Our little town is one of the first stopping points for returning troops and I have had the opportunity to talk with dozens of them. We have had close to 200 flights come through here. You can listen to the view of the liberal press if you want but I trust the people who fought there to tell me what is going on. I have talked to all ranks from joes to generals and they believe in the mission. They see improvement in both countries. They know it will take time to complete the mission but they know they are up to the task. Many will gladly return when called. The nurses returning from Ramstein kept talking about the wounded who just wanted to get back to their unit not back to the US. They have seen the devastation and horror of war but they know their mission is the right thing to do.