Dr Adequate
Banned
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A Shorter Grammar Of The Wa-shing Tongue
Lesson 3: Irregular Verbs.
I leave Iraq honorably.
You cut and run.
He wants the terrorists to win.
Lesson 3: Irregular Verbs.
I leave Iraq honorably.
You cut and run.
He wants the terrorists to win.
Darth Rotor
Salted Sith Cynic
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Hagel was a critic of the Iraq war, though he undermined his own rhetoric against it by going along with the party when push came to shove, and has been carping at Bush for his failures to be the right kind of conservative since about that time.
His standing up to bridge the gap between "Fed up with Bush" republicans and some Democrats is not a big surprise.
He doesn't think Iraq worth the effort, nor do I think he cares if a million Iraqis kill each other over the next year or two.
DR
Dr Adequate
Banned
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You mean ... "he wants the terrorists to win"?
Go on, smile, you know you want to.
Darth Rotor
Salted Sith Cynic
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I hadn't seen it that way, and "the terrorists" always seemed to me that group of already existent terror organizations that have been around a few decades.
I see the Sunni-Shia thing as a lot more like the Rwandan Civil war, Tutsi-Hutu, than a matter of "terrorists." Their concerns are local.
However, looking at it through the lens you just provided does allow for a small grin.
DR
Is it right to still call these people terrorists? I used to think terrorists were people who wanted to kill Americans here in the United States. Next, terrorists were the ones continuing the fight in Iraq after Saddam's troops had been defeated. They were blowing up oil pipelines and harassing coalition troops. But now, the terrorists are targeting rival religious groups, not American soldiers or strategic assets. Just a couple of days ago, some Sunni's were doused with gasoline and burned alive in the streets, in full view of Iraqi troops. I believe that an act of terrorism that occurs in full view of military troops without their interference isn't an act of terror at all.
The situation is turning into something like the death squads in Central America so if we keep trying to deal with them as terrorists instead of what they really are (police? soldiers? vigilantes?) I don't see how things can get better.
The situation is turning into something like the death squads in Central America so if we keep trying to deal with them as terrorists instead of what they really are (police? soldiers? vigilantes?) I don't see how things can get better.
joe1347
Critical Thinker
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Could Hagel's editorial be the start of a somewhat asymmetric Presidential campaign? Typically, recent Republican presidential candidates seem to start off their campaigns by pandering to the extreme right wing of the party and then move to the center (i.e., become compassionate) only after being nominated. Look at Mr. Intelligent Design We Need more Troops in Iraq McCain's recent public positions as someone who is certainly trying to be anointed the furthest right wackjob. Since Hagel is likely planning on running (for President) - what is he actually up to? As politician, I can't believe that Hagel actually has a conscience and is making these provocative (to the Bush Admin) statements just because he (Hagel) thinks that leaving Iraq is the 'right' thing to do. So does Hagel think that the 2008 Presidential campaign will break recent trends and the most moderate Republican will get the nomination (instead of the furthest right) or is Hagel 'setting himself up' to be attacked by the right wing nutjobs currently in-charge so that he (Hagel) can leave the Republican party 'in disgust' and proclaim his new allegiance to the moderate level-headed Democratic Party? Of course, Hagel would then run as a Democrat and easily win the nomination and Presidency.
joe1347
Critical Thinker
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Looks like even Fareed - who has supported the war in the past - is about ready to throw in the towel. Meanwhile, the situation on the ground seems to be spiraling out of control faster than the politicians ability to finese some type of 'solution'.
Bikewer
Penultimate Amazing
I was just listening to this week's Meet The Press, and one of the Republican guests was still going on as to how we will achieve "victory", and comparing the situation in Iraq to the Cold-War situation in Germany!
It seems to me that though a large number of our august leaders are beginning to see that the light at the end of the tunnel is an oncoming train, there are still a few neocon "dreamers" about.
It seems to me that though a large number of our august leaders are beginning to see that the light at the end of the tunnel is an oncoming train, there are still a few neocon "dreamers" about.
TragicMonkey
Poisoned Waffles
When people say we should stay, I like to ask them "how long?" "Til the job is done" is a nice answer. What if it's still like this in five years? Ten? Twenty? Fifty? Sooner or later there has to a point at which we give up, if things remain unchanged or get worse.
I suggest that if we are going to remain there longer than fifteen years, we might as well go ahead and annex it. Perpetual occupation never seems to work for anybody.
I suggest that if we are going to remain there longer than fifteen years, we might as well go ahead and annex it. Perpetual occupation never seems to work for anybody.