The War in Iraq - Your Opinions On The Situation

[reallydown]

Mac, I agree that this is not productive in terms of changing anything...but does that mean it shouldn't be discussed at all?

 

[Scott_Fraser]

Blair announced today that he is bringing 2000 troops home before christmas, the first lot come home at Easter. The British forces are handing back control to the Iraqi Army in the south.
I wonder if Bush will do the same in Bagdad?
Scott:dontknow:

 

[Linda]

I am sorry, I do not want to offend anyone here. I will just tell my opinion without telling that is is the only right one... (Hah, a new skill I have to learn).
I do not like muslims in general and iraqies in particular and consider them to be our primary enemies. I thing it would be a right thing to do in 1945 to try a nuclear weapon on them., I mean all arabic countries. It was not done, so, we have to deal with the situation. I consider it absolutelly wrong to send Americans to fight and die for the good of the country enpopulated by the emenies of Christians, Christian culture, and Christian tradition. I also feel that it is wrong to send any kind of help to them. If they want to live their own way, they must rely on themselves only.
If Bush would destroy this whole region, he would be my hero. However, now we do not know who else has and wants to use the weapon of mass destruction. So, I would leave those things alone, withdraw any help, and do not let them go to the USA and other civilized traditionally Christian countries.
But, here is another thought crossing my mind, if I try to think that iraqies are still human beings and thus have all feelings and thoughts of human beings. I had participated in the Russian Resistance movement in early 90-s, and I do know what the fight against the unrighteous government is. My PTSD is coming from a brutal street fight I was involved.
However. Yes, is we could overthrow those "democrates", and bring our country to the constitutional order, thet would be a great victory and a tremendous triumph. But did we want anyone else to come and do it for us? Especially the super-powerfull country, which, of course, wants its influence in our land rather than good for our people?
The answer is: absolutelly no. If at this time Americans would come for "help", and kill the Kremlyn Alcoholic (Yeltsin) with his fellows, and make the person _they_ find right a president... No, even if they would come to our land and started to make their order...
I am sorry for saying this, but many of us would become a suicidal bombers, as Russian tradition of fighting teaches to give your life for your land.
I am sorry agains, and, again, I DID NOT MEAN to offfend anyone here, or to hurt anyone's feelings.
Anthony, if you find this post unacceptable for any reasom, please feel free to delete it.

 

[anthony]

Linda, your post is your opinion, and others must respect anothers opinion here. I know what your saying above... but do you believe it really has to do with Iraqies themselves, or more a select faction of them? Its like saying I guess, that all Australians are bad, where there are always a selection of the population in which will do bad. This would apply to every country within the world. Every population has factions, has proportions of bad people, some more than others, but to label an entire type of people... well, maybe a little prejudice on that one IMHO.

The good thing is Linda, is that I highly value and push people here to express their opinions, and then on the other side, others respect anothers opinions. Well done, and glad you are participating in such topics.

 

[Linda]

Anthony, thanks for taking my post as an opinion rather than as trying to force people to think like I do... Well, that probably means I'm on a riht way!:biggrin:
I do not think that there are any group of people "good" or "bad" from their nature. I rather think that in the beginning there are equal number of fair and unfair individuals between any several randomly choosen populations.
But I am sure that culture matters. A simple example: in Russia, alcohol is a major cultural component, thus, you can expect any Russian to be an experienced drinker :smile: I think that an Arabic baby adopted by a European ar American family will grow as a European or an American, not as an Arab.
And what I mean, muslims think that their religion is the only right one, and that they will be rewarded in the afterlife for killing people of other religions. The Koran says right the opposit thing, by the way, but for some reason this wrong interpretation is greatly widespread and accepted in the Muslim world. Just think about this: they do not know how to read, but do know how to shoot. This is why, I do not like them and do not trust them. I have base for my opinion: look what happened in France last year, or in Denmark a little later.
Again, if you think I'm saying something insulting or unacceptable, please feel free to remove my postings.

 

[mouse]

The only Thing that I have to say about this is no matter what religion, cultural base, ethnic group what have you, There will always be extremists and those who chose to interprute religious beliefs It would be fair in my opinion to say that the general principals behind the Koran, the Bible, and all other religious writtings is that they are not set with the belief to cause war and terror and that killing is right It is how it is interpruted thats is the issue. I had a Partner that was Iranian and for the longest time I thought he was so rude and aggressive, and confrontational, I am glad that I had the patience to talk with him mand to find out that his beliefs are that it is unacceptable to be wronged and that you must always stick up for yourself and fight for what is right say what you mean and be upfront. Anyways I too am tired of the loss of life and would love for the wars to be over and everyone be home, but I am also glad to see that there are nations people that are willing to stand up to injustice and to help fight for whats right. I am proud of our Troops I just wish they could all come home.

 

[reallydown]

A little worried...

Of course, everyone is entitled to their opinion...However, when that opinion, stated in a public forum, could be seen as spreading hate, I get a bit worried... Saying that a people or peoples (in whole or in part) should be annihilated is extremely worrying at best and I don't know what at worst...but the word genocidal comes to mind...and in my opinion, is no different than the sick Nazi ideology used in WWII

Sweeping generalizations and "othering" certainly do not help matters...Not everyone is a fanatic...but in my opinion, those sweeping generalizations and "othering" usually result from ignorance and fundamentalism on the other side...

 

[Marilyn_S]

Hello,
I'm a newbe here but would like to join in a little. I got a bit of a weird view on this whole matter. Although I try to keep my head in the clouds and ignore things I havn't the power to do anything about, sometimes my adult brain over rides my kid brain and I decide to try and develop an informed oppinion.
1st, I'd like to say that alot of folks have the idea that our military men in Iraq are invensible machines that are trained and able to handle anything. I've even heard poeple say this is just a conflict and not even a war! And I thought I had my head in the clouds! What people fail to understand is that our men and women of the United States Military are human beings who are away from their homes and families living in an unpredictable, dusty, foreign environment where there are no clear targets and no predictable enemy!!! They are either bored stinkless, worked buttless, or scared sh*tless!!!! Not only that, they don't know if the woman crossing the street with skinny arms and a fat dress is just pregnant or toting a bomb!!! And this is not a war!!! If thats not a war I shutter to think what a war is! What? Do people think there has to be an extinction level event for it to be called a war!!! And this whole big thing about "War on Terror"! Who the H#ll is terror!!! Is it a country? Is it a dictator? I may be a simple hick from the sticks but I think our elected folks need to do a better job defining this whole thing if they are going to put America's best men and women in harms way to go to WAR!!!!
I've seen pictures of men and women in Iraq holding hands in prayer, feeding children, and helping people build things. It makes me so proud of our military people and our allies military folks I just want to hug everybody and cry!
Well there's my speal!
LUV & CARE
Marilyn

 

[Linda]

Aming them, there are a way too many fanatics.
You've never seen, and are never going to see, ultra-ortodox Jews protesting violently against pictures of pigs in public places, or cartoons in newspapers. You will never find them burning cars and houses in the country which accepted them as immigrants.
Well, I do have an opinion, and for now, it is not going to change. There is also notheng to add to what I had already posted, simply in order to avoid hot discussion.
I respect other people's opinions, and will keep mine for myself.

 

[Jim]

You've never seen, and are never going to see, ultra-ortodox Jews protesting violently against pictures of pigs in public places, or cartoons in newspapers. You will never find them burning cars and houses in the country which accepted them as immigrants.

You've got a definite point there, Linda. While I served with UNDOF in Golan Heights, we rarely had difficulties with Israeli settlers. The Arabs were another matter entirely. That's not prejudice, it's simply the truth of the matter.

However. Having recently returned from a very brief deployment to Afghanistan, must say, I do have compassion for the Afghan people. The majority are against the Taliban and grateful to have our troops there to assist them. Fortunately I have never been to Iraq and God willing I never shall.

Jim.

 

[Linda]

Jim,
I had a lot of friends in Russia who were Afganistan vets, and my ex-boyfriend was one, too. None ever said negative about Afgani people. I heard "They are hard workers", "They are humble", "They are not vicious". None hated them.
Also, I had friends who had been in Chechnya, and here, many came back with a real hate toward Chechens.
I do not know what the difference is, probably it is that Afganistan is a poor country with a large population of peasants, who just want to have their land and work on it in peace.
In contrast, Chechens traditionally were living from invading other tribes' land and robbing.

 

[Loathe]

Intersting topic, and I like to hear what people outside the US have to say about things.

I guess I'll break this up into facts and opinions.

Facts:
1. The gov't lied abotu the rationale for the invasion of Iraq.
2. There were other reasons to invade (cease fire violations, violations of UN mandates)
3. Sadaam paid for and ordered an attempt to be made on the life of former president Bush (sr)
4. Sadaam's forces repeatedly fired upon American and British aircraft patrolling the no fly zone.

Opinions.
1. We broke it we bought it. We can't pull out to the job is done.
2. We are not giving our troops the support they need to accomplish the mission at hand.

A good plan that a friend told me Sen. Murtha (I'm going to hell for agreeing with him) put forth was that we retire to the dessert and form several bases in the country outside the cities, giving us the ability to launch lightning strikes against targets at a momoents notice. I really like this a lot, too bad Bush(jr) woudln't go for it.