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Iraq Questionable yes or no
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Theresa Alwood
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Joined: 05 Jun 2004
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Location: Florida

PostPosted: Mon Jul 17, 2006 2:36 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

As long as it takes. The next important question is....is there a politician who is out there who is willing to continue with the job at hand. We have no option but to win.
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1991932
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Joined: 02 Oct 2004
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Location: Massachusetts

PostPosted: Mon Jul 17, 2006 2:50 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Geez, Theresa, welcome back. It's been almost a year?

Your observation about our next President is right on the mark.

Unfortunately, only one political party seems up to the task. In reality, every patriotic and freedom-loving American should see the truth in your statement and insist that their chosen leaders promise to follow through.

I don't think you'll find many members of this forum who disagree with you. Many of us remember what it's like to be abandonned.
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dusty
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Joined: 27 Aug 2004
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PostPosted: Mon Jul 17, 2006 3:14 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Theresa is correct, the next president must continue the offensive. We really have no choice. And all we are really doing is effecting a delaying action of the inevitable.
It would take generations to change the mindset of the Muslim worldview if it were even possible. Which of course it isn't. Ishmael will never accept Isaac having the birthright and will forever seek to eliminate Israel from the face of the earth. And defeat any who would stand in the way of that goal.
Us.

And so is 1991932 correct.
I can't picture any of the Commiecrats with the possible exception of Leiberman filling that bill.

Good to see you back Theresa. Long time no hear from.

Dusty
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LimaCharlie
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Joined: 25 Aug 2004
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PostPosted: Mon Jul 17, 2006 3:13 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Deuce wrote:
Damn if that isn't the most eloquent, concise, representation of the current situation in the US I've read...LC are you Australian? If so, read the next excerpt from an unknown Australian's editorial in a Pakistani rag:
Deuce


Thank you for your kind words. I am not Australian, but have several American friends originally from Australia. I am an American with heritage from English, Scott-Irish, German, Dutch, Swiss, and Cherokee ancestors. I can only claim to be an American.

Prior to sending me as an advisor to Viet Nam, the U.S. Navy educated me in the history and religions of Southeast Asia so I could be more effective. In my opinion, the liberal/socialist/communist leaning people have watched too many Disney movies that have a happy ending wrapped up in an hour by just being nice and understanding your adversaries. If you don’t look in depth at the history and religion of each of the adversaries in a long-standing conflict, you can never have a long-term solution. Without annihilating one side in an age-old conflict, you can only hope for a negotiated somewhat peaceful standoff until their mindset changes. If the conflict has been ongoing for thousands of years, a timeline to pull out in a year or two is just a breather for the combatants.
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Theresa Alwood
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PostPosted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 3:08 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks guys. I do pop in every now and then...just read...swiftvets was a home for me during the election...it was nice to be with people who feel the way I do and understand what is at risk if we do not finish the job.

Seems like the average American does not realize that Freedom is not free...never has been, never will be. The cost of our freedom is up to us. We can never put a price tag on our freedom...the minute we do that...we all loose...all of us...republican or democrat.
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jalexson
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Joined: 11 May 2004
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PostPosted: Sun Oct 01, 2006 8:02 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

dusty wrote:
My vote goes with the "As long as it takes" group.

And who in the hell ever gave Congress the impression that they should micro-manage a war? Get these nay-sayers in Congress to shut up and this would be over with a lot sooner. As long as the Kerrys and Kennedys et al continue to give the terrorists hope that we will bail, they will keep their nerve up.
How many lives do they have to help end by their blustering and bloviating?
Shame on em all.

Dusty


Consider the record of Congress. While Congress was attempting to control foreign policy the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, North Vietnam launched a full invasion of the South and Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait.

As Nipsy Russell once put it. "'Pro' is the opposite of 'con'. If 'progress' means to move forward, what does 'Congress' mean."
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BuffaloJack
Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy


Joined: 10 Aug 2004
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PostPosted: Sun Oct 01, 2006 10:05 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Iraq NEEDS to be 3 separate countries. The whole Iraq problems is rooted in the Versailles Treaty and the European Imperialism in place at the end of the First World War. In carving up the remnants of the Ottoman Empire and forcing the various Islamic factions to live together, the result is a region of the World destined to constant problems and regional conflict. The Sunnis, the Kurds and the Shiites will never (repeat NEVER) get along or trust one another. Until the policy makers see this, the USA is destined to play referee to a constantly bickering and battling group of people who will be forever in conflict.
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jalexson
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Joined: 11 May 2004
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PostPosted: Mon Oct 02, 2006 4:03 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

BuffaloJack wrote:
Iraq NEEDS to be 3 separate countries. The whole Iraq problems is rooted in the Versailles Treaty and the European Imperialism in place at the end of the First World War. In carving up the remnants of the Ottoman Empire and forcing the various Islamic factions to live together, the result is a region of the World destined to constant problems and regional conflict. The Sunnis, the Kurds and the Shiites will never (repeat NEVER) get along or trust one another. Until the policy makers see this, the USA is destined to play referee to a constantly bickering and battling group of people who will be forever in conflict.


The hot dry climate of the Middle East tends to encourage conflict. I don't know if I would agree that they will never get along, but I don't expect it in our life time.
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jalexson
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PostPosted: Mon Oct 02, 2006 4:32 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I thought about posting the following as a new thread, but since there is already an Iraq thread I'll post it here.

Football can teach us an important lesson. You greatly increase your chances of winning if you spend as much of the game as possible in your opponents territory - his end of the field.

It has been said that the goal in war is not to die for your country, but to make the other guy die for his country. An important secondary goal is to make him die IN his country.

We have a better chance of outlasting the terrorists if we fight in the countries they come from rather than our own country. The War on Terror is an endurance contest like the Cold War rather than a 100 yard dash like WWII. We won the Cold War because we outlasted the Soviet Union, not because we defeated it.

The recent claim that the invasion of Iraq has helped Osama bin Laden recruit terrorists ignores the fact that he wasn't having any trouble recruiting terrorists before the invasion of Iraq. He apparently could have hijacked more planes on 9/11 if he had wanted to.

Before 9/11 Osama used the presence of American troops in Saudi Arabia to recruit terrorists [the troops were there to contain Saddam Hussein]. Raids on his camps in Afghanistan captured a large number of terrorists in training. Osama then used the presence of our troops in Afghanistan for recruitment.

Iraq has forced Osama to be less selective in his recruitment. He no longer takes the precautions in choosing terrorists he did before we invaded Iraq. He is more likely to end up with recruits who will make mistakes that cause the death or capture of him or his commanders. One of the new recruits might even be more likely to seek a reward for killing or capturing al Qaeda leaders.

The presence of American troops in Iraq forces terrorists to either allow us to establish our form of government there or die trying to prevent it. Terrorists fighting in Iraq have to face our well armed professional military personnel instead of our unarmed civilian population at home.
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Deuce
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Joined: 19 Mar 2005
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PostPosted: Thu Oct 05, 2006 12:35 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Wow,
Theresa, jalexson, all,

You are all more eloquent than I could ever be, but on Iraq, our guru of Statesmanship, Henry Kissinger, said my sentiments exactly, recently:

"Victory is the only Exit Strategy"!

kinda Reaganesque, isn't it!
Deuce
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Theresa Alwood
Rear Admiral


Joined: 05 Jun 2004
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Location: Florida

PostPosted: Sun Nov 05, 2006 12:46 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Dont ya wonder why half of the American population just does not get it. Kind of scares me and wonders what will happen if the republican party looses the senate...first order of business I see the democrats trying to do is try to impeach President Bush. We have heard so much about how he has mislead the American people...I just do not understand how people can not look past the fact that we are in Iraq and regardless of if you agree it was wrong or right we are there and must do everything to win this war. I tell people at work since I live in a Blue State Crying or Very sad that you get what you vote for and if my chance the republican's loose I will just tell them you voted for it so quit whining. I will have no sympathy, nor cut them any breaks. I just do not understand why the republican party often sits back and does nothing to fight for their way of life. I am proud to be an American first, conservative second and a republican third.
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jalexson
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PostPosted: Sat Nov 11, 2006 6:06 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Consider what can happen after the fall of a tyrant.
After the fall of the French monarchy in the late 18th Century, France suffered from rule by the guillitine and then the coming of Napoleon who conquered western Europe into Russia.

After the fall of the Russian monarchy during WWI a long period of anarchy and civil war followed with Lenin eventually gaining control of the country and establishing a dictatorship.

The fall of the Shah of Iran in the 1970's led to the takeover of the American embassy and a war with Iraq.

Iraq has various individuals who would like to become another Saddam Hussein. Withdrawal of American forces before Iraqis have established a stable government could eventually force us to send troops back into the region to fight another imperialistic tyrant.
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Deuce
Senior Chief Petty Officer


Joined: 19 Mar 2005
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PostPosted: Sat Nov 11, 2006 2:12 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

jalexson,

Your absolutely spot-on reasoning shows that our Congress has "forgotten history" and is doomed to repeat it!
Quote:
Consider the record of Congress. While Congress was attempting to control foreign policy the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, North Vietnam launched a full invasion of the South and Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait.
The Progressives (communists) today have taken the 'Neville Chamberlain" suicide path to a new level. Britain almost 'committed suicide' during WWII, til we pulled their pants out of the fire with our blood...I'm afraid our Congress is meeting as we speak to go down the same path....but I'm gonna quit there, since it's Veterans' Day, and I really do think we can stay on a positive thoughts only basis for one more day.
more later...

Deuce
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BuffaloJack
Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy


Joined: 10 Aug 2004
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Location: Buffalo, New York

PostPosted: Mon Nov 20, 2006 5:42 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
Kissinger: Iraq Military Win Impossible
LONDON -- Military victory is no longer possible in Iraq, former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger said in a television interview broadcast Sunday.

Kissinger presented a bleak vision of Iraq, saying the U.S. government must enter into dialogue with Iraq's regional neighbors _ including Iran _ if progress is to be made in the region.

"If you mean by 'military victory' an Iraqi government that can be established and whose writ runs across the whole country, that gets the civil war under control and sectarian violence under control in a time period that the political processes of the democracies will support, I don't believe that is possible," he told the British Broadcasting Corp.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/19/AR2006111900287_pf.html


I might be inclined to agree with Kissinger's assessment, but with a few changes.
If one looks at Viet Nam you will see that the communists took over in 1975 and in the 31 years since, the communist way of life has gradually been supplanted with the capitalist lifestyle that was engrained in the South. Now the Vietnamese government is communist in name but capitalist throughout most of its civilian enterprises.
I think that we need to stay in Iraq long enough for much of the populace to enjoy freedom and enterprise and get used to it. Then when we pull out, the seeds of an elected republic culture will be sufficient to resist the mullahs and their radicalism. Iraq might even wind up as a state similar to Turkey.
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jalexson
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PostPosted: Mon Dec 18, 2006 5:02 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

BuffaloJack wrote:
Quote:
Kissinger: Iraq Military Win Impossible
LONDON -- Military victory is no longer possible in Iraq, former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger said in a television interview broadcast Sunday.

Kissinger presented a bleak vision of Iraq, saying the U.S. government must enter into dialogue with Iraq's regional neighbors _ including Iran _ if progress is to be made in the region.

"If you mean by 'military victory' an Iraqi government that can be established and whose writ runs across the whole country, that gets the civil war under control and sectarian violence under control in a time period that the political processes of the democracies will support, I don't believe that is possible," he told the British Broadcasting Corp.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/19/AR2006111900287_pf.html


I might be inclined to agree with Kissinger's assessment, but with a few changes.
If one looks at Viet Nam you will see that the communists took over in 1975 and in the 31 years since, the communist way of life has gradually been supplanted with the capitalist lifestyle that was engrained in the South. Now the Vietnamese government is communist in name but capitalist throughout most of its civilian enterprises.
I think that we need to stay in Iraq long enough for much of the populace to enjoy freedom and enterprise and get used to it. Then when we pull out, the seeds of an elected republic culture will be sufficient to resist the mullahs and their radicalism. Iraq might even wind up as a state similar to Turkey.


Great Post Exclamation
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