Jim Stillman
Nevar
The Objectives Change but the Killing goes on.
September 15th 2007 17:57
The other day, I commented on S.L. Bradish’s previously lucid site that I could and would no longer attempt to engage in debate or rational discourse with her. It seems that, in an all time low, she compared those in opposition to George Bush’s policies to be the equivalent to those who supported Axis Sally or Tokyo Rose during the Second World War. She exclaimed that liberals and democrats constitute a “fifth column” a phrase that originated during the 1936 Spanish Civil War. The term means a population who has loyalties to countries other than the one in which they reside, or who support some other nation in war efforts against the country they live in, which makes them traitors.
I am totally opposed to the political positions of the present administration and I readily acknowledge, with pride, that Mr. Bush is my duly elected president and will be until January, 2009. For anyone to infer that I am a traitor to my country is hardly one who will be invited to bring salad to a Mensa picnic.
SL and her news sources as Fox News will not acknowledge any of the foregoing and I am not going to try and discuss issues with a woman who questions my love of my country and my prayer that all of its citizens continue to be allowed to differ with official policy. (From her snide and sarcastic comments about Senators Clinton and Edwards, I somehow doubt if she would grant either of them any courtesies whatsoever.)
The position of the Administration, as I understand it, is that United States’ armed forces were necessary to invade Iraq and must continue as combat troops until our Objectives are fully met. I can accept that position – as long as the Objective is clear and unambiguous. Let’s see what is our Objective?
First, it was that the perpetrators of the attacks on the World Trade Center must be punished. But our intelligence agencies, and even Mr. Bush, state that the events of 9/11 were not related to Iraq.
Second, our mission was to remove the threats of weapons of mass destruction. Oops, they didn’t exist – as our own inspectors had stated.
Third, Hussein was obtaining “yellow cake” from Niger in order to develop nuclear weapons. That, also, was proven incorrect.
Fourth, we had to catch and have Hussein brought to trial. This was done and, yet, we still remained.
Fifth, we had to remain until there could be a free election in Iraq, allowing a new government to draft a constitution and, what else, govern. We dramatically showed ink-stained fingers of voters and announced we had accomplished that which we sought. Our troops remained in combat, were killed and injured, but. . .
Now we are told that, just as soon as our Objectives are met, we will come home. Only we will keep posting benchmarks until the one goal of this Administration is met: a new president will be left to deal with the mess.
I am totally opposed to the political positions of the present administration and I readily acknowledge, with pride, that Mr. Bush is my duly elected president and will be until January, 2009. For anyone to infer that I am a traitor to my country is hardly one who will be invited to bring salad to a Mensa picnic.
SL and her news sources as Fox News will not acknowledge any of the foregoing and I am not going to try and discuss issues with a woman who questions my love of my country and my prayer that all of its citizens continue to be allowed to differ with official policy. (From her snide and sarcastic comments about Senators Clinton and Edwards, I somehow doubt if she would grant either of them any courtesies whatsoever.)
The position of the Administration, as I understand it, is that United States’ armed forces were necessary to invade Iraq and must continue as combat troops until our Objectives are fully met. I can accept that position – as long as the Objective is clear and unambiguous. Let’s see what is our Objective?
First, it was that the perpetrators of the attacks on the World Trade Center must be punished. But our intelligence agencies, and even Mr. Bush, state that the events of 9/11 were not related to Iraq.
Second, our mission was to remove the threats of weapons of mass destruction. Oops, they didn’t exist – as our own inspectors had stated.
Third, Hussein was obtaining “yellow cake” from Niger in order to develop nuclear weapons. That, also, was proven incorrect.
Fourth, we had to catch and have Hussein brought to trial. This was done and, yet, we still remained.
Fifth, we had to remain until there could be a free election in Iraq, allowing a new government to draft a constitution and, what else, govern. We dramatically showed ink-stained fingers of voters and announced we had accomplished that which we sought. Our troops remained in combat, were killed and injured, but. . .
Now we are told that, just as soon as our Objectives are met, we will come home. Only we will keep posting benchmarks until the one goal of this Administration is met: a new president will be left to deal with the mess.
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Comment by Jeff Musall
Comment by Damo
You were trolled.
The subject does not matter.
It was just an excuse for a fight.
Comment by Ahmed
Video Gamer Kids
Little Green Foosballs
PolyKicks
Now, if someone believes that they can believe anything.
Comment by Mrs M
Mum's Word
Great post. A friend of mine ran into John Howard a couple of weeks ago (he's out on the campaign trail) and even though she doesn't like him personally and won't vote for him, she said that she still has to respect of the position of Prime Minister so she didn't go and bop him on the head.
Love & stuff
Mrs M
Comment by Ahmed
Video Gamer Kids
Little Green Foosballs
PolyKicks
Wasted opportunity... wasted opportunity...
Comment by S.L. Bradish
Let's see if I can "debate" without hurting your feelings. To your points:
1. Although Iraq had no formal hand in 9-11, Saddam was well known as a supporter of terrorists. bin Laden had medical treatment in Baghdad. So there was a connection.
2. The WMD's did exist. They were used on Saddams own people, remember the Kurd village? The UN had ordered him to disarm repeatedly, even sent inspectors. His possession of WMD's was a long known fact. Whether they were hidden or destroyed before we arrived, they were real, and some have been found.
3. Yellow Cake and Joe Wilson, what a pair.
4. Saddam was brought to justice at the hands of his own people. I don't recall anyone saying that we would pull out the day Saddam died.
5. Having a duly elected government in Iraq was part of the goal. But nobody in their right mind would expect us to just walk away and leave them to the terrorists before they can stand alone and defend themselves. It would be like teaching a child to walk and abandoning him. Pres. Bush has said from the beginning "When they can stand up, we will stand down." The Iraqis are training more of their own soldiers and police and doing more of the fighting every day. Now that the "Surge" has worked and we will be cutting back our troop strength, the Iraqis will be taking their place as defenders of their own country and we can expect them to have a good chance of success.
A free, democratic Iraq will be a stabilizing force in the Middle East and encourage others to work towards freedom for themselves. There is a growing faction in Iran who are watching to see how well things work in Iraq before launching their own efforts towards freedom. They aren't alone, either. Al Qieda's iron fist is going to eventually rust away (as things from the 7th century are wont to do). It will be replaced by some other form of governance. A free and stable Iraq is a much better pattern for them to follow than another terrorist organisation, don't you agree, Jim?
Comment by Ahmed
Video Gamer Kids
Little Green Foosballs
PolyKicks
haha, lies, I don't know what fox news has been feeding you but you've obviously been slurping it up
oh right, those 30 year old warheads? Hmm, the ones he used aginst the kurds back when, lets see here, it was ok for saddam to be a tyrannical dictator because your government approved of it?
The UN went there and found nothing, they 'did exist' is bullocks, Hitler also did exist, yet you don't see anyone trying to invade germany just to make sure he's dead.
they charged him for one crim the US was not involved in, god forbid if he was charged for the full range of crimes he's comitted, before you'd know it rumsfeld would have ended up on the chopping block.
the sruge hasn't worked, the only thing that has changed is the way your government is counting violence (for instance car bombs are no longer considered violence, just basic criminal activity).
As for their 'defenders', mostly Shiite militamen who look good on camera but attack your own soldiers at night. I still dont see the logic of arming people in such a manner that its essentially equipping the enemy army, but who am I to say? The numbers seem to mean more than anything else.
oh right, pity it will be anything but free, what with the god damn sectarian violence that won't ever be ending.