[Check_Your_Premises]

Thoughts?

[WOSG]

Before you panic, read this and get the real fallujah story.

we've been "played" by te biased media once again!

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1127526/posts?page=1

[leadpenny]

I have been coming to the same conclusions, slowly, over the past few days. The combat casualities are like a punch in the gut but that is not the main reason I feel this way. It is the inability of any administration official to articulate what our solid mission is in Iraq. Me, Napoleon's Corporal, am not convinced we are doing the right thing.

I'm not going to get into a urinating contest with anyone here over my or their views. I respect everyone's viewpoint - - except those who try to equate US Traffic deaths to 'it's no big thing to lose a few hundred of our finest.' Those who are doing that - please stop. It's apples and oranges and irrelevant.

[InvisibleChurch]

it's not iraq, it's a war on terror that happens to be in iraq... don't think boundaries, think victory

[#3Fan]

The war is the thing to do but I always disagreed about it's premise. Because of 9-11, we should go after terrorist regimes that could threaten us and Saddam was at the top of the list. It should've been known as something like "Operation Dead Terrorists" instead of "Operation Iraqi Freedom". We shouldn't sacrifice our soldiers for the freedom of those unwilling to fight for it themselves. But we should protect ourselves from terrorists and that's what this whole thing should've been premised about (I was saying this a year ago too when things were going well). I think the things they've done in this war are the right things because the only way to defeat the terrorists in Iraq is to replace them with a more democratic government, but we should just make clear why we're there...not just to hand freedom to those who won't fight, but to defeat our enemies that attacked us on 9-11 and before.

[oats]

Could be that if we don't flex our muscles, that "middle east toilet" will someday be flushing US down!
I don't think we need worry about "how can we possibley win there?"
We will win.

[Bronco_Buster_FweetHyagh]

The number of casualties seemed to reach a "critical mass" for me. I found myself simply not caring to sacrifice anymore of our brave soldiers for Iraqi independence and democracy. Screw 'em.

There's the first problem. You have limited the purpose of the mission. If that's ALL we were there for, I'd be against it too. I do not believe you can force democracy on people. But this is about a lot more than Iraqi independence and democracy. This is a war on terror on a global basis, and it's a critical step in establishing a tone and a foothold in the middle-east.

[Ben Chad]

Thought provoking post.

[ladyinred]

Thoughts, I disagree entirely of course. For one thing, all you seem to know about what is going on is what you hear on our media. They are only telling one side of the story, and I am not so sure even most of that is true. I don't believe the Iraqi people as a whole don't want freedom, most people do. They are afraid I am sure, and with good reason that we will cut and run and leave them to deal with tyrants who will punish them for siding with us.

Fighting terrorists on their turf, is certainly better than doing so on ours, and if you think for one moment that won't happen, or that we can somehow reason with you, you need to think again!

[Ann Archy]

It's about OUR FREEDOM, CYP!!! Do you want to be afraid of getting car-bombed when you go to a theatre or a restaurant or get on a bus??? GEESH!

These animals need to be CIVILIZED by us and SHOWN the way to a democracy.

They are NOT screaming ready for democracy because they have NEVER had it and their religion keeps them FROM the desire maybe......BUT, we need to force the issue because democracies do not attack each other!

[Milligan]

Forget about trying to set up a democratic government. Set up a twelve step program. ACS-Adult Children of Saddam.

[TheRedSoxWinThePennant]

yea Al-queda is in shambles 2/3rds are dead or captured And Iraq is its last stand. for if freedom takes root there its over for tehran, ryiahd and damascus.

[Senator Pardek]

I knew it was a mistake from Day One - but few listen to ol' Pardek.

[gunnut78]

My advice?

Quit watching CNN, CBS, NBC, ABC, and MSNBC. Get your news from a more reliable source. They portray the whole country as a war zone... in all reality it's only several cities!!

Have Faith!

[NYC GOP Chick]

As I said I am an avid supporter of the plan to bring an oasis of freedom and liberty to the 12th century toilet that is the middle east.

I'm an avid supporter of doing everything possible to make sure that despots and terrorists from that region can't hurt us ever again. If we somehow manage to successfully impose democracy on them, so much the better.

[Patriot Hooligan]

Come on! Look at the bigger picture, in other words the hidden truth. This is not about winning in Iraq or for Democracy in Iraq. This is about winning over here. It will take more than a one year war to send the message that we will not tolerate terrorists killing AMERICAN CITIZENS on the soil of THE UNITED STATES of AMERICA.

If we do not do this now, then we will be doing it here at a later date. OUR STREETS would become the battlefield. I wish that the anti-war people and those on the fence could only understand that their brothers and sisters are going half-way around the world and putting their lifes on the line for all of us and our AMERICA's future.

"GOD HAVE MERCY ON MY ENEMIES, BECAUSE I WON"T." GENERAL GEORGE S. PATTON

[Joe Hadenuf]

No American should be expected to die defending the home of another not willing to do the same.

I could not have said this any better. Excellent!

Being humane at the cost of more American lives is not acceptable