tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7082887.post112888269178026654..comments2023-10-30T07:39:04.857-07:00Comments on Random Thoughts- Do They Have Meaning?: A Third Bomber, Bush and Al-QaedaJack Steinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16625864271071630940noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7082887.post-1129087788215520172005-10-11T20:29:00.000-07:002005-10-11T20:29:00.000-07:00I guess, from my perspective, if the goal was to s...I guess, from my perspective, if the goal was to show what happens when you overthrow an oppressive regime in a fractious country and establish democracy, we could have and should have focused our energies on Afghanistan, where the real terrorist threat existed. Saddam was contained and posed no real threat to this country. <BR/><BR/>I think you hit at least part of the nail, though. As the mother of somebody who is in Iraq, you need to believe that there is some good that will come out of this. I understand totally why, but I don't feel the same. I don't believe that this Administration is capable of accomplishing what it has claimed it's objective is ... well, actually, I don't really know what it's objective is. <BR/><BR/>But, the reality is that if this Administration was truly interested in establishing a flourishing democracy in Iraq, it would have committed more troops to secure the place, and would be doing more on a macro level to win the hearts and minds of not only the Iraqis, but other muslims and Arabs as well. <BR/><BR/>It also would not be threatening to veto the entire defense appropriations bill because of an amendment that would prohibit the use of torture by the United States.<BR/><BR/>If we want to win the hearts and minds than our behavior has to be exemplary. Sure, there will be screw ups, but the people in charge have to set the standard. So far, they aren't.<BR/><BR/>One last word ... I come from what I call the "unchallenged" generation. Growing up between Vietnam and the wars in Iraq and wars against terrorism. My generation never had to fight a war. We never faced the challenge of fighting to defend the country, or its ideals. As misguided as Vietnam was, and as misguided as I believe many of our current foreign policies are, I believe there is great value in shared sacrifice.<BR/><BR/>Any soldier who is in Iraq, trying to do the right thing, I applaud them for their efforts and their sacrifice. I don't see any other option. They are doing something, and experiencing something, that I cannot even begin to imagine.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7082887.post-1128978001993630082005-10-10T14:00:00.000-07:002005-10-10T14:00:00.000-07:00SoccerDad,I think that the real question here is a...SoccerDad,<BR/><BR/>I think that the real question here is as you referred to it, scale. How much of this is happening and to what extent.<BR/><BR/>It may be much wider spread then we are aware of and that is of significant interest and import.Jack Steinerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16625864271071630940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7082887.post-1128977072053926722005-10-10T13:44:00.000-07:002005-10-10T13:44:00.000-07:00LD -- hate to say this, but you really haven't ans...LD -- hate to say this, but you really haven't answered the question. On a micro scale, there are soldiers in Iraq who are trying to make life better on a daily basis, but on a macro scale, what are we doing?<BR/><BR/>I applaud your son for his efforts.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7082887.post-1128922714533669002005-10-09T22:38:00.000-07:002005-10-09T22:38:00.000-07:00Suzie,Evil walks and that is the sad truth.Soccer ...Suzie,<BR/><BR/>Evil walks and that is the sad truth.<BR/><BR/>Soccer Dad,<BR/><BR/>I am not sure that I believe in a statute of limitations for this type of matter. If we accept the premise and believe it to be true it provides ample reason to go after Saddam.<BR/><BR/>One of the biggest issues that Bush has created has been the many different things he said about why we went in.<BR/><BR/>As for combating terror, I agree that force is not enough. It is a two pronged assault involving force and a diplomatic side that strives to yield gains in the ideological battles.Jack Steinerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16625864271071630940noreply@blogger.com