DickHardman

thats the problem. everything about this bogus war was half assed from the start, and its been harming us ever since. we didnt send enough troops. we didnt have the right intelligence. we didnt know our enemy. the list goes on. at one point our own president urged insurgents to "bring it on" at a press conference, resulting in a huge spike in attacks on american forces.......

Tom Yum

You've made an assumption.

This has more to do with the way the war was fought. Corporate machines make your gasoline, your clothes and your food. I don't agree with everything they do, but what they make is important.

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DickHardman

i dont care if big corporations make my food or clothes tom, its when they start directing wars, and cashing in on human suffering that i get concerned.

Tom Yum

Corporations aren't leading the war, Dick. They might have a stake in it and many are actually helping the effort but its not about them. The war is about the man on the ground - the Marine, Soldier, Sailor or Airman whose there.

What's a concerned Dick Hardman gonna do about it?

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DickHardman

yes, yes they are bro. you forgetting about blackwater, the largest mercenary army in the world?? the mercenaries get paid more than government soldiers do, so what incentive do soldiers who get trained on taxpayer money have to stay in government armed forces when they can make tons more working for private companies and whatnot??? our nations army is blatantly being dismantled and absorbed into the corporate machine.

Tom Yum

Your proposal is suggestive, but doesn't tell anything about what's happening on the ground. Let's look at actual battles.

The Marines with assistance from the Iraqi 36th Battalion took over Fallujah. Some insurgent strongholds were pounded by airstrikes, maybe provided by the Airforce or Navy.

The US Army and Iraqi Special Police are fighting Al-Qaeda in Ramadi as we speak and the number of Iraqi Police recruits are growing with full support from local Sheiks. Someone's winning hearts and minds.

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jubaji

Too stupid to be taken seriously, but just right for mocking.

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Ghost

good post i agree %100.
what a load of crap this war was and 99% of the population in the USA and UK knew it was and said so before hand. we had a march in london with over 1 million protestors because we knew it was crap.

In my opinion there is no war on terror, we are fighting a phantom enemy. the terrorists are within our own borders and exist because of our governments actions and i personally feel their threat is over rated as they havent really done much other than 9/11 and 7/7.
The IRA makes them look like a big bunch of pussies

A modern iraq is going to be a the biggest money pot going. its going to be open season for the big corporations in my opinion, and what i believe is the opinion of the vast majority of the uk.
dickhardman is spot on.

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jubaji

What's the population of London?

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Ghost

about 7 million i think.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/2765041.stm

Hundreds of thousands of people have taken to the streets of London to voice their opposition to military action against Iraq.

Police said it was the UK's biggest ever demonstration with at least 750,000 taking part, although organisers put the figure closer to two million.
There were also anti-war gatherings in Glasgow and Belfast - all part of a worldwide weekend of protest with hundreds of rallies and marches in up to 60 countries.

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“Anyone can give up, it's the easiest thing in the world to do. But to hold it together when everyone else would understand if you fell apart, that's true strength.”

jubaji

So, that's not even close to 99%

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Ghost

99% of what?
the population of london? no but its indicative of the mood of the nation. The UK's largest ever protest and in the UK people dont protest easily, infact hardly at all.

all opinion polls ive seen have indicated over 50% saying no to the war and something like 30% saying yes with the rest undecided.
In a political vote that would be viewed as a landslide. Nearly twice the amount of people say no to war compared to saying yes. thats a large majority.

There has never been a protest that i am aware of with 99% of the population turning up.

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There are no second chances.

“Anyone can give up, it's the easiest thing in the world to do. But to hold it together when everyone else would understand if you fell apart, that's true strength.”

jubaji

You said 99% then cited the march as your only proof. Maybe you exagerrated?

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Ghost

figure of speech to emphasize that alot of people didnt/dont support it, didnt literally mean 99%.

__________________
There are no second chances.

“Anyone can give up, it's the easiest thing in the world to do. But to hold it together when everyone else would understand if you fell apart, that's true strength.”

Tom Yum

There are definitely more than a few corporate interests in Iraq, but the fighting is being done by the men and women on the ground, not from American's alone but EU and Iraqi's as well. As the original article states, $2000 grants are being issued from the military to entreprenuers to stir up the local economies in the areas that the Army is occupying.

Any historical American occuption and re-construction?

The closest example I can think of is Post-WW2 Japan during the Cold War. We demilitarized the nation, re-created a national military force and revitalized the economy. Begs the question if this could be repeated under today's circumstances in Iraq.

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