Obama is Renewing the American Sense of Identity. Unbelievable to Watch

[Downtown Dweller]

What? Isreal???

I would think the "real goal" has always been irradicating Muslim terrorists on the streets of Iraq instead of New York (seems to be working). I know many, many think this war is all about money and/or oil, but I think it was a way to fight the terrorist in their own region (see I said REGION not country) and keep them off the streets of the USA. Is this right? Don't know, but it does appear to be working.

Just my uneducated guess  

[Jimmy]

I think that was the fourth or fifth reason offered, yes.  After WMD.  After deposing Saddam.  After bringing democracy.  And there might have been another one in there somewhere.

We've only succeeded in creating more terrorists.  And their leader is still sending out YouTubes from his secluded lair in Pakistan. 

All of our policy in the Middle East has always been about the security of Israel.  See: Bush in the Knesset last week.

BUSH = FAIL.

[vicupstate]

What? Isreal???

I would think the "real goal" has always been irradicating Muslim terrorists on the streets of Iraq instead of New York (seems to be working). I know many, many think this war is all about money and/or oil, but I think it was a way to fight the terrorist in their own region (see I said REGION not country) and keep them off the streets of the USA. Is this right? Don't know, but it does appear to be working.

Just my uneducated guess  

That is what they wanted us to believe, but even before Bush took office, there were plans to invade Iraq and establish a permanant  military presence.  9/11 merely gave them a pretense for invading.     

[thelakelander]

Probably no where near Iraq.

[Downtown Dweller]

I think Israel has a right to security and peace, as do the other countries in the area, but if I had to have one country over there on my side it would for sure be them (because of their power not their religion)... that being said I think all the statements and reasons given were just BS cover. Call me Pollyana but I think we took our war to their streets and iraq was an 'easy target". Hey it is survival of the fittest, would you rather read about bombings and shoot outs in Iraq or New York?

Vic you are right, I remeber back in the late 80's my husband, a military officer going to "War College" and planning for this. The middle east has been a "concern" (or target if you prefer) for a while. 

[Jimmy]

So now you accept my premise that our Middle East policy is related to the security of Israel?  A moment ago you seemed to have no idea what that could mean.

[Jimmy]

You heard her.  Because we can.  Survival of the fittest.  Darwin gone global; gone medieval. 

[thelakelander]

Call me Pollyana but I think we took our war to their streets and iraq was an 'easy target". Hey it is survival of the fittest, would you rather read about bombings and shoot outs in Iraq or New York?

Except the muslim terrorist were not from or based out of Iraq.

[JeffreyS]

...I know the Dems will spend spend spend now that it is their turn but maybe they will spend it on infrastructure(ours not Iraq's), health care not just health care insurer's and so on...

I'm sorry, but as someone with a masters in health administration, I find this statement very ignorant. Do you honestly believe that more government control on health care will make it better?

Obama and Clinton have both made it clear that they want to meddle with health care, and in reality, Democrats have already done enough with HMOs. Some of you may not know this, but Ted Kennedy was the one who proposed a bill to create HMOs. You can thank him and his party for the reason why health care prices continues to escalate.

You may be correct and I stated int the post I don't line up with the Democrats on many things. I belive the private sector can do better.  But we do not have a real open market situation here do we.  We have a group that economically has said the right things to be elected and then *&^% all over us every time.  They have to be held accountable or the system will not work.  Obama probably will medal in health care more than he should but we can not just continue to ignore it.  I would rather work with a party that is wrong maybe they can be shown the light than one that just continues to laugh at us when we buy that they will cut spending.

I personally do not care what that wise old communist thinks.  If Reagan could have kept his spending in check if we had taken care of our commitment in Afghanistan first we could have  reasonably had the Iraq debate.

[Downtown Dweller]

I did not read your post correctly. I agree that is probably on the list, but not so sure I agree that is one of the top reasons. I still believe it was to keep the terrorist busy away from the USA. But again, I never claimed to be an expert, only threw my two cents in...



Iraq was an "easy target" meaning they are in the region, people knew their leader was a pig, and they might get some support from the people compared to other countries in the region...

[Downtown Dweller]

OK, would you prefer to have all this happening here?

If you read my post I questioned whether it was right or wrong, but ultimately (I am being honest here) I prefer not to not live in a war zone.

jeesh Jimmy you act like I set it all up right here from my little laptop. If I could do that I would really just take all of America back for my peeps and kick ya'll out..

[Jimmy]

Well, that's just sad.  We didn't get support from the people.  I believe Rumsfeld said we'd be greeted as liberators.  The Vice President tells us every few months that the insurgency is in its "last throes."  Their people are the ones killing our soldiers now.

And we keep bringing boys and girls home to Dover in boxes.  I'm sorry -- it's ridiculous.  And you don't have to know anything about politics or foreign policy to understand that.  It's no different to me "not fighting them in NY" when we're sending boys and girls from NYC, Jacksonville, and all over the US to die for this bungled policy.

And we still haven't dealt with the people who attacked us on 9/11.  OBL is on YouTube.  The 19 were from Saudi Arabia.  

It's a farce.  And an epic failure.

[Downtown Dweller]

Let's agree to disagree....now give me my land back!

[Charleston native]

Actually Charleston, you can thank the insurance companies for the escalating costs.

Their practice of arbitrarily shaving costs and refusal to pay legitimate claims forces doctors to charge more just to be fairly compensated for their work.

This is the sole reason why self paying customers traditionally get huge discounts at doctors offices.

I completely agree with your statement, particularly your 2nd sentence. However, keep in my that those very health insurance companies, i.e., HMOs, were created through Kennedy's bill. There's no getting around that. Compounding the cost of medicine is the practice of defensive medicine and malpractice insurance.

Jeffrey, you're right, the Repubs have done nothing but talk. But it is foolish to think that the other party can be coerced into seeing the light...they're just a hardcore version of Repubs. They will make things worse. I think several things can be done, though. First, eliminate party politics. Our founding fathers deplored political parties. Second, if we have to keep parties, we need to start infusing parties like the Constitutional and Libertarian parties. Make them more relevant and oust the old guard.

I really wish McCain wasn't the candidate, but his hands-off approach to health care is far more encouraging than the other choices.

[Jimmy]

I'm happy to leave the failure in Iraq behind for the hope offered by the actual purpose of the thread.

And you can have you land back when I get mine back.