The Observation Deck

So you don't see any options, but you're ready to pull the plug on someone who does? 'Cause, hey, if I don't know how to fix it, I'll be damned if I'm going to let anyone else try! Isn't this the same reasoning that keeps the urinal leaking in Lakewood?

First of all, I think you're wrong in saying that this is "on us". Iraq took us to war by invading another nation. Iraq lost that war. as a result, Iraq signed a cease fire agreement specifying a long list of requirements. Iraq disregarded nearly every one of those requirements. Cease Fire VOID! This is not on us. First and foremost, it is on Sadaam Hussein. And any additional blame (if you need any) is on the international community that placated or in some cases even strengthened Sadaam's regime. taking bribes, selling arms, etc...

As for how I feel about how we're perceived in the world: I'm more upset that U.S. airmen were shot down using French ground to air missiles purchased with oil for food money. I'm more disappointed that Russian and Chinese diplomats lined their pockets in exchange for political pull on the U.N. security council. And I'm much more hurt that the U.S. media chooses to focus only on the negative of the war.

And I'm much more hurt that the U.S. media chooses to focus only on the negative of the war

And to whatever degree there are positives, do those outweigh the daily civil war death counts? And just what are the positives?

I don't know Bret. I'm not sure that there are any positives that outweigh the cost in American Lives, much less the collatteral damage.

But, as you said, it isn't on us, its on Iraq. Let's let them vote, and determine if the majority of them want us there. If not, we leave. Issue resolved.

Jeff

Next Career move for our MIA Congressional "REPRESENTative" ?

Do not expect denny to emulate X Mayor M White and his alpaca herd but instead think denny would make an excellent DAIRY FARMER !

One needs to only Look at how well he is MILKING his Cheney Impeach threat/announcement down to the LAST MOO .

Now because Cheney is sick? in hospital ? alive ? Breathing? - any of previous conditions - denny has temporally suspended? his plan and "will hold off until Cheney condition is clarified" .

Expect denny will probably be issuing daily medical updates on Cheney if it/they will get him more face time on TV , radio and papers . What a JOKE but only the latest chapter in his 40+ year Political behavior .

WAS a JOKE , IS a JOKE and will continue to be a JOKE - his legacy

Bret,
I am sorry but your post makes as much sense to me, as mine to you. WE gave Saddam money to build the oil, knowing he put the money into weapons. WE also gave Iran money for arms. Are there other countries that do that too? yes but WE are right there with them, and have been since Reagan Bush and Kissinger. There is no good to come of us invading Iraq and it had nothing to do with their weapons that we helped pay for. And you want ME to give the solutions of getting out of there? I never for one second thought we should be there.

The situation of Saddam Hussein's regime coming to power are obviously more complicated that white hat black hat.

Did he violate some of the conditions of the ceasefire? Maybe some of them. So what?

There was never any question we could mass destroy Iraq with conventional weapons. That doesn't make it a good idea to do so. We have subsequently proven it was a bad idea to do so. We have proven incapable of improving Iraq. That is why there are over 2 million refugees out of Iraq. Saddam Hussein didn't scare them enough to flee.

Iraqis didn't hijack a few jetliners and crash them into big U.S. Buildings. Any connections between Saddam Hussein and that activity are infinitely dwarved by connections between Saudi millionaires and that activity. Yet some people relentlessly parrot the phrase "9/11" when trying to motivate us to attack or stay in Iraq: They do this because they are Stupid, or because they are untrustworthy.

But Iraqis get to check off multiple choice questions on ballots a few times a year. Great. Americans can vote in Detroit, Cleveland, and Washington D.C. too. But most of them who work there choose not to live there. We really have spread modern Americanism to Iraq.

Here's what I want every pro-Iraq occupation dude to pony up to: The occupations of South Korea, Japan, Cuba, and many other bases are no longer necessary. We shut down those operations and move them to Iraq and maybe even West Africa/Sahara(they may have more oil).

The longterm prospects of the Middle East are doomed anyhow. Assuming Global Climate Change doesn't shift weather patterns to dump a severe increase in regular rainfall on the Middle East, the prospects of its survival are nil. Half the population there will be dead within 20 years, either through starvation or fighting over food or civil wars. Our only legitimate purpose there is to build a few fortresses and walled off enclaves to keep the oil flowing, to keep up the Happy Motoring economy of America.