You can debate the war in Iraq all you like; but first...watch this video.

 

And no, I didn't find this on FOX. I found it on CNN.

 

Link to video

Interesting video, I think it's pretty accurate. Sure would chage the spin on this thing if they also showed what the new business toll was each day. Or the newest school opened. That's not the way the media likes to view this war though.

Before one of the liberals point it out, I will. Glenn Beck, who made this video, is very much a conservative radio talk show host. It doesn't make the video untrue, but I thought I should point out where its coming from.

Wow- that makes me feel so much better to know that everyday when my son wakes up and straps on his flack jacket and goes out on the streets of Baghdad that his efforts are helping build new schools for another country and put cell phones in the hands of those who might kill him! Every person he passes on the street could be the one who blows him up, like some of his best friends were. That he would rather not brush his teeth than to walk to the px to get toothpaste for fear of incoming missiles. He fought in the Battle of Fallujah, and will tell you that things are worse than ever! He fights to keep his fellow soldiers safe, to honor the officers who fight for them to have whatever equipment and safety measures they can get to protect them from the enemy who is getting bolder and more destructive everyday. He fights for all the dead and wounded soldiers that he shared bunks with. He fights for YOU, and you don't like seeing the ugly truth. I like the idea of the video, and wish that was what my son was witnessing, but sadly, those images are not prevalent where he is. Is it all bad? No, I'm sure it's not, but to turn away from the reality of the kind of people we're fighting over there is irresponsible. These are people who aren't afraid to die, and who have not problem blowing up school children to make their point. These American soldiers are beyond brave, and they deserve leadership that will have a solid plan to quell this violence. And that starts with making demands on the new Iraqi government to put extreme measures into place that will bring about the motivation for these warring factions to sit down and work toward understanding and peaceful co-existence. Until that happens, there will never be a day that our soldiers can come home without a resurgence of violence.

Remember our troops and what they're going through-

The people we're fighting against are not the same people we're fighting for over there.

The people we're fighting against are not the same people we're fighting for over there.

The man referred to at the end of the video clip you linked to is an excellent example of what Iraqi's should be.

 

Unfortunately, too few of them are willing to stand up for their own freedom (or you could say that too many are willing to sell it out).

 

The problem is that we (America) want their freedom worse than they do. Personally, I am not willing to sacrifice even one more soldier - unless and until the people of Iraq decide to stand up for themselves.

 

 

Frances

The people we're fighting against are not the same people we're fighting for over there.

Who ARE we fighting for? The Shiites or the Sunnis? Do we have the right to chose a side in this? Much of the violence in Baghdad is the result of rival factions trying to gain control. Yes, the terrorists are involved, but this is a civil war. So, who are we fighting for? Iraqi's? They are killing each other!

The man referred to at the end of the video clip you linked to is an excellent example of what Iraqi's should be.

 

Unfortunately, too few of them are willing to stand up for their own freedom (or you could say that too many are willing to sell it out).

 

The problem is that we (America) want their freedom worse than they do. Personally, I am not willing to sacrifice even one more soldier - unless and until the people of Iraq decide to stand up for themselves.

 

 

Frances

 

 

Good post, as usual.

Who ARE we fighting for? The Shiites or the Sunnis?

 

Ah - there's the rub. Unless I am badly mistaken, our armed services were established for the purpose of fighting for the protection of America (or American interests). Unfortunately, when it comes to "American interests", the door is opened for people to interpret situations differently.

 

When it comes to the protection of America itself (i.e. World War II), we rally around each other, patriotism runs rampant and society as a whole backs the effort.

 

When it is not the case (i.e. Vietnam or Iraq) the people of our country will not tolerate it for long.

 

 

Frances

Ah - there's the rub. Unless I am badly mistaken, our armed services were established for the purpose of fighting for the protection of America (or American interests). Unfortunately, when it comes to "American interests", the door is opened for people to interpret situations differently.

 

When it comes to the protection of America itself (i.e. World War II), we rally around each other, patriotism runs rampant and society as a whole backs the effort.

 

When it is not the case (i.e. Vietnam or Iraq) the people of our country will not tolerate it for long.

 

 

Frances

 

So stopping the spread of Communism in Vietnam doesn't qualify as an American interest?

So stopping the spread of Communism in Vietnam doesn't qualify as an American interest?

 

We pulled out before we beat the North Vietnamese into submission and while the South "fell," Vietnam is now one of the strongest market economies in SE Asia. I would submit then that the premise was wrong - McNamara has admitted as much.

 

Also FWIW - Ho Chi Minh was western educated and not married to the Russian Economic System (it certainly was not communism btw), but b/c he did not bow at the Altar of the "Open Market" he was considered a threat.

 

Pol Pot I would think was more of a threat and we, for the most part, left the Khmer Rouge alone - odd.

 

dong dong dong (I will not point out the similarities to modern conflicts, you can discern them for yourself)

We pulled out before we beat the North Vietnamese into submission and while the South "fell," Vietnam is now one of the strongest market economies in SE Asia. I would submit then that the premise was wrong - McNamara has admitted as much.

 

Also FWIW - Ho Chi Minh was western educated and not married to the Russian Economic System (it certainly was not communism btw), but b/c he did not bow at the Altar of the "Open Market" he was considered a threat.

 

Pol Pot I would think was more of a threat and we, for the most part, left the Khmer Rouge alone - odd.

 

dong dong dong (I will not point out the similarities to modern conflicts, you can discern them for yourself)

 

 

:thumb: excellent response.

 

The communism of Pol Pot (and his diabolical purges) was more threatening than just about any tyrant you can name (including Hussein). That man was pure evil. I might also add we did not fight for democracy when Laos fell to the communists in 1970 and like Cambodia, they were next door.

:thumb: excellent response.

 

The communism of Pol Pot (and his diabolical purges) was more threatening than just about any tyrant you can name (including Hussein). That man was pure evil. I might also add we did not fight for democracy when Laos fell to the communists in 1970 and like Cambodia, they were next door.

Not really. The Khmer Rouge insurgency didn't even start until 1968. They weren't a danger to the government of Cambodia until the early 70's. By that time, the media and peaceniks had convinced us that we were losing the Vietnam war. We wouldn't have been embroiled in Vietnam the way we were in 1968 if LBJ hadn't wanted to be a war president.

Not really. The Khmer Rouge insurgency didn't even start until 1968. They weren't a danger to the government of Cambodia until the early 70's. By that time, the media and peaceniks had convinced us that we were losing the Vietnam war. We wouldn't have been embroiled in Vietnam the way we were in 1968 if LBJ hadn't wanted to be a war president.

 

Dong, dong, dong (Again, i will not point out any similarities but allow you to make the connections yourself) AMAZING

That's an amazing video. Thanks. Don't hear about the success stories nearly enough.