[QUOTE=justplugit;991189][QUOTE=Jim in CT;991127]I think it's fair (and a good idea) to discuss the Iraq War, and debate whether or not it was a terrible idea. That's fair.
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I agree it's fair and agree with most of what you said in your 2 posts.
However, it seems we never learn.
Never learned from the French that Vietnam would be a losing cause. Never
learned from the Russians you couldn't win in Afghanistan.
When it comes to Iraq, Saddam was known to use gas on his own people,
and all international intelligence said he had WMDs. He refused inspection.
A time table was laydown for him to allow inspection or suffer attack backed by many in Congress who flip flopped when things got tough.
He was given every opportunity but refused and time was up. It was his choice and he chose the consequences. In hindsight it would have been better to take him out alone, but with all his doubles and hiding places, no one knew where he was and time seemed to be of the essence.
It was my understanding that the reason for going into Afghanistan was to knock out the Taliban training camps. Once that was done we should have gotten out of there. These people have lived their way of life for 1000s of years and there is no way they could or want to be swayed to live our Western style.
I hate war for the same reasons the Vet wrote about, the affects on the troops and their families. They are the only ones who truly sacrifice. I have so much respect for all our Vets and hold them in the highest honor.
The only common sense thing I ever heard about preventing war is to pass a law, that only people over the age of 50 yrs. of age could fight. But no one ever learns, way too much quest for power and dominance.
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"Never learned from the French that Vietnam would be a losing cause."
We won in Iraq. Hussein is gone, and there are now free elections. Political dissidents don't get whisked away and tortured by the thousands. Little girls can now go to school, make something of themselves, and maybe elevate that country even more. The majority of those people love America so deeply, you can't imagine. Too bad that 99% of the media ignores that, since it doesn't support their narrative. We gave those people a real shot at freedom. To quote the Battle Hymn of The Republic, "As He died to make men holy, let us die to make them free..." Now, of course, liberating the people of Iraq was not the stated misison of that war. That doesn't mean that's not a noble end, however.
"It was my understanding that the reason for going into Afghanistan was to knock out the Taliban training camps. Once that was done we should have gotten out of there."
If we did that, there's a good chance that Al Queda comes right back into Afghanistan. Afghanistan is a real mess right now, and I have no solutions, I'm not a diplomat or a nation-builder.
"The only common sense thing I ever heard about preventing war is to pass a law, that only people over the age of 50 yrs. of age could fight."
There was a time when that law would have worked. Not now. Because our enemy isn't going to sign any treaty and abide by the rules.
No one hates war more than someone who has been there.
The letter posted by the original OP was putrid. How about posting a letter from a little girl in Iraq who can now go to school and make something of herself, instead of being gang-raped and doused with acid for even thinking about going to school?