Finally!

 

Here's a blast from the past!

 

Thread from BEFORE we went into Iraq!

 

You and I differ in what we feel is the "right" thing to do. If the "right" thing had been done, neither of us would be defending our positions in the "support the war vs. support the troops" debate with regard to Iraq, IMO.

 

I'm not sure you've understood my point. I don't really feel that we differ here. I supported your view (albeit half-heartedly) that going in was "not the right thing". You supported my view that now that the mess has been created, we must clean it up. It seems to me our only differences are in methodology in that I want to put the blame game on the back burner for now and get the job done wholeheartedly, while you seem to want to fight the war and the adminstration at the same time. I think I understand your position but I'm not sure Al Qaida does.

 

BTW, good debate. I hope you don't think I'm bullying or picking on you for your opinions.

It is intimidating to try to converse with some of the people who post in here. I would never try to match wits with Fastbreak or Hearsay and there is no way I could provide enough links to keep Jim Shue happy.

 

Could someone turn off the threadjacker alarm now, please?

 

Thank you for the compliment, but it is funny because just yesterday morning I was called a "witling" by an opposing party in a civil case I had, about 40 minutes before the Judge ruled in my client's favor from the bench.

 

Give Fastbreak or me some Scotch and we would be at your mercy.

Give Fastbreak or me some Scotch and we would be at your mercy.

Why am I seeing the closing moments of every Boston Legal episode here?

I'm not sure you've understood my point. I don't really feel that we differ here. I supported your view (albeit half-heartedly) that going in was "not the right thing". You supported my view that now that the mess has been created, we must clean it up. It seems to me our only differences are in methodology in that I want to put the blame game on the back burner for now and get the job done wholeheartedly, while you seem to want to fight the war and the adminstration at the same time. I think I understand your position but I'm not sure Al Qaida does.

 

BTW, good debate. I hope you don't think I'm bullying or picking on you for your opinions.

 

I understand wanting to put it on the back burner. It would be easy to do that, and probably a LOT easier when the man who made the decision is no longer our president. Seriously....I doubt we'll leave Iraq anytime during this adminsitration, and I have NO idea whether it would occur under the next administration. I don't think it will, but hey...who knows.

 

I accept that we're there now, and that we need to do what needs to be done, and stay as long as it takes. I accept that.

 

What galls me is the way "it all went down", so to speak. I place the blame squarely in the laps of those at the "top".

Thank you for the compliment, but it is funny because just yesterday morning I was called a "witling" by an opposing party in a civil case I had, about 40 minutes before the Judge ruled in my client's favor from the bench.

 

Give Fastbreak or me some Scotch and we would be at your mercy.

 

And therin lies the difference between you and I. I had to look up "witling". (One who aspires to witiness, a smart aleck)

 

As for the Scotch, in my county that would make me a bootlegger.

Finally!

 

Here's a blast from the past!

 

Thread from BEFORE we went into Iraq!

 

 

RM, you've confirmed that you were opposed to the war from the start. Without being flip, so what? That's not the issue as I understand it. The issue is (I think:D) whether you think we have to finish what we started (even if we shouldn't have started it) and whether the protests are hurting are efforts to successfully finish what we started. Actually you have very clearly and succinctly stated that you agree that we need to finish what we started. So I'd like to know if you believe that the protests are hurting those efforts and the justification for your position. I think I've stated why I think it is hurting those efforts, but would like to know your position and why if you don't mind.

And therin lies the difference between you and I. I had to look up "witling". (One who aspires to witiness, a smart aleck)

 

As for the Scotch, in my county that would make me a bootlegger.

 

 

So Bootlegger, how much scotch do you want:D?

So Bootlegger, how much scotch do you want:D?

 

Hearsay merely stated it would take "some". I'm not sure how much I need, although I get the feeling "some" would be more than one bottle in this instance.

What I am NOT supporting is all these kids being killed and/or coming home with no limbs fighting a war that should not have happened.

Ok so if one can't protest war in America, are we still living in a democracy?

 

What should those who are opposed to this war, (with good reason, I might add) to do?

 

We should shut up and let those who "know what they're doing" run amok?

 

One step away from communisim....

:thumb: For some reason I feel dirty this morning just by voicing my opinion. I will stand by my feelings against this war and I disregard anyone's opinion that I don't have the right to voice those opinions.

Hey RK, how come you took offense with me and not RTS? :cry:

 

I have no problem with war protestors. I myself disagreed with the invasion. What I said was, from a soldier's point of view, you can't be against the war effort and for the troops. It sounds nice, but it lowers morale and gets soldiers killed. Saying it is a cop out, a move to be politically correct. Why not just say, "I'm against the war"?

IMO, I missed no points whatsoever. I can read the very pointed implication that I am somehow subversive and supporting the opposition by not falling in line to chant the mantra of those who feel that this war in Iraq is the right war.

Read what you want out of it, makes no difference to me. I didn't say anyone was subversive, but hey, you're entitled to think what you want.

Your response does however show me that you did miss my point though. I don't need you or anyone else to fall in line with any form of thinking. I'm just telling you the fact's, that when enough people protest the war it doesn't do the troops a bit of good and it absolutely emboldens the enemy. As I stated earlier, that's exactly what happened with Viet Nam.

:thumb: For some reason I feel dirty this morning just by voicing my opinion. I will stand by my feelings against this war and I disregard anyone's opinion that I don't have the right to voice those opinions.

You have every right to voice your opinion; I have no problem with that. I'm just telling you what happens when enough people protest the war. It only costs more American lives. Like I said, RK, I luv ya like a sister, but we are totally at odds on this one.

Thanks to all of you who so graciously grant those opposed to the war a "voice". Your generosity is overwhelming.

 

Here's my question:

 

How is anything going to change in Iraq, even if all of America is in agreement with us being there? It's not like the insurgents are going to back off. It's not like our troops are going to be able to somehow miraculously increase in number and invulnerability.

Thanks to all of you who so graciously grant those opposed to the war a "voice". Your generosity is overwhelming.

 

I think what you are interpreting as a condescending attitude in those replying to you is actually an attempt to walk softy on the issue. I'm sure most would agree freedom of speech is one of our most treasured entitlements and debating against even a small part of it is neither easy nor desirable. It's a position the terrorists have put us in of having to choose which of our freedoms to restrict to protect our way of life.

Here's my question:

 

How is anything going to change in Iraq, even if all of America is in agreement with us being there? It's not like the insurgents are going to back off. It's not like our troops are going to be able to somehow miraculously increase in number and invulnerability.

 

IEDs, roadside bombs, suicide bombings. These are all terrorist tools to erode away our will. They have only to look at the success they had with the bombings in Madrid or at how sharply the support for the war has dropped in our own country since the increase of terrorist attacks on our troops. What they are doing is working and our reaction is encouraging them to continue if not increase, the attacks.