Anger is a gift (Happy 3rd Anniversary!) - Page 12

Ghoulish Delight · 03-24-2006, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Shadoe

I should clarify. I see that attitude on blogs. Not blogs of the right describing the left, but blogs of the left. It's not a sentiment that's shared by all, but it does seem to have quite a following behind it.

I repeat...OMG it's in a blog, it must be true!!

scaeagles · 03-24-2006, 10:04 AM

I figured it would get to this eventually, and that's why I was planning on staying out. While I understand the sentiment of what you've said Sac, and it is indeed true to a point, there is more to it than that. There is Saddam not giving fully unfettered access as required by the cease fire agreement. There are multiple foreign intelligence sources who also said they had WMD. There were violated UN resolutions and.....

GAH! I wasn't going to get into this. I'll stop.

SacTown Chronic · 03-24-2006, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scaeagles

GAH! I wasn't going to get into this. I'll stop.

It's what we do, Leo. Give us a muddy pen and some slop and we'll happily frolic for hours.

Not Afraid · 03-24-2006, 10:11 AM

Liberals do this blah blah blah blah. Conservatives do this blah blah blah blah. How pointless is it to spend our time blaming the "other" belief system. What have we become, the Hutus and Tutsis? What's next?

Isn't there some leader out there who would like to attempt to bridge the gap and move things forward in a POSITIVE direction for once? Not just a leader who is adept at lipservice, but someone with real effectiveness.

I have too much disgust with the blame game to muddle through and look for someone.

scaeagles · 03-24-2006, 10:36 AM

Would you make the same unsuccessful claims in Afghanistan? While I'm not particularly proud of the likely execution of a man for converting to Christianity, there is a functioning and democratic government in place. We went in and took out the ruling Taliban and have established something that's going pretty well and is certainly not a failure.

I guess I have never understood the spin accusation of the "liberating Iraq" angle. In all of the discussions of getting rid of Saddam due to WMD, doesn't that in and of itself imply a new government? And presumably one that would not be oppressive? Granted, the administration was not saying "liberate Iraq". They were saying "get rid of Saddam". I guess I see that as equivalent, unless the presumption is that an equally evil leader is put in place.

I do not think the Iraqi situation can be described as a failure. Three years is not a long time when you think of all that has to be and has been done. I would point out, and again not to equate WWII with Iraq, but the establishment of functioning governments free from insurgents took much longer than three years in Germany and Japan. However, it was well worth it.

Ghoulish Delight · 03-24-2006, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scaeagles

Would you make the same unsuccessful claims in Afghanistan?

I seem to recall the US having quite a bit of help from the outset in defeating the Taliban from armed, organized Afghanis who opposed the Taliban. It's true without our help they were not likely to be successful in that goal, but they were there, motivated. Whereas in Iraq, even now, AFTER Sadaams gone, with us providing the weapons and the training, we can't pull together an organized military or police force. Big difference.

innerSpaceman · 03-24-2006, 11:25 AM

And what is with this constantly repeated crap about how long it took for Germany and Japan to rebound after WWII. Did we occupy either of those countries for 3 years?

How about we all refrain from using analogies for 4 pages or so, and just talk about what we are talking about?

By the way, Kabul has a democratic government. The rest of Afghanistan is drug warload feudalism, as it's always been.

scaeagles · 03-24-2006, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by innerSpaceman

And what is with this constantly repeated crap about how long it took for Germany and Japan to rebound after WWII. Did we occupy either of those countries for 3 years?

Ummm...yeah. We actually still have troops in each of those countries.

Edited to add: Sarcasm aside, we had an active occupation in Japan until at least 1951, when it was scaled back. I do not recall the length of the active occupation of Germany, but we had an active military presence there that was never scaled back due to the rise of the USSR. How much of that was due to the needs of Germany and how much was due to the USSR I cannot say.

innerSpaceman · 03-24-2006, 12:47 PM

I'm well aware of our strong military presence in Germany and Japan (and throughout the world, which is among my reasons for alleging the U.S. is an imperial power).

But a military presence is not a military occupation. Admittedly, I'm not the biggest student of WWII history: Did we really occupy Japan for a significant length of time? (Of course, saying we occupy Iraq is a bit of a misnomer, because I believe we only really occupy Baghdad.)

scaeagles · 03-24-2006, 12:58 PM

Regarding Japan, yes, MacArthur basically ran the place under military rule until 1951.

03-24-2006, 10:04 AM	#2
scaeagles I LIKE! Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 7,819	I figured it would get to this eventually, and that's why I was planning on staying out. While I understand the sentiment of what you've said Sac, and it is indeed true to a point, there is more to it than that. There is Saddam not giving fully unfettered access as required by the cease fire agreement. There are multiple foreign intelligence sources who also said they had WMD. There were violated UN resolutions and..... GAH! I wasn't going to get into this. I'll stop.
	Submit to Quotes

03-24-2006, 10:11 AM	#4
Not Afraid HI! Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 17,108	Liberals do this blah blah blah blah. Conservatives do this blah blah blah blah. How pointless is it to spend our time blaming the "other" belief system. What have we become, the Hutus and Tutsis? What's next? Isn't there some leader out there who would like to attempt to bridge the gap and move things forward in a POSITIVE direction for once? Not just a leader who is adept at lipservice, but someone with real effectiveness. I have too much disgust with the blame game to muddle through and look for someone.
	Submit to Quotes

03-24-2006, 10:36 AM	#5
scaeagles I LIKE! Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 7,819	Would you make the same unsuccessful claims in Afghanistan? While I'm not particularly proud of the likely execution of a man for converting to Christianity, there is a functioning and democratic government in place. We went in and took out the ruling Taliban and have established something that's going pretty well and is certainly not a failure. I guess I have never understood the spin accusation of the "liberating Iraq" angle. In all of the discussions of getting rid of Saddam due to WMD, doesn't that in and of itself imply a new government? And presumably one that would not be oppressive? Granted, the administration was not saying "liberate Iraq". They were saying "get rid of Saddam". I guess I see that as equivalent, unless the presumption is that an equally evil leader is put in place. I do not think the Iraqi situation can be described as a failure. Three years is not a long time when you think of all that has to be and has been done. I would point out, and again not to equate WWII with Iraq, but the establishment of functioning governments free from insurgents took much longer than three years in Germany and Japan. However, it was well worth it.
	Submit to Quotes

03-24-2006, 11:25 AM	#7
innerSpaceman Kink of Swank Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Inner Space Posts: 13,075	And what is with this constantly repeated crap about how long it took for Germany and Japan to rebound after WWII. Did we occupy either of those countries for 3 years? How about we all refrain from using analogies for 4 pages or so, and just talk about what we are talking about? By the way, Kabul has a democratic government. The rest of Afghanistan is drug warload feudalism, as it's always been.
	Submit to Quotes

03-24-2006, 12:47 PM	#9
innerSpaceman Kink of Swank Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Inner Space Posts: 13,075	I'm well aware of our strong military presence in Germany and Japan (and throughout the world, which is among my reasons for alleging the U.S. is an imperial power). But a military presence is not a military occupation. Admittedly, I'm not the biggest student of WWII history: Did we really occupy Japan for a significant length of time? (Of course, saying we occupy Iraq is a bit of a misnomer, because I believe we only really occupy Baghdad.)
	Submit to Quotes

03-24-2006, 12:58 PM	#10
scaeagles I LIKE! Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 7,819	Regarding Japan, yes, MacArthur basically ran the place under military rule until 1951.
	Submit to Quotes