A prediction

[Skeptic]

The US is going to be leaving Iraq eventually, as intended. This will happen--the question, will it happen sooner or later. I hereby predict that:

1). If the US leaves relatively soon, the useful idiots on this forum (you know who you are) will be ranting about how the US is "running away from an uncompleted job due to the resistance of the people" (or the equivalent).

2). If the US leaves relatively late, the same useful idiots would be ranting about how the US "is stuck in a quagmire from an uncompleted job due to the resistance of the people" (or the equivalent).

I already had a conversation with a waiter who told me, in all seriousness, that the "real reason" behind the US sending 50 marines to Haiti is to "secure strategically important air bases" there. When I asked him what potential targets, exactly, could be hit from Haiti that cannot be hit from the mainland, or since when does Haiti have airbases, he confessed that he is not actually sure where Haiti IS, so he cannot answer. But, of course, he "knows" the "truth" about how it's all the US's fault.

Perhaps this prediction will help minimize the expected knee-jerk "analysis of the real causes of the US withdrawal from Iraq", since apparetly it's too late to do so in Haiti's case...

 

[Luke T.]

I guess our air bases in U.S. Naval Air Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and U.S. Naval Air Station Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico and Homestead Air Base in Miami, Florida just can't quite meet the needs that Haiti can.

As for Iraq, the elections should be held in July, just in time to start bringing some of our troops home to help the folks back here to feel good in time for our elections.

A large quantity will be in Iraq for years to come, on a rotational basis, and will never be heard about in the press, because it will all be so boring. Most folks don't even know we have had a constant presence there since 1991! And have even had several shooting matches there during that time! And even almost went to war with Iraq again in 1994! Zounds!

 

[Earthborn]

The US is going to be leaving Iraq eventually, as intended. This will happen

What made you so sure of that?

the question, will it happen sooner or later.

You mean, just like it happened with other nations the US has liberated, right? Just like they left Germany, Japan, etc... Strange, I could have sworn they are still there.

Sure, if they manage to stabilize Iraq a bit, the US might change priorities and move much of its military elsewhere. Doesn't mean they will be 'leaving' it.

Here's my prediction: the US will continue to have a strong military presence in Iraq at least until the Fall of the Great American Empire.

 

[Luke T.]

Re: Re: A prediction

What made you so sure of that?You mean, just like it happened with other nations the US has liberated, right? Just like they left Germany, Japan, etc... Strange, I could have sworn they are still there.

They are not there as occupiers. They are there by invitation. We can be kicked out any time they choose, just like the Phillipines did to us.

Our status in Iraq will not be the same. We will transistion from occupiers to guests.

 

[Skeptic]

I guess our air bases in U.S. Naval Air Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and U.S. Naval Air Station Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico and Homestead Air Base in Miami, Florida just can't quite meet the needs that Haiti can.

These guys divide all countries in the world into three parts:

1). Those who have oil;

2). Those who don't have oil and are close to the US;

3). Those who don't have oil and are far away from the US.

If the US intervenes in country (1), the "real reason" for the war is oil.

If the US intervenes in country (2), the "real reason" for the war is "protecting American hegamony in the hemisphere".

If the US intervenes in country (3), the "real reason" for the war is that it needs the country as a place for "strategic airbases".

The funny part is that in this case, the person I talked to didn't even bother to note whether Haiti is of type (2) or (3) before trotting out the "real reason" du jour.

 

[Agammamon]

Well, except for Cuba. What landlord in his right mind would sign a lease that leaves the decision to leave solely up to the tenant?

 

[Luke T.]

The funny part is that in this case, the person I talked to didn't even bother to note whether Haiti is of type (2) or (3) before trotting out the "real reason" du jour.

Haiti's largest export is Haitians. And there isn't much call for those at the moment.

 

[Tony]

Re: Re: A prediction

What made you so sure of that?You mean, just like it happened with other nations the US has liberated, right? Just like they left Germany, Japan, etc... Strange, I could have sworn they are still there.

Every time I think you've ventured into the venue of intellectual honesty, you go and say something dumb.

 

[SRW]

A large quantity will be in Iraq for years to come, on a rotational basis, and will never be heard about in the press, because it will all be so boring. Most folks don't even know we have had a constant presence there since 1991! And have even had several shooting matches there during that time! And even almost went to war with Iraq again in 1994! Zounds!

We also have been laying siege to Iraq for 12 years, and had a limited war in 98, only no one ever called it that it was called international sanctions and the no fly zone. One has to wonder what the middle east would look like if we had not done that, di-spite all the criticism many people had of the sanctions. (Oh yeah the same sanctions that John Kerry said would get Iraq out of Kuwait in 91).

 

[a_unique_person]

The US is going to be leaving Iraq eventually, as intended. This will happen--the question, will it happen sooner or later. I hereby predict that:

1). If the US leaves relatively soon, the useful idiots on this forum (you know who you are)

That is no way to refer to Zenith-Nadir and Mycroft. Just because they are commie-faggots.

 

[TillEulenspiegel]

HEHE that's funny. What the heck are the attacking Hatians going to use for weapons when they attack our "Air Bases"....sticks and burning tires?

 

[Tricky]

The US is going to be leaving Iraq eventually, as intended. This will happen--the question, will it happen sooner or later. I hereby predict that:

1). If the US leaves relatively soon, the useful idiots on this forum (you know who you are) will be ranting about how the US is "running away from an uncompleted job due to the resistance of the people" (or the equivalent).

2). If the US leaves relatively late, the same useful idiots would be ranting about how the US "is stuck in a quagmire from an uncompleted job due to the resistance of the people" (or the equivalent).

LOL. That's pretty funny, Skeptic. You make a prediction that the anti-war folks will complain no matter what happens, while you are setting yourself up in advance to criticize them no matter what happens.

No doubt you will find some anti-war folks on both sides of the Iraq withdrawal issue. Some have already stated that we should leave. Some have already stated that we would say. If you find both attitudes in different posters after the withdrawal, I'm guessing that you will take that as proof that the "useful idiots" are talking out of both sides of their mouths, when in actuality, they are talking out of more than one point of view. We have people on the boards who opposed the war for various reasons as well as people who supported the war for various reasons, and they don't all say the same things.

I actually went on record fairly early as saying that once we got in, we had to stay until the country had a stable and relatively fair government. I also said that there was a high probability of Saddam's government being replaced by a fundamentalist regime. I hope we stay to clean up our mess, but I don't expect it. I may turn out to be wrong, but I will go on record as saying this is what I believe and I will stand by it. In this, I disagree with a number of the anti-war folks. That's okay. We are a diverse lot, not just one big uniform hive-minded bunch of useful idiots.

Do you have a position on this, by the way, or are you going to wait and see what happens before you make a statement of principle? Perhaps you are just wisely planning for the future by preparing your rants in advance.

 

[Dancing David]

Some of us useful idiots( my wife lets me take out the trash and clean the catbox)

-have not objected to our military presence in the first place, i objected to the war but once it started I kept that quiet. The precense of troops would be nessecary to re-establish what we destroyed.
- If we pull out soon, that is fine, if we pull out later that is fine. The question is when are we going.

My main objection has been that we let the people with guns loot and run riot because Chenney and CO. decided to listen to the wqrong people. we had an iraqui army that surrendedered, I am sure that not all of them were loyal Ba'athists, so why did we let the country get worse after we won the war.

that is the complaint i have, we did not secure the area after we invaded, i am not sure that we are leaving less of a mess than we made.

 

[The Fool]

The US is going to be leaving Iraq eventually, as intended. This will happen--the question, will it happen sooner or later. I hereby predict that:

1). If the US leaves relatively soon, the useful idiots on this forum (you know who you are) will be ranting about how the US is "running away from an uncompleted job due to the resistance of the people" (or the equivalent).

2). If the US leaves relatively late, the same useful idiots would be ranting about how the US "is stuck in a quagmire from an uncompleted job due to the resistance of the people" (or the equivalent).

I already had a conversation with a waiter who told me, in all seriousness, that the "real reason" behind the US sending 50 marines to Haiti is to "secure strategically important air bases" there. When I asked him what potential targets, exactly, could be hit from Haiti that cannot be hit from the mainland, or since when does Haiti have airbases, he confessed that he is not actually sure where Haiti IS, so he cannot answer. But, of course, he "knows" the "truth" about how it's all the US's fault.

Perhaps this prediction will help minimize the expected knee-jerk "analysis of the real causes of the US withdrawal from Iraq", since apparetly it's too late to do so in Haiti's case...

feeling a bit down? need a hug?

I can just see it now.....

"skeptic": I'll have the fish of the day..

waiter: the "real reason" behind the US sending 50 marines to Haiti is to "secure strategically important air bases"

"skeptic": Is it grilled or fried?

waiter: I am not actually sure where Haiti is I know the truth about how its all the US's fault..

"skeptic": ok, forget it...I'll just have the steak.

yep...happens to me all the time

 

[NightG1]

Re: Re: A prediction

LOL. That's pretty funny, Skeptic. You make a prediction that the anti-war folks will complain no matter what happens, while you are setting yourself up in advance to criticize them no matter what happens.

Wouldn't that be a post-hoc strawman?

 

[Graham]

As for Iraq, the elections should be held in July, just in time to start bringing some of our troops home to help the folks back here to feel good in time for our elections.

Didn't Paul Bremer announce last week that lections wouldn't be held for at least another 12 - 18 months?

According to Google news they seem to be talking about the end of this year at the earliest.

Graham

 

[bjornart]

If you want to go for the million, skeptic, you need to be more specific than "useful idiots who know who they are".