Syria??????

[Sleeping Dragon]

If nothing else, western powers have managed to keep thiis site supplied with new members. Was the blood shed necessary? Guess this isn't the place for that argument.

But for me, the thought of sending more young men and women into harms way knowing what they will face is definately a trigger. And, every time I boot up my computer there's a fresh trigger.

What comes to my mind is simply, "Are we waving the frag and ignoring the blood". That's easy for leaders who sleep in a warm bed, and live with the flag but not the blood.

Take a look at the following:

The Powell Doctrine states that a list of questions all have to be answered affirmatively before military action is taken by the United States:

1. Is a vital Link Removed interest threatened?
2. Do we have a clear attainable objective?
3. Have the risks and costs been fully and frankly analyzed?
4. Have all other non-violent policy means been fully exhausted?
5. Is there a plausible Link Removed to avoid endless entanglement?
6. Have the consequences of our action been fully considered?
7. Is the action supported by the American people?
8. Do we have genuine broad international support?Link Removed

As Powell said in an April 1, 2009 interview on Link Removed, the Doctrine denotes the exhausting of all "political, economic, and diplomatic means," which, only if those means prove to be futile, should a nation resort to military force.

I'm certainly no expert on foreign policy, but sure as hell know the true cost of war. Why is it always those who have honor and courage who get stuck with the tab???????????

SD

 

[JarHed]

I'm just tired of the US being the policemen for the world. Since when is it that we have to settle everyone's disputes. It just another country that we'll invest millions of tax payer dollars and worse the lives of young men and women in a country that will spit at us afterward. I don't get a vote in it, but if I did I'd say NO!

It's also tiring that somehow we also think that we're the moral compass for everyone. We need to take a good look here at home at what's going on and get that squared away before we go elsewhere to impose our ideas, and supposed values on others.

I just find the whole thing disgusting, in the extreme. And I don't see one, not one Arab nation stepping up to the plate to do anything.

 

[Jimmy1]

I am tired of the agreement between Australia and nearly every other country that wants help.

I really think there will be no boots on the ground at the moment, and if there is, it will be a UN mission.

Just my opinion.

 

[steve1]

I wonder, if Mr. Obama's daughters were in uniform, would he be so keen to send troops in harms way?

 

[Sarg]

It's all about the money. Some billionaire wants to buy some island somewhere, so we throw a war to help him out.

Sarg

 

[Ned]

We voted NO and I'm glad.

 

[Jimmy1]

This is just my opinion.

I don't think there is a leader in power today that people don't hate. It is happening in Australia as we speak with elections on for our Prime Minister. People hate the current PM for decisions he made in sending troops and the new PM will cop the same. People talk about WMD's in Iraq and that being the reason to go there and to Afghanistan. Well two things happened that spring to my mind.
First of all Saddam was booted from power and executed and secondly they eventually got Bin Laden.

I agree that they should not have been there as long as they have, but what we probably don't know is what bargaining power or promises they used in the first place to go in there.

Our PM has been criticized for letting soldiers stand in the sun for hours waiting for him when he was late and your President has been criticized for letting a soldier hold an umbrella in the rain to protect the president.

What you all forget is the bigger picture. The President and the Prime Minister don't make those decisions by themselves. To go to war, I am sure it has to get past quite a few more people and as for the soldiers standing in the sun or rain, well those are probably orders from the arse kissing generals.

I am just glad I live where I do now and hardly watch the news. In five years time we plan to move to 10 acres or more of partially cleared rain forest. One day I will turn on the news and a few countries will have been turned to ashes by some crazy arsehole and an atomic bomb.

Cheers

 

[JarHed]

and another opinion as well

The world is a mess. It's probably always been this way and probably always will be. Just a whole lot more dangerous now. The truth is that all this stuff does to me is get me upset about things I'm totally unable to do a damn thing about.

One must find their own way to peace. I mean each of us, not countries. No matter what we all just live in our own skin and have to deal with all that it is that we are. I wish and pray that others would choose to do the same. Perhaps the world would be a bit better if they did.

 

[Sleeping Dragon]

JarHed,

Good point my Brother. I gotta learn how to let it go. But, when I do it feels like I'm turning by back on those who are down range and outside the wire. I want those who order others off to war to feel the pain and see the blood.

Maybe that's just a foolish wish. But, when I heard Obama tell the world that "....we got bin Laden" I asked myself "When did you join Seal Team Six"? When I heard Bush say"...we got him", refering to Hussein I asked "When did you ever seardh a hostle village"?

I guess I take it too personally. But, it is personal cause I care about those who will go through what we went through.

I wish I had an answer. I wish I knew how to let go.

SD

 

[steve1]

and another opinion as well

The world is a mess. It's probably always been this way and probably always will be.

I'm a father, as a lot of you are, two of my sons are in uniform. Ones a doorkicker, the other a sapper. I told my boys from an early age that when they go to sleep at night they need to ask themselves a question...Did I do something good today? Did I bring a smile to someones face? Did I congratulate someone on a job well done? If the answer is no too often then you'd better re-examine your priorities. We can't solve the worlds problems. I agree. Going in & out of some of the worst shitholes in the world taught me that. But, if people could look after one another with respect & decency, then one small part of it would be better.

 

[Sarg]

Jar, that PhD you got in common sense was worth every penny. SD, as Jar said, we can't do a damn thing about sending them over there. The only thing we can do is help them when they get back. And they need our help in exponentially increasing numbers. Multiple tours is like running these "kids" through a blender.

Apparently, we are in a war of religions. Forbid the drama, a holy war. And they usually don't turn out the best for anybody. And they last for a very long time. So we're going to be churning out PTSD criticals for a long time, or until the yank VA comes up with a miracle cure. (Read glorified aspirin).

"To protect and serve".

Sarg

 

[preston falls]

Wow, did this touch a nerve! War, in my opinion and probably in lots of yours, should be a last resort. I liked what the first Bush did in the early 90s. He made Sadam back off without a single U.S. casualty. I felt bad for the poor guys in the Iraqi army, but the war was limited and civilians were kept out it. If the response that Obama is pushing is similar to that--if civilians can be kept from being targets, if military targets are the only ones hit, if chemical weapon facilities are diminished, if the regime gets the message that it can't gas the masses without repercussions--then I'm for it, because as sad as it is to say, there are times when force is the only option.

This kind of military reaction is not a war of betrayal like Vietnam or Iraq in 2002. I really think Obama's intention is to stop the slaughter, or at least slow it down. The Middle East is a mess. But this could save lives.

Am I crazy?

Falls