Progress in Iraq

[DickHardman]

Half-assing it out of there like we've done in the past is just not good enough, because it makes blood into nothing. And that is unforgivable.

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 may have realized by now that iraqis had nothing to do with 911. osama himself was saudi.

You've made an assumption.

the only reason al quaeda is now in iraq and using it as a base of operations to attack americans and other nations is because we let them roll right in and set up shop after we toppled the country. but thats ok, why would the corporate machine that makes tons of money off wars want them to end anytime soon???

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.

[DickHardman]

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.

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]

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.

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?

[DickHardman]

Corporations aren't leading the war, Dick.

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]

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.

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.

[jubaji]

thats why you make sure to answer all my threads and posts lol....

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

[Ghost]

sorry bro, but i never supported this bogus war to begin with. if you want to go over there and help the billionaires that control our country make even more money off the death and suffering of other human beings, have at it bro. go get yourself a piece. i myself will not partake in an illegal war.

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.

[jubaji]

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 .

What's the population of London?

[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.

[jubaji]

So, that's not even close to 99%

[Ghost]

So, that's not even close to 99%

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.

[jubaji]

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

[Ghost]

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

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

[Tom Yum]

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.

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.