We've killed closer to 60k so far.Sirton, perhaps you can explain how invading a sovereign nation and being responsible for the deaths of over 15 thousand of their citizens is helping the war on terror....
I'm willing to bet that of those 15k, the majority were moderate (not fanatical) Shiite and Sunni muslims. Not 'america hating terrorists' but your average everyday Iraqi.
How do you think they feel when their families are killed by the American invaders. How would you feel if foreign invaders killed your entire family?
The only way to win the 'war on terror' is to remove the motivations for individual to become terrorists.
Killing innocent people does not help.
Invading sovereign nations does not help.
Massive troop buildup in the middle east does not help.
Unwavering support of Israel does nto help.
Why? Ok Democrats and Republicans the UN France and Russia China ect...before we went in we were showing the same intellengence.
Now to think the war on terror is just Bin Laden is idiotic. Its much more than that. The main thing we have to do that Kerry and Bush AGREE on is keep WMD's or nuclear materials getting into the hands of terrorist. Not now, not in 5 years not in 10 years not in 100years...BUT EVER!!!
That means you have to take out unstable regimes such as Iraq had. Just as it was Bill Clinton Policy. Bush just did it.
Why is Iraq unstable? Saddam thought he had protection from the UN. He didn't want to loose prestige. He wanted to eventually get WMD's and continue his conquest of Iran. His most hated enemy. You can NOT TRUST Saddam. I Personally dont care about WMD's that idiot needed to go, because the future problems he could cause us. We do not need to wait till they happen??? That would be like knowing Sept. 11th was happening and to do nothing about it till it did. You act before you are attacked. You bring the war there, so the teror organizations focus on the local regions.
Its short term loss for long term victory. You aggitate the hell out of many of them for some years. But in that time you inserted democratically elected government or atleast responsible governments that police there own.
Now what happens is then these governments gain power and then fight the terrorist with some US help in the region. The fight stays over in the middle east, but instead of having a Iraqi government that HATES the US. WE NOW HAVE ONE THAT IS A US ALLY!
We have a government we DO NOT have to worry about the passing of WMD's to terrorist.
The only way to win the 'war on terror' is to remove the motivations for individual to become terrorists
Miir you know what I agree with you, but I also relize that will never be 100% accomplished...The nature of man is to destroy!!!!!!! But, you must put inplace the vital parts for this to be possible. You must destroy the Enemy with a heavy hand and build up a alliance with those from the region(interm gov'ts)!!!! Then in the long term you rebuild restore and keep friendly governments in place. Similar to the Marshall plan goals.
People need to relize the war on terror and 9/11 may of not had direct links to Iraq, but the war on terror isn't just a war on Bin Laden. Just like when the Japanese bombed us in Pearl Harbor we didnt just wan't to declare war on Japan. We declared it on Germany aswell. We declared it on fascism. We decided to go full force at Germany, who did not bomb us at Pearl Harbor and leave Japan atleast the major offensive for later, because they were a lesser threat in the long term.
With the information(or intelligence) that Bush knew and the time being after 9/11(Or the current Pearl Harbor). I hope he would of taken out Iraq 100,000 times out of 100,000, or I think he should of been impeached for not following his main responsibility to protect the American people. I can not see any reasoning if one was thinking Saddam had WMD's to not want to remove his regime after 9/11, and to not consider it a possible serious threat. Democrats and Republicans agreed at the time. Why do you guys forget?
Now to say the post war strategy is fucked up abit thats a different thing, but Im talking about the situation of being involved to the point that we are now.
Also on my spelling like I said a million times: I am not writing a research paper. I am typing up some crap off the top of my head in 30sec-2min of my opinions. I do not see these boards as the area of correct spelling, but a spot to dump some of your thoughts on current events real quick. I also think people who attack and point out little errors in the way people talk or spelling in areas like this board are trying to be degrading, and that they also know they maybe wrong on the topic, but can't admit it, so they try and make the other person look stupid, but dont counter them on substance or dont come up with an alternate plan. They are followers not leaders. This paragraph isn't directed at anyone personally.