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Seeds of hate
Abstract:
"They hate us because we're free," President Bush declared shortly after the attacks on Sept. 11....
- Displaying 1 - 31 of 31
Brad Linzy, Evansville, IN
posted 10/03/07 @ 1:57 AM CST
Good article... But there is a desperate matter that needs all Ron Paul supporters' attention!
States are CLOSING THEIR PRIMARIES!!! http://www.gambling911.com/Ron-Paul-New-Voting-Rules-100307.html
This is the latest nefarious push by the powers that be to keep Ron Paul out of the White House. They are scared and they are trying to destroy his candidacy.
Closing the primaries means that if you live in a state where Democrats and Independents are able to vote in the Republican primary, THAT MAY NO LONGER BE TRUE!!!
In some states like New Hampshire and New York, you only have till OCTOBER 12th to change your party affiliation, according to the article linked above. This is breaking news, so please pass the word NOW!!!
Register Republican OCTOBER 12th! Do some research and find out for sure. Better safe than sorry.
States are CLOSING THEIR PRIMARIES!!! http://www.gambling911.com/Ron-Paul-New-Voting-Rules-100307.html
This is the latest nefarious push by the powers that be to keep Ron Paul out of the White House. They are scared and they are trying to destroy his candidacy.
Closing the primaries means that if you live in a state where Democrats and Independents are able to vote in the Republican primary, THAT MAY NO LONGER BE TRUE!!!
In some states like New Hampshire and New York, you only have till OCTOBER 12th to change your party affiliation, according to the article linked above. This is breaking news, so please pass the word NOW!!!
Register Republican OCTOBER 12th! Do some research and find out for sure. Better safe than sorry.
Ryan
posted 10/03/07 @ 6:30 AM CST
While as a Republican who believes the was was misconceived and managed, I also believe that there are more reasons as to why terrorists hate us. The war has just given them, in their small minds, justification for what they do. In other words, they are only doing things in self-defense against the imperialistic west. Perhaps if the war was managed successfully and our enemy were truly understood then this would be a moot point and Iraq might have a functioning democracy. Foreign policy plays a huge role in our image, and unfortunately it's making us look very very bad.
AG09
posted 10/03/07 @ 9:32 AM CST
There was justification for the War in Iraq. First of all Saddam was harboring terrorists in Iraq. Secondly, he was killing thousands of citizens OF HIS OWN COUNTRY! Although there is still violence in Iraq, it is a better country today than it was before the US entered. And besides getting all your news from CNN maybe you should actually try asking our men and women in uniform that have served in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Paul Mason
posted 10/03/07 @ 9:59 AM CST
[QUOTE id="a2fb6e00-e16f-4531-92d5-559c7070299c"]There was justification for the War in Iraq."
NO, there was not! First, it is unconstitutional. Our constitution does not allow for naked aggression. Iraq did not attack us nor was it involved in 9-11. Secondly, only Congress can declare war. Congress's shameful (and illegal) transfer of undelagable powers to Bush to be the sole decider of sending the military off to war is unforgivable. Third, it doesn't matter what the Iraqis might be doing to whomever, if it doesn't constitute a direct threat to the safety of our nation then we have no business intervening. The overriding problem, however, stems from the fact that the Bush administration knowingly concocted false information to bolster his case for invasion and fed this to both the American people and the UN. This fact alone precludes any notion that the US had any legal right to invade Iraq.
NO, there was not! First, it is unconstitutional. Our constitution does not allow for naked aggression. Iraq did not attack us nor was it involved in 9-11. Secondly, only Congress can declare war. Congress's shameful (and illegal) transfer of undelagable powers to Bush to be the sole decider of sending the military off to war is unforgivable. Third, it doesn't matter what the Iraqis might be doing to whomever, if it doesn't constitute a direct threat to the safety of our nation then we have no business intervening. The overriding problem, however, stems from the fact that the Bush administration knowingly concocted false information to bolster his case for invasion and fed this to both the American people and the UN. This fact alone precludes any notion that the US had any legal right to invade Iraq.
FtHoodAg
posted 10/03/07 @ 10:30 AM CST
Originally posted byAG09
There was justification for the War in Iraq. First of all Saddam was harboring terrorists in Iraq. Secondly, he was killing thousands of citizens OF HIS OWN COUNTRY! Although there is still violence in Iraq, it is a better country today than it was before the US entered. And besides getting all your news from CNN maybe you should actually try asking our men and women in uniform that have served in Iraq and Afghanistan.
I have mixed feelings on everything. Sure Saddam was harboring terrorists, and yes, we all know that he was killing his own people. BUT - when our country offers diplomatic immunity to someone from another country (consider that "harboring" if you will), does that country dare occupy us? Do they send ground troops by the thousands and search our houses and walk our streets? They might send a sniper or assassin, but they don't wage war.
That's what we should have concentrated more on. Keeping a low profile and just silently picking off the bad guys. We have special forces in every branch of our military that are able to pull off top secret missions everyday. We had special forces troops in Iraq and Afghanistan immediately after the twin towers fell, looking for people, and then gone without a trace. I'm not saying that we should have left everything up to a few hundred troops, but this war was so poorly planned, and the reasons were so vague (WMD, terrorists, "axis of evil")that they shouldn't have gone in so blindly and cost so many Americans their lives.
And before you really get on the "Iraq is a better country" soap box, try researching where that information is coming from. When someone from DC goes to Iraq or Afghanistan for reporting purposes, they have an entourage of fully armed security. For Pete's sake, my neighbor's husband was one of the 20 troops pulling guard for Geraldo Rivera!! Do you know how many guys were assigned to Dick Chaney? No wonder they're reporting how much safer and "better" the country is. I'd feel pretty darn safe too. And "better" is such a relative term. Better than what? What are we compairing it to?
But asking the troops personally is a great idea. My husband, an infantryman for 7 years, is currently in Iraq, has already been to Afghanistan, and he is very straight forward and will tell you exactly how it is and what's really going on. He would love to hear from you and answer questions: sickseven21@yahoo.com
Miranda
posted 10/03/07 @ 11:07 AM CST
Paul Mason, have you read the U.S. Constitution? Congress did declare war in Iraq. Not the President. They (Congress) are constitutionally guaranteed the right to do so.
http://www.c-span.org/resources/pdf/hjres114.pdf
Document entitled "Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002", approved by a majority in Congress)
Seriously, everybody needs to read this. It lists all the reasons for the War in Iraq. This wasn't written by Bush or Republicans, but a bipartisan committee, and was signed by Republicans and Democrats alike.
And yes, it does matter what the government of Iraq is doing to others. The United States is on the UN Security Council, and was one of 144 countries to attend and sign the International Genocide Convention. This convention obligate signatories to "prevent and punish" genocide wherever it is occurring.
Genocide is defined by Article 2 of the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Genocide as "intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group, as such" in accordance to one of 5 methods, including; killing members of the group, causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group, or deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part. Surely you aren't going to argue that Saddam and his government were doing this to the Kurds in Iraq? The hundreds of thousands of people buried in mass graves under Saddam would surely think so-
http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/10/13/iraq.graves/
And do you have some evidence to back up your statement that "he Bush administration knowingly concocted false information to bolster his case for invasion"? Because if you don't then you are the one concocting false information.
http://www.c-span.org/resources/pdf/hjres114.pdf
Document entitled "Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002", approved by a majority in Congress)
Seriously, everybody needs to read this. It lists all the reasons for the War in Iraq. This wasn't written by Bush or Republicans, but a bipartisan committee, and was signed by Republicans and Democrats alike.
And yes, it does matter what the government of Iraq is doing to others. The United States is on the UN Security Council, and was one of 144 countries to attend and sign the International Genocide Convention. This convention obligate signatories to "prevent and punish" genocide wherever it is occurring.
Genocide is defined by Article 2 of the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Genocide as "intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group, as such" in accordance to one of 5 methods, including; killing members of the group, causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group, or deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part. Surely you aren't going to argue that Saddam and his government were doing this to the Kurds in Iraq? The hundreds of thousands of people buried in mass graves under Saddam would surely think so-
http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/10/13/iraq.graves/
And do you have some evidence to back up your statement that "he Bush administration knowingly concocted false information to bolster his case for invasion"? Because if you don't then you are the one concocting false information.
Michael
posted 10/03/07 @ 6:37 PM CST
Originally posted byAG09
[Saddam] was killing thousands of citizens OF HIS OWN COUNTRY! .
Saddam gassed his own people in the 80's. Why the 20 year delay?
kyle
posted 10/10/07 @ 2:58 PM CST
Originally posted byAG09
There was justification for the War in Iraq. First of all Saddam was harboring terrorists in Iraq. Secondly, he was killing thousands of citizens OF HIS OWN COUNTRY! Although there is still violence in Iraq, it is a better country today than it was before the US entered. And besides getting all your news from CNN maybe you should actually try asking our men and women in uniform that have served in Iraq and Afghanistan.
So if a country harbors terrorist they should be invaded? well why have we not invaded saudi arabia? they are the LARGEST harboring state in the world and we are like best buds with them why? because they have oil!
oh and we invade a country because its leader is killing its civilians or because many civilians are dying? well looks like we will be invadeing rawanda, sudan, somalia, myramar,the congo, the CRA, and a load of other countries in which more civilians have died than sadam ever killed! the only reason we dont is because these countries have very few natural resources!
if we invade a country for moral reasons we should definitely invade the country that needs the most help, iraq was not that country!
but i guess when you get all your news from FOX news your going to think that every decision the US makes is the right one.
oh, and polls in the armed services say that iraq is not going well, the troops are against the war, and so are the generals. the generals also advised against going into iraq in the first place.
pandit
posted 10/10/07 @ 7:00 PM CST
Originally posted byAG09
There was justification for the War in Iraq. First of all Saddam was harboring terrorists in Iraq. Secondly, he was killing thousands of citizens OF HIS OWN COUNTRY! Although there is still violence in Iraq, it is a better country today than it was before the US entered. And besides getting all your news from CNN maybe you should actually try asking our men and women in uniform that have served in Iraq and Afghanistan.
do you realize that Ron Paul has recieved more funding from our servicemen and women than any other republican candidate? Maybe they aren't as excited about American imperialism as you assume.
Orat
posted 10/10/07 @ 8:21 PM CST
Originally posted byAG09
Miranda
posted 10/03/07 @ 11:07 AM CST
And do you have some evidence to back up your statement that "he Bush administration knowingly concocted false information to bolster his case for invasion"? Because if you don't then you are the one concocting false information.
It ain't pretty, but here's a step-by-step Q&A that takes you through the whole ugly mess:
http://www.anbsoft.com/ronpaul/ron_paul_and_iraq.html
Pay particular attention to the fourth and fifth items. I used to be a strong supporter of the war, but I realized I was betrayed. We were misled, to say the least.
Oh, and to the one who said to ask our men and women in uniform what they think, I HAVE! And we've got a bunch of them as members of our Ron Paul meetup group, if that tells you anything. A few of them are on their second or third Iraq deployments. Why don't YOU listen to our troops?
Paul F
posted 10/03/07 @ 9:54 AM CST
AG- There are 'terrorists' in every country. Iraq had nothing to do with 9-11. Neither did it have WMD's. If it did, you can guarantee we wouldn't have invaded them. His violence against his people pales into insignificance compared to most African countries for a start. Should we invade and overthrow Zimbabwe. Well, we wont because it wont benefit us. Not much oil there. You are dilluded if you think the situation is now better than it was. The country is well and truly fucked. Millions have died, with no end in sight. You will look back in 20 years and see it as worse than when you fucked up Vietnam. Good job America/ Britain.
Will
posted 10/03/07 @ 1:05 PM CST
Originally posted byPaul F
AG- There are 'terrorists' in every country. Iraq had nothing to do with 9-11. Neither did it have WMD's. If it did, you can guarantee we wouldn't have invaded them. His violence against his people pales into insignificance compared to most African countries for a start. Should we invade and overthrow Zimbabwe. Well, we wont because it wont benefit us. Not much oil there. You are dilluded if you think the situation is now better than it was. The country is well and truly fucked. Millions have died, with no end in sight. You will look back in 20 years and see it as worse than when you fucked up Vietnam. Good job America/ Britain.
With all due respect, it would be hard for me to disagree more with your opinion. The argument that Sadam Hussein did not have WMDs falls flat when you consider that: 1) He launched gas attacks against his own people, 2) We have found chemical weapons in Iraq
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/13/AR2005081300530.html
and 3) We have reason to believe that WMDs were loaded onto unmarked planes before our invasion and flown into Syria.
http://www.nysun.com/article/26514?page_no=1
Next, liberating a people from an oppressive regime is not a bad thing, but a noble thing. It's not necessary to always think of ourselves first without stopping to help those less fortunate than ourselves. Now, I agree that we cannot march into every single country that has oppressed people, but that does not mean that we should just keep away entirely and not do what we can. Also, I guess I must be deluded =), but I don't think there's any question that Iraqis are better off now than under Sadam Hussein. When one considers that he would throw people into machines designed to shred plastic, one gets a picture of what life was like. In stating that millions have died, you may be referring to Vietnam and Iraq combined, but if not, I would say that your estimate is extremely high.
Finally, the reason that Vietnam turned out so poorly is because we pulled out (b/c Congress cut all funding) and left those we had sworn to protect, the South Vietnamese, at the mercy of the Communist North, and of Pol Pot's regime in Cambodia. Hundreds of thousands were executed, died in prison, or were forced out of the cities to fend for themselves. We even had to evacuate our embassy in a hurry because the North Vietnamese were coming into Saigon.
Anyway, I respect your right to your own opinion, but I'd be more interested in hearing your suggestions on how we should proceed as opposed to hearing all of the reasons why we're selfish and wrong.
Sincerely, Will
Amanda
posted 10/03/07 @ 6:19 PM CST
Originally posted byPaul F
AG- There are 'terrorists' in every country. Iraq had nothing to do with 9-11. Neither did it have WMD's. If it did, you can guarantee we wouldn't have invaded them. His violence against his people pales into insignificance compared to most African countries for a start. Should we invade and overthrow Zimbabwe. Well, we wont because it wont benefit us. Not much oil there. You are dilluded if you think the situation is now better than it was. The country is well and truly fucked. Millions have died, with no end in sight. You will look back in 20 years and see it as worse than when you fucked up Vietnam. Good job America/ Britain.
Not even the Iraqis think they are better off now than under Saddam-- thousands and thosands are seeking refuge in neighboring countrie, and here
G
posted 10/08/07 @ 3:19 PM CST
[QUOTE id="c190b74d-b9f0-4ed9-8ed2-de7eda188f70"]AG- There are 'terrorists' in every country. Iraq had nothing to do with 9-11. Neither did it have WMD's. If it did, you can guarantee we wouldn't have invaded them. His violence against his people pales into insignificance compared to most African countries for a start. Should we invade and overthrow Zimbabwe. Well, we wont because it wont benefit us. Not much oil there. You are dilluded if you think the situation is now better than it was. The country is well and truly fucked. Millions have died, with no end in sight. You will look back in 20 years and see it as worse than when you fucked up Vietnam. Good job America/ Britain.[/QUOTE
Paul F- I would be more than happy to buy you a plane ticket to Vietnam Zimbabwe or any other country of your choice, since your posting has made it blatantly apparent that you are unhappy with this one, of which I suspect you are not a citizen. At any rate, citizen or not, here you sit slamming a land that has no doubt given you so much. Be thankful for the right and God's blessing that you may so outlandishly castrate this country and its men an women. For I suspect that if you were sitting in Iraq or Afghanistan under persecution or fear of unjust punishment, you wouldn't be so quick to turn away the helping hand of American armed forces to there to grant you freedom. But I guess according to you, helping others equates to "fucking up." Well if thats the case, I hope we do it more often.
Again, please feel free to leave this country. I can assure you...your negativity could be put to better use somewhere else.
Paul F- I would be more than happy to buy you a plane ticket to Vietnam Zimbabwe or any other country of your choice, since your posting has made it blatantly apparent that you are unhappy with this one, of which I suspect you are not a citizen. At any rate, citizen or not, here you sit slamming a land that has no doubt given you so much. Be thankful for the right and God's blessing that you may so outlandishly castrate this country and its men an women. For I suspect that if you were sitting in Iraq or Afghanistan under persecution or fear of unjust punishment, you wouldn't be so quick to turn away the helping hand of American armed forces to there to grant you freedom. But I guess according to you, helping others equates to "fucking up." Well if thats the case, I hope we do it more often.
Again, please feel free to leave this country. I can assure you...your negativity could be put to better use somewhere else.
Lee Ann '03
posted 10/03/07 @ 10:18 AM CST
To the author of this article: Thank you for hilighting the uninformed and blissfully ignorant views of liberals. Obviously you have not read any part of history with regards to Islam and the Middle East. Do you know that the Islamists believe a retreat by the US would be the best thing possible? They believe it will give them time to regroup and plan a more heinous and deadly attack than the Sept. 11th attacks. And you do realize that a large percentage of the civilian deaths in the Middle East are the result of suicide bombers, right? Regardless of a US presence, these monsters would blow their own countrymen up for religious reasons.
People like you are poisoning this country. I sincerely hope that Texas A&M is still the conservative school that it was when I attended and that there are still people there who are patriots and who care about the future of our country. Do the research, do not listen to people like this and the main stream media. America needs the benefit of a grassroots revolution!
People like you are poisoning this country. I sincerely hope that Texas A&M is still the conservative school that it was when I attended and that there are still people there who are patriots and who care about the future of our country. Do the research, do not listen to people like this and the main stream media. America needs the benefit of a grassroots revolution!
Amanda Kiser
posted 10/03/07 @ 11:38 AM CST
Originally posted byLee Ann '03
To the author of this article: Thank you for hilighting the uninformed and blissfully ignorant views of liberals. Obviously you have not read any part of history with regards to Islam and the Middle East. Do you know that the Islamists believe a retreat by the US would be the best thing possible? They believe it will give them time to regroup and plan a more heinous and deadly attack than the Sept. 11th attacks. And you do realize that a large percentage of the civilian deaths in the Middle East are the result of suicide bombers, right? Regardless of a US presence, these monsters would blow their own countrymen up for religious reasons.
People like you are poisoning this country. I sincerely hope that Texas A&M is still the conservative school that it was when I attended and that there are still people there who are patriots and who care about the future of our country. Do the research, do not listen to people like this and the main stream media. America needs the benefit of a grassroots revolution!
I find it a bit ironic that someone speculating about the motives, wishes, and future plans of Islamic fundamentalists would accuse the writer of this article, who cited numerous historical examples in explaining his assesment of this situation of being "blissfully ignorant," or of "poisoning this country." Great article, Wes. Very brave.
open-minded individual
posted 10/03/07 @ 5:09 PM CST
Originally posted byLee Ann '03
To the author of this article: Thank you for hilighting the uninformed and blissfully ignorant views of liberals. Obviously you have not read any part of history with regards to Islam and the Middle East. Do you know that the Islamists believe a retreat by the US would be the best thing possible? They believe it will give them time to regroup and plan a more heinous and deadly attack than the Sept. 11th attacks. And you do realize that a large percentage of the civilian deaths in the Middle East are the result of suicide bombers, right? Regardless of a US presence, these monsters would blow their own countrymen up for religious reasons.
People like you are poisoning this country. I sincerely hope that Texas A&M is still the conservative school that it was when I attended and that there are still people there who are patriots and who care about the future of our country. Do the research, do not listen to people like this and the main stream media. America needs the benefit of a grassroots revolution!
Lee Ann, your ignorance is showing. Yours is the very same bigoted attitude toward all Muslims that's put the U.S. in the mess we're in today. You're judging an entire religion and all the varied cultures and countries that go with it based on a very radical minority. I don't know what kind of history you claim to have read, but your treatment of "the Islamists [sic]" is no better than if the rest of the world judged every nation with Christians in it on the actions of the KKK, or the fanatics who started the Crusades. I'm not saying that either side is blameless, but nothing will ever be resolved if both sides insist on ignorantly misjudging each other.
Thank you, Mr. Kimbell, for an outstanding column. It's a shame most people have already made up their minds about where they stand on these issues.
JBob, 03
posted 10/03/07 @ 11:34 AM CST
Great article, especially since it comes from such a bastion of warmongering, close-minded, militaristic, "patriotism" as TAMU. I made the mistake of going there, I know.
David
posted 10/09/07 @ 12:25 AM CST
Originally posted byJBob, 03
Great article, especially since it comes from such a bastion of warmongering, close-minded, militaristic, "patriotism" as TAMU. I made the mistake of going there, I know.
Regardless of what you think of TAMU or how little you enjoyed your experience here, this is an unnecessary and uncalled-for jab at the University. This has little to do with the article at hand. If you wish to make your discontent with TAMU known among Aggies, it would better serve your purpose to write your own article for Mail Call.
MichaelP
posted 10/03/07 @ 11:48 AM CST
Great write up Wes.
I have been a strict conservative for the past 30 years.
Your last paragraph rings so true!
""If we think we can do whatever we want around the world and not incite hatred, then we have a problem.""
Stay out of entangling alliances, no nation building, and don't police the world. We can't afford it and we are going broke from it. We are doing so while leaving a huge debt for future generations.
Thank you Wes for standing up and telling them how it really is. So many so called "conservatives" have forgotten what a humble foreign policy is all about.
I have been a strict conservative for the past 30 years.
Your last paragraph rings so true!
""If we think we can do whatever we want around the world and not incite hatred, then we have a problem.""
Stay out of entangling alliances, no nation building, and don't police the world. We can't afford it and we are going broke from it. We are doing so while leaving a huge debt for future generations.
Thank you Wes for standing up and telling them how it really is. So many so called "conservatives" have forgotten what a humble foreign policy is all about.
Anon
posted 10/03/07 @ 12:19 PM CST
I wish Republicans would realize that Bush and Cheney are not Republicans, they are Neocons. They is not the same things. Ron Paul is a true Republican and I really hope the Republicans realize this and vote for him.
Alice
posted 10/03/07 @ 1:53 PM CST
I'm glad to see TAMU students supporting rational foreign policy and supporting Ron Paul!
Alice, TAMU class of '92
San Antonio
Alice, TAMU class of '92
San Antonio
Grant Fisher
posted 10/03/07 @ 5:06 PM CST
While I think that it would be nice to know exactly what issue Islamic Terrorists have for despising us so much so that we can then go about addressing that issue (and you can debate endlessly how to "address" it) I also think its a moot point. Of much more importance to my way of thinking is recognizing that they DO hate us because, astounding as it may be, not everyone seems to really get this concept. And then once we do acknowledge that there are a group of people out there who DO hate us, identifying them and being honest about it is also necessary.
This article does a fair job of recognizing that it is, almost exclusively, Islamic Terrorism we are fighting and I think that's important. Its important because in order to actually combat an enemy, you have to first know who that enemy is. Knowing their motivation is nice, because it helps rationalize things and provides a basis for settlement after the conflict, but its not necessary to actually defend yourself. We're still in the fighting stage and will be for a long time. Once we get closer to Victory, and we will be Victorious, then we can worry about the Why so we can make sure this problem doesn't rear its head again.
As for the "Iraq Debate" its really a moot point isn't it? We're there, we'd have to fight Al-Qaeda somewhere, might as well be there. If we have to launch further military campaigns in the Middle East in the future, its not a bad base to operate out of as well. Personally I think that no matter where we confronted the Terrorism Threat, people would find something to complain about. Personally, I see nothing good coming from endless accusations of mismanagement, bad reasoning for going in the first place, etc ad nauseum. The fact of the matter is, we're there now, we can't realistically leave, might as well just go with it and make the best of the situation, making sure we learn from our mistakes so that the next time we do this, and there will be a next time, make no mistake about it, we do a better, more efficient job.
Grant Fisher
Class of 2010
Political Science
This article does a fair job of recognizing that it is, almost exclusively, Islamic Terrorism we are fighting and I think that's important. Its important because in order to actually combat an enemy, you have to first know who that enemy is. Knowing their motivation is nice, because it helps rationalize things and provides a basis for settlement after the conflict, but its not necessary to actually defend yourself. We're still in the fighting stage and will be for a long time. Once we get closer to Victory, and we will be Victorious, then we can worry about the Why so we can make sure this problem doesn't rear its head again.
As for the "Iraq Debate" its really a moot point isn't it? We're there, we'd have to fight Al-Qaeda somewhere, might as well be there. If we have to launch further military campaigns in the Middle East in the future, its not a bad base to operate out of as well. Personally I think that no matter where we confronted the Terrorism Threat, people would find something to complain about. Personally, I see nothing good coming from endless accusations of mismanagement, bad reasoning for going in the first place, etc ad nauseum. The fact of the matter is, we're there now, we can't realistically leave, might as well just go with it and make the best of the situation, making sure we learn from our mistakes so that the next time we do this, and there will be a next time, make no mistake about it, we do a better, more efficient job.
Grant Fisher
Class of 2010
Political Science
Sarah
posted 10/03/07 @ 6:25 PM CST
Originally posted byGrant Fisher
While I think that it would be nice to know exactly what issue Islamic Terrorists have for despising us so much so that we can then go about addressing that issue (and you can debate endlessly how to "address" it) I also think its a moot point. Of much more importance to my way of thinking is recognizing that they DO hate us because, astounding as it may be, not everyone seems to really get this concept. And then once we do acknowledge that there are a group of people out there who DO hate us, identifying them and being honest about it is also necessary.
This article does a fair job of recognizing that it is, almost exclusively, Islamic Terrorism we are fighting and I think that's important. Its important because in order to actually combat an enemy, you have to first know who that enemy is. Knowing their motivation is nice, because it helps rationalize things and provides a basis for settlement after the conflict, but its not necessary to actually defend yourself. We're still in the fighting stage and will be for a long time. Once we get closer to Victory, and we will be Victorious, then we can worry about the Why so we can make sure this problem doesn't rear its head again.
As for the "Iraq Debate" its really a moot point isn't it? We're there, we'd have to fight Al-Qaeda somewhere, might as well be there. If we have to launch further military campaigns in the Middle East in the future, its not a bad base to operate out of as well. Personally I think that no matter where we confronted the Terrorism Threat, people would find something to complain about. Personally, I see nothing good coming from endless accusations of mismanagement, bad reasoning for going in the first place, etc ad nauseum. The fact of the matter is, we're there now, we can't realistically leave, might as well just go with it and make the best of the situation, making sure we learn from our mistakes so that the next time we do this, and there will be a next time, make no mistake about it, we do a better, more efficient job.
Grant Fisher
Class of 2010
Political Science
Grant, you're an idiot. I'm glad to see you still have plenty of time in college to learn better.
Melanie
posted 10/11/07 @ 10:14 AM CST
Originally posted byGrant Fisher
While I think that it would be nice to know exactly what issue Islamic Terrorists have for despising us so much so that we can then go about addressing that issue (and you can debate endlessly how to "address" it) I also think its a moot point. Of much more importance to my way of thinking is recognizing that they DO hate us because, astounding as it may be, not everyone seems to really get this concept. And then once we do acknowledge that there are a group of people out there who DO hate us, identifying them and being honest about it is also necessary.
This article does a fair job of recognizing that it is, almost exclusively, Islamic Terrorism we are fighting and I think that's important. Its important because in order to actually combat an enemy, you have to first know who that enemy is. Knowing their motivation is nice, because it helps rationalize things and provides a basis for settlement after the conflict, but its not necessary to actually defend yourself. We're still in the fighting stage and will be for a long time. Once we get closer to Victory, and we will be Victorious, then we can worry about the Why so we can make sure this problem doesn't rear its head again.
As for the "Iraq Debate" its really a moot point isn't it? We're there, we'd have to fight Al-Qaeda somewhere, might as well be there. If we have to launch further military campaigns in the Middle East in the future, its not a bad base to operate out of as well. Personally I think that no matter where we confronted the Terrorism Threat, people would find something to complain about. Personally, I see nothing good coming from endless accusations of mismanagement, bad reasoning for going in the first place, etc ad nauseum. The fact of the matter is, we're there now, we can't realistically leave, might as well just go with it and make the best of the situation, making sure we learn from our mistakes so that the next time we do this, and there will be a next time, make no mistake about it, we do a better, more efficient job.
Grant Fisher
Class of 2010
Political Science
Coming to you from the not so great minds of the Future Neocon Politicians of America, Future Congressman Fisher pointedly states the current talking points with ease. Beware Future & Current Socially Responsible Voting Adults of America it's your job to stop the lunacy.
Peggy Class of '80
posted 10/03/07 @ 11:09 PM CST
Whether you agree with the war or not, do you guys realize that it is costing America $2 billion a week to operate (this figure does not include the ultimate cost of American lives lost), and this money is being borrowed from China to be repaid by guess who...YOU!!!
How long and at what cost are you willing to mortgage your future? I am more afraid of the debt we will owe the Chinese when Americans finally decide they have had enough of this endless war.
How long and at what cost are you willing to mortgage your future? I am more afraid of the debt we will owe the Chinese when Americans finally decide they have had enough of this endless war.
Daniel
posted 10/08/07 @ 11:04 AM CST
Great article Wes. It embellishes on Ron Paul's statements quite well.
Our occupation in Iraq is doing us no good. We're solving the problem of today only to throw more fuel on the fire tomorrow. The more we're in Iraq, the more reasons the entire Middle East has to fear and hate us. This causes more terrorism to sprout which makes our self-proclaimed "job" that much harder tomorrow.
Our occupation in Iraq is doing us no good. We're solving the problem of today only to throw more fuel on the fire tomorrow. The more we're in Iraq, the more reasons the entire Middle East has to fear and hate us. This causes more terrorism to sprout which makes our self-proclaimed "job" that much harder tomorrow.
Preston Wiginton 2010
posted 10/16/07 @ 6:36 PM CST
Has anyone ever cared to see what former president of TAMU Robert Gates was doing 20 - 25 years ago?
He and what the CIA were doing is the main reason people in the middle east and Russia hate us.
Gates was even behind funding Chechnes to rape rob and murder Russians. Yes I have been to Russia to hear stories of what went on their southern border. I have spoken to people in general, Duma Deputies and former KGB agents. A book titled " The World Was Going Our Way; The KGB and the Battle for the Third World", by Christopher Andrew and Vasili Mitrokhin also points out Gates involvement very well.
All fingers point to Gates as in instigator in of our current sitiuation of how Amrica is thought of around the world.
He and what the CIA were doing is the main reason people in the middle east and Russia hate us.
Gates was even behind funding Chechnes to rape rob and murder Russians. Yes I have been to Russia to hear stories of what went on their southern border. I have spoken to people in general, Duma Deputies and former KGB agents. A book titled " The World Was Going Our Way; The KGB and the Battle for the Third World", by Christopher Andrew and Vasili Mitrokhin also points out Gates involvement very well.
All fingers point to Gates as in instigator in of our current sitiuation of how Amrica is thought of around the world.
Justin '05
posted 10/17/07 @ 12:10 AM CST
Great article Wes! I'm glad that Ron Paul is representing Texas better than the last so called "Texan" that ran for President. Bush's foreign policy is destroying this country. Real patriots would not sit and watch as its government destroys its own country because of bad foreign policy. If you feel the same way I do read "Confessions of an Economic Hit Man", it will open your eyes.
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posted 10/03/07 @ 1:09 AM CST