I am starting to think going to Iraq was a mistake

MMI | 4/30/04 | MDP

[MHGinTN]

That's rich, AC, welcoming someone aboard your sludge barge. You socialists don't know when you're well off and being protected. If you weren't so pathetically twisted in your perspective, you'd be laughable. [Incidentally, when you whine to the AM about my addressing you directly, try not to expose your immaturity to the rest of the forum.]

[cynicom]

Check...

We are in Iraq in particular and the Middle East in general for a far greater reason than imposing democracy on Iraq.

Regardless of the outcome in Iraq, we will be in the ME for a long time to come.

[traumer]

going WOBBLY (on Fallujah in particular) was a MISTAKE !

[Alberta's Child]

War isn't a video game and it isn't a 30 minute drama.

That's exactly the point . . . the problem is that a substantial number of Americans think it is. The United States was never in danger of "losing" this war -- but the odds have always been very high that we would lose interest.

[dead]

I did actually laugh out loud in the office when I read that. I think it was image of the subsequent slap that got me.

[Check_Your_Premises]

Yeah, I figured I would catch some hell for that one.

I do appreciate the input from those who actually read the thread instead of just reading the title and assuming from there.

No I don't think we can pull out of Iraq, nor should we. And I did fail to mention the wonderful side effect of removing Saddam, and that is that we are getting to kill all sorts of wonderful people.

No, I am not going wobbly. I have no problem with another Hiroshima. I am just pointing out that to many other people are.

[Just another Joe]

I can't agree totally with your thoughts.

We have already succeeded in what we originally set out to do. The regime of Sadham has been eradicated.

If "critical mass" has been reached in your thoughts then you should rethink what "critical mass" really is.

Considering that there is a minute fraction of these, so called, militia compared to the number of Iraqi people AND considering that a goodly number of the, so called, militia are probably from other arabic countries I don't think that you can really say that we care more about their freedom than the Iraqi people do.
They have been ground down for so long that it may take some period of time before they realize that their future IS in their own hands.

[Mac94]

How do you sap the will of a determined foe? That is the question here. The Afghans could never defeat the Soviets militarily, but they could bleed and outlast them, and they did. The Soviets certainly did not treat the rebels there with kid gloves, but they could not break the will of their enemies. And, if a closed society can buckle under the weight of mounting losses, can an open society such as ours do the same? The Soviets were driven out not by the military might of the Afghans but because the Soviet public turned against the war, and if the weight of public opinion can stop a Communist dictatoriship, can we stand more firm if the Iraqi rebels have the steel to persist no matter what? Heck, look at the debate one year into the war in this country and the divide in our populace. If the Iraqi rebels have the will to carry this through, do you all think we have the stomach to still be fighting ten years from now in Iraq? It is a question of will, ours versus theirs and how to break their will completely. We did it against the Gemans and Japanese, but are they comparable to an Islamic militant? What breaks their will to fight and die?

[RobRoy]

You aproach this issue from an incorrect paradigm. We are not in Iraq to bring democracy to Iraq - we are only trying to make that a positive side effect.

We are in Iraq because of 911. And the specific reasons are beyond the understanding or patience to learn the reason to most armchair analysts.

Yes, even though Iraq was a secular state, we are there specifically to build a beachhead from which to battle Islam at it's very front porch.

And better their front porch than ours...

[Snerfling]

The Battle of Saipan (around 10 days of fighting):

Of the garrison of 32,000 Japanese, only 1000 soldiers survived, and 22,000 civilians were also dead. The US casualities were high; 3,426 Marines and GIs died.

[Lost Highway]

As I see it there are two objectives to the Iraq war.

1. Kill as many terrorists as we can there so they don't kill us here.

2. Install a democracy so we don't have to go back in 10 years and do objective 1 again.

We're not nation building just because we are trying to be nice guys. We're doing it to protect Americans.

[My Favorite Headache]

[vandykelastone]

You're not gone yet! How imprudent of you.

[mewzilla]

I take it you'd rather fight them over here?

[joesnuffy]

One of the major problems is having the enemies propaganda tools looking over the troops shoulders and then their spinning of the facts into antiwar propanda for the folks back home...(many folks who are already predisposed to do anything it takes to bring about defeat of Pres Bush in the upcoming election anyway)

...This kibbitzing and propagandizing by a hostile press...may in turn may influence govt. policy... which in turn may dictate military tactics...and a wobbley lack of commitment gives the armed islmo-fascist enemy the confidence they need to keep fighting...which in turn cause more loss of life and fuel for the enemy propaganda machine...(both foreign & domestic)

imo

[Snerfling]

Oops, make that around 3 days of fighting.

[GottaLuvAkitas1]

It may take several years to see the results, but I truly believe Bush will go down in history as the BEST president in U.S. history.
I believe he is now, and my gg-grandchildren will know it as fact.

[Chieftain]

This is NOT WWII, it is MORE IMPORTANT.

The reputation of our country is on the line. Those entities who wish for our demise learned the propaganda game from what happened in Viet Nam. The 4th branch of government, the media, learned it as well.

The president knows this and he is committed. We, the American people who have the vision to support the president need to suck it up and not succumb to the media blitz of nothing but BAD NEWS.

Just listen to words of a Marine officer in Iraq in a letter published recently in frontpagemag.com:

"That is why I am asking for your support. Become a voice of truth in your community. Wherever you are fight the lies of the enemy. Don't buy into the pessimism and apathy that says, "It's hopeless," "They hate us too much," "That part of the world is just too messed up," "It's our fault anyway," "We're to blame," and so forth. Whether you're in middle school, working at a 9-5 job, retired, or a stay-at-home mom you can make a huge difference! There is nothing more powerful than the truth. So, when you watch the news and see doomsday predictions and spiteful opinions on our efforts over here, you can refute them by knowing that we are doing a tremendous amount of good. Spread the word. No one is poised to make such an amazing contribution to the everyday lives of Iraqis and the rest of the Arab world than the American Armed Forces. By making this a place where liberty can finally grow, we are making the whole world safer. Your efforts at home are directly tied to our success. You are the soldiers at home fighting the war of perception. So I'm asking you as a fellow fighting man: Do your duty. Stop the attempts of the enemy wherever you are. You are a mighty force for good, because truth is on your side. Together we will win this fight and ensure a better world for the future.

God Bless and Semper Fidelis, 1st Lt. Robert L. Nofsinger USMC Ramadi, Iraq

I will honor the good Lt's request. Will all of you at freerepublic do the same?

Semper Fi, Devil Dogs, the American people support you!

[nuconvert]

"I see the propaganda machine is beginning to win."

Sounds that way to me, too

[Alberta's Child]

We are in day three of a 30 year war.

That is what makes this whole thing so preposterous. How can an elected government like ours possibly make plans for a 30-year war if it can't even be certain today that it will even be around to execute these plans after January 2005?