The surge worked, but only for containing violence. We need a strategy for Iraqi independence and careful troop withdrawal. The war has hurt our global perception as a country and therefore our safety. I am a proud American, but it is difficult to travel globally when the rest of the world thinks so low of you.
It is strange to look back on Bush’s platform in 2000 of limited government and non-interventional foreign policy. Now, we have a $2.7 trillion war and the Patriot Act/FISA. He has created a fear in Americans of terrorists and losing a war (saving face), which helped him get re-elected in 2004 (along with a poor Democratic campaign). It’s not going to work this time, as much Giuliani, McCain, Bush and the other warmongers want it to.
One thing I learned in school is that it’s ok to lose, because you learn from your mistakes. This solider, by no means, made a mistake. The problem is not on the ground; it’s in the overall strategy. It doesn’t make someone any less of an American to not support this war.
humm…but not supporting the is not supporting the troops. Those soldiers don’t have a choice. if you cut there spending and cut the defense bill then you aren’t supporting the soldiers. It’s agreeable that not everyone likes the war. but you can’t just pull out like Obama or any democrat will. That’s like building a frame of a house and saying OK we are finished sorry you can finish the rest. the decision was made along time ago and its something that will be there for a long time to come. We will never pull out of Iraq totally. Look at the DMZ. Look at Berlin…they are still trying to fix the city from WWII!
Please look into Obama’s Iraq policy. He is not just pulling out of Iraq. It is a careful withdrawal. I agree, an immediate withdrawal would be irresponsible and impossible logistically. Of course we will always have some presence (e.g. an embassy). Troops should (and will, under Obama) be funded as necessary given the respective situation.
The fact is that it was a mistake build the frame of the house in the first place. If you by accident spend a $3 trillion on the frame of the house, then you probably shouldn’t finish the house and waste more money. It doesn’t make any sense.
I think you meant to say “not supporting the war is not supporting the troops”.
So, you mean that ~58% (http://www.pollingreport.com/iraq.htm) of the US population does not support our troops just because they think that we made a mistake entering the war?
I don’t know about you, but I don’t agree with everything our government does. I am thankful to the troops that have served for putting “country first”, but I do not support the war. Like you said, “troops don’t have a choice”; similar to how schools don’t have a choice to how much funding they receive. I support our teachers, but I don’t agree with NCLB and funding cuts.
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The unofficial ZendCon08 slides compilation
If you are looking for slides from Zendcon08 you can find them here.
Andrew Wirtanen said:
We entered this war carelessly.
The surge worked, but only for containing violence. We need a strategy for Iraqi independence and careful troop withdrawal. The war has hurt our global perception as a country and therefore our safety. I am a proud American, but it is difficult to travel globally when the rest of the world thinks so low of you.
It is strange to look back on Bush’s platform in 2000 of limited government and non-interventional foreign policy. Now, we have a $2.7 trillion war and the Patriot Act/FISA. He has created a fear in Americans of terrorists and losing a war (saving face), which helped him get re-elected in 2004 (along with a poor Democratic campaign). It’s not going to work this time, as much Giuliani, McCain, Bush and the other warmongers want it to.
One thing I learned in school is that it’s ok to lose, because you learn from your mistakes. This solider, by no means, made a mistake. The problem is not on the ground; it’s in the overall strategy. It doesn’t make someone any less of an American to not support this war.
Shaun said:
humm…but not supporting the is not supporting the troops. Those soldiers don’t have a choice. if you cut there spending and cut the defense bill then you aren’t supporting the soldiers. It’s agreeable that not everyone likes the war. but you can’t just pull out like Obama or any democrat will. That’s like building a frame of a house and saying OK we are finished sorry you can finish the rest. the decision was made along time ago and its something that will be there for a long time to come. We will never pull out of Iraq totally. Look at the DMZ. Look at Berlin…they are still trying to fix the city from WWII!
Andrew Wirtanen said:
Please look into Obama’s Iraq policy. He is not just pulling out of Iraq. It is a careful withdrawal. I agree, an immediate withdrawal would be irresponsible and impossible logistically. Of course we will always have some presence (e.g. an embassy). Troops should (and will, under Obama) be funded as necessary given the respective situation.
The fact is that it was a mistake build the frame of the house in the first place. If you by accident spend a $3 trillion on the frame of the house, then you probably shouldn’t finish the house and waste more money. It doesn’t make any sense.
Andrew Wirtanen said:
I think you meant to say “not supporting the war is not supporting the troops”.
So, you mean that ~58% (http://www.pollingreport.com/iraq.htm) of the US population does not support our troops just because they think that we made a mistake entering the war?
I don’t know about you, but I don’t agree with everything our government does. I am thankful to the troops that have served for putting “country first”, but I do not support the war. Like you said, “troops don’t have a choice”; similar to how schools don’t have a choice to how much funding they receive. I support our teachers, but I don’t agree with NCLB and funding cuts.