Not trying to start an Iraq debate but it's been 3 years

[JayKeeley]

I saw a picture the other day from May 1st 2003 when Bush 'landed' on the navy carrier and announced "MISSION ACCOMPLISHED".

Man, here we are 3 years later and look at the turmoil. They're on the brink of civil war! That's 'mission accomplished'?

Ravioli? Holy canoli.

And now I shall return to my van down by the river.

 

[lizard]

real american heroes do exist.

Yet another military leader is coming out and publicly upbraiding Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, et.al. Lt Gen Gregory Newbold was the Director of Operations at the Pentagon. He retired in December 2002, four months before the invasion of Iraq.

In a lengthy piece in Time, Newbold explains why he is coming forward and regrets that he had not voiced his concerns to the public earlier:

After 9/11, I was a witness and therefore a party to the actions that led us to the invasion of Iraq--an unnecessary war. Inside the military family, I made no secret of my view that the zealots' rationale for war made no sense. And I think I was outspoken enough to make those senior to me uncomfortable. But I now regret that I did not more openly challenge those who were determined to invade a country whose actions were peripheral to the real threat--al-Qaeda. I retired from the military four months before the invasion, in part because of my opposition to those who had used 9/11's tragedy to hijack our security policy. Until now, I have resisted speaking out in public. I've been silent long enough.

 

[lurch70]

i still don't understand what the military is doing down there today?

patrolling the streets? what exactly is their role at this moment?

 

[lizard]

securing the oil for Bush's texas buddies and halliburton. except that there aren't enough troops on the ground to secure the whole nation, Bush and Rumsfeld won't adjust for fear of the appearance of misjudging the situation.

 

[lizard]

oh wait I forgot, there were DRONE PLANES that saddam was going to use to drop VENOMOUS SNAKES on America

 

[AsModEe]

I've had it with the snakes

 

[lizard]

okay how about:

Saddam had been trying to acquire yellow cake uranium from Niger!! And he had MOBILE WEAPONS LABS

 

[AsModEe]

no no, I was using Samuel L. Jackon's line in "Snakes on a plane"

 

[lizard]

aha!
We had to invade Iraq because Saddam was a REALLY REALLY BAD DUDE (who had shitloads of oil. notice we aren't deposing Kim Il Jung (sp) or any of a host of others)

 

[Chromatose]

I've had it with the snakes

oh man, I just seriously LOLed

 

[General Zod]

The worst part of all of this is we're going to fail. At some point, the body count will grow too high, the view of the war will grow too negative, and we'll pull out. Iraq will descend into chaos, the region may subsequently destabilize, and it will all be for nothing.

Oh yeah... and America will be less safe from terrorism because of it.

Zod

 

[lizard]

it's going to be great, especially when MC Homeslice here gets the snake treatment

 

[lizard]

The worst part of all of this is we're going to fail. At some point, the body count will grow too high, the view of the war will grow too negative, and we'll pull out. Iraq will descend into chaos, the region may subsequently destabilize, and it will all be for nothing.

Oh yeah... and America will be less safe from terrorism because of it.

Zod

so true. we've taken a secular nation and turned it into a terrorist breeding ground that appears headed for civil war and at least two resultant theocratic nations. Furthering the problems is the northwest corner of iraq (the kurdish part) will then become destabilizing for Turkey, because the kurds want their own nation...and Turkey is part of Nato, so we're tied into that shit too.

 

[Conspicuously Absent]

and don't forget that by pulling out, the terrorists win and learn that "if we terrorize them enough, they'll cave in and we'll win!!!"

Meaning we're setting a precedent, like negotiating with hostage takers and such.

 

[lizard]

extremists by their nature do not cave in; fanatics have to be killed. and when they blend in to an entire society, and you are not willing to kill everyone in that society, you will never be able to kill all the extremists.

 

[Conspicuously Absent]

that's true too

 

[NAD]

A vital element in keeping the peace is our military establishment. Our arms must be mighty, ready for instant action, so that no potential aggressor may be tempted to risk his own destruction...

This conjunction of an immense military establishment and a large arms industry is new in the American experience. The total influence — economic, political, even spiritual — is felt in every city, every statehouse, every office of the federal government. We recognize the imperative need for this development. Yet we must not fail to comprehend its grave implications. Our toil, resources and livelihood are all involved; so is the very structure of our society.

In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist.

We must never let the weight of this combination endanger our liberties or democratic processes. We should take nothing for granted. Only an alert and knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of the huge industrial and military machinery of defense with our peaceful methods and goals so that security and liberty may prosper together.

 

[lizard]

the immortal words of Colonel Sanders

 

[NAD]

hahaha

 

[lizard]

Colonel Angus?