No offense intended, but I'm having a harder and harder time stomaching this, especially coming from the politicians. From the troops point of view, if you're not supporting the war effort, you're not supporting them.

No offense intended on my part either but I agree with HHSDad. I experienced this type of behavior with the Viet Nam war and watched my parents and brother suffer through some very hard times as they had to listen to the protesters remarks.

I feel sorry that Mrs. Sheehan suffered the loss of her son but I am very glad she will gone from the spotlight.

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.

 

So, you're telling me that if we all were in agreement here in the US-no one disagreed whatsoever with us being in Iraq-that the bombings would decrease?

So, you're telling me that if we all were in agreement here in the US-no one disagreed whatsoever with us being in Iraq-that the bombings would decrease?

Maybe not in number; but if the insurgents sense our resolve, maybe they will be more apt to cease their current course.

So, you're telling me that if we all were in agreement here in the US-no one disagreed whatsoever with us being in Iraq-that the bombings would decrease?

 

Yes. Not right away and not altogether but if it becomes obvious to them the strategy is not working, or even strengthening our resolve, I would fully expect them to move on to something else.

 

Look, these people are killing our young men and women and I think it's high time we got mad about it. We can debate who's fault it is later.

Yes. Not right away and not altogether but if it becomes obvious to them the strategy is not working, or even strengthening our resolve, I would fully expect them to move on to something else.

 

Look, these people are killing our young men and women and I think it's high time we got mad about it. We can debate who's fault it is later.

 

I simply don't think that they will stop, even if all of the WORLD was in agreement that being in Iraq was the right thing.

 

I AM mad they're doing this to our fellow countrymen. BUT, they're also doing it to Iraqi's. This situation will not abate until a stable Iraqi governement is in place, and citizens of Iraq are joined in the effort to rid their country of the insurgents. That's not happening anytime soon.

This situation will not abate until a stable Iraqi government is in place, and citizens of Iraq are joined in the effort to rid their country of the insurgents. That's not happening anytime soon.

I fear that a true spirit of nationalism is the only thing that will quell the violence. And that, in the Middle East, loyalties are more often tribal than national. That may prove to be an insurmountable obstacle.

I fear that a true spirit of nationalism is the only thing that will quell the violence. And that, in the Middle East, loyalties are more often tribal than national. That may prove to be the insurmountable obstacle.

 

I disagree. But, I don't know what else I can say.

 

My firm belief is that you cannot win an ideological war with military action. This is at the core, a war of philosophical and ideological differences. It will not be won because of a sense of patriotism on the part of one or the other. Everyone will scoff, deride me and pretty much sling about every piece of mud they can at me, but here goes. This war will not be "won". This war will be stopped when compromise occurs on both parts. And Americans won't be happy when it occurs, and we'll insist we "lost".

I disagree. But, I don't know what else I can say.

 

My firm belief is that you cannot win an ideological war with military action. This is at the core, a war of philosophical and ideological differences. It will . Everyone will scoff, deride me and pretty much sling about every piece of mud they can at me, but here goes. This war will not be "won". This war will be stopped when compromise occurs on both parts. And Americans won't be happy when it occurs, and we'll insist we "lost".

Okay, first of all, not a single person in this thread has discredited or slung any mud at you, RK, or anyone else that feels the way you do. So you don't need to feel that way.

 

Secondly, I can't understand how you could not agree with my statement above! :eek: It's just fact, and not about winning and losing. It's about ending hostilities and our need to be involved. I never once mentioned anything about "winning." Perhaps I didn't explain what I was getting at clearly enough.

 

My concern (as stated above) is the same as yours IMO. We're in a situation where tribal loyalties superceed national ones. I think this is a huge problem for getting our stated mission goals accomplished and getting the troops out of Iraq. We are trying to re-build a country in the form of a democracy. That goal can ONLY be accomplished (again, nothing here about winning) in an environment of patriotism on the part of the Iraqi people.

Okay, first of all, not a single person in this thread has discredited or slung any mud at you, RK, or anyone else that feels the way you do. So you don't need to feel that way.

I thought I made it clear that the upcoming statement was what would inspire the negativity. Thanks for the chastisement.

 

 

Secondly, I can't understand how you could not agree with my statement above! :eek: It's just fact, and not about winning and losing. It's about ending hostilities and our need to be involved. I never once mentioned anything about "winning." Perhaps I didn't explain what I was getting at clearly enough.

 

My concern (as stated above) is the same as yours IMO. We're in a situation where tribal loyalties superceed national ones. I think this is a huge problem for getting our stated mission goals accomplished and getting the troops out of Iraq. We are trying to re-build a country in the form of a democracy. That goal can ONLY be accomplished (again, nothing here about winning) in an environment of patriotism on the part of the Iraqi people.

 

I thought I explained why I disagreed in my post. I realize we disagree, however, my thoughts are clearly stated.

I thought I made it clear that the upcoming statement was what would inspire the negativity. Thanks for the chastisement.

 

I thought I explained why I disagreed in my post. I realize we disagree, however, my thoughts are clearly stated.

No, it's not chastisement at all! It's just that I sense from what you've said several times in the thread that you feel like you're being picked on. I don't think that's the case.

 

And I still don't see us being in the slightest bit of disagreement; but I'm not getting my thoughts across, so I'm out....:cry:

 

 

 

Originally Posted by rockmom

This situation will not abate until a stable Iraqi government is in place, and citizens of Iraq are joined in the effort to rid their country of the insurgents. That's not happening anytime soon.

 

 

Originally Posted by Birdsfan

I fear that a true spirit of nationalism is the only thing that will quell the violence. And that, in the Middle East, loyalties are more often tribal than national. That may prove to be an insurmountable obstacle.

 

Originally Posted by rockmom

I fear that a true spirit of nationalism is the only thing that will quell the violence. And that, in the Middle East, loyalties are more often tribal than national. That may prove to be an insurmountable obstacle.

 

 

Ummmm....I didn't post that....

This situation will not abate until a stable Iraqi governement is in place, and citizens of Iraq are joined in the effort to rid their country of the insurgents. That's not happening anytime soon.

The only kind of stable government that is going to work in Iraq is one like the Sadaam Hussein's.

Rockmom, you yourself has said we need to clean up the mess that we made. Do you feel that protesting the war is going to help accomplish that? Do you believe that the troops feel like the protesters are on their side? Do you think that the insurgents get the feeling that we are a weak opponent or a strong one when they see the discord in this country over the war?

Ummmm....I didn't post that....

Sorry, I did.

 

I was trying to show that I thought we were on the same page...and obviously, botched it again.

Sorry, I did.

 

I was trying to show that I thought we were on the same page...and obviously, botched it again.

 

It's all good! :thumb: