U.S. commander: No civil war in Iraq

Come on, red. Haven't you learned by now that 'Bush failings' are nothing more than a myth promulgated by the liberal media? It's the vast, left-wing conspircay.:hihi:

 

Not necessary. I am well versed in your view on the perceived failings of the Bush Administration.


I'm amazed that I have a job, my kids are doing well in college, my extended family is safe from harm, I have a nice home and I am content as a California Cow because things are going so swimmingly in my world despite the fact that we have a President who has done nothing but screw up the well being of the entire universe for nearly 8 years. Strange, but true.

 

Right, becasuse 5 years ago, you and your family were out on the streets and fending off ragheads with shotguns. No one had a job or hopes of becoming educated.

My point is, you can't attribute personal success to your government. If so, then you probably live below the poverty line.

 

Well, that's kind of my point. There's a lot of vitriol directed at Bush and his administration, but the bottom line is that it hasn't adversley affected me in the least, so I don't feel the need to constantly bash a good man who's just doing his job. A very tough job at that.

 

So then, it's safe to assume that your position hasn't changed much, if at all, since the Clinton administration? Yet you see it fit to bash him every chance you get (generally in defense of Bush)?

My biggest concern with Bush is what he has done to our global image. It's easy to rationalize that we shouldn't care about what other countries think. But that kind of attitude only creates instability in the future. And there is a difference between appeasement and alienation. America is the greatest country in the world. But with that, comes a tremendous amount of responsibility, and an obligation to respect the perceptions of our allies. The Bush administration's foreign policy has only solidified the widely held view that America is reckless and arrogant.

 

I said morally it was the right thing to do but it was a mistake politically
or strategically for this country.
I would support anything the good ole USA does whether its right or wrong.
Would you?

I don't think the US military was meant to be used to free the world of tyranny, I think it was supposed to be used to defend the country.

It took you this long to figure this out? (sp)
I'm not going to defend the Bush's because they aren't my favorite presidents.
Why didn't Clinton go in and clean up Darfur like he did in Kosovo, there could
be made a case there, (sp)
I don't think other presidents should have to clean up Bush's or Clinton's messes but what choice do we have?
Please defend Clinton!:lol: :rofl:

 

I'm assuming you're kidding here, but I'm reminded of this quote by Mark Twain:

"Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it."

If you truly believe this, then how can you justify the invasion of Iraq, even on a moral level? What about the untold amounts of collateral damage, or the increased instability that ensues years later?

As far as I know, the problems in Darfur have only escalated within the past few years. But, my question was rhetorical. The US hasn't made a habit of 'defending freedom' in areas where we have no perceived interests (be it economic or political).

PS - I knew that I could depend on SDMan to help me pass a slow day at work! :wink:

 

Not true at all. My only criticism of Clinton is that he has the morals and hormones of a 13 year old.

What planet have you been on? It's been 50 years since the US of A was held in high esteem by any other country. I hate to break it to you, but, in our lifetime, we've had only one staunch ally. Great Britain.

France? Germany? Canada? Mexico? Italy? they all hate us and have for decades. Fuggemall.

 

Your only criticism? Someone else must have been logging in under your SN, brother.

Exactly. Which is why I said solidified. For clarity, that means that our image was struggling, but has now been completely forfeited. In fact, I think that we reclaimed a lot of global respect following 9/11, but quickly squandered that by using it as an excuse to invade Iraq.