Military What was done is being undone...Iraq

Discussion in 'Free Speech Alley' started by mancha, Jun 12, 2014.

  1. MLUTiger

    MLUTiger Secular Humanist

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    I have come across a few articles where the State Department under Clinton predicted these very events, but Obama wouldn't hear it. Regardless, we might be better served getting the fuck out until they have finished killing each other. It's not going to happen though because the GOP is already drumming up bullshit ideas that ISIS has already snuck into America from Mexico. Brilliant on their part because it stirs the rank and file to push for more xenophobia... I mean, border security and prepares the populace to accept that more war is coming.
     
  2. Winston1

    Winston1 Founding Member

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    What to do with ISIS is worthy of debate. However to blame Republican as the only ones rattling sabers is disingenuous. There are many prominent Democrats who are calling for action. It is wrong to limit the discussion to being about petty politics.
     
  3. red55

    red55 curmudgeon Staff Member

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    There is no "evidence that the president ignored reality" in that article. The article admits that . . .

    The problem for Obama was that he had no good policy option in Iraq. On the one hand, if Obama had authorized the air strikes Maliki began requesting in January, he would strengthen the hand of an Iraqi prime minister who increasingly resembled the brutal autocrat U.S. troops helped unseat in 2003. Maliki’s heavy handed policies—such as authorizing counter-terrorism raids against Sunni political leaders with no real links to terrorism—sowed the seeds of the current insurrection in Iraq.

    Then it goes on to second-guess a series of difficult decisions.

    Your opinion not shared by all.
     
  4. red55

    red55 curmudgeon Staff Member

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    This has been the case for at least 23 years. It did not start with ISIL.
     
  5. Winston1

    Winston1 Founding Member

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    The evidence of what has been happening has been in front of his face since 2012. Second guessing is what this forum is about Red...something you do with gusto.

    Again what the forum is about and my opinion is shared by MANY on both sides of the aisle including his former Sec of State and likely D candidate for president in 2016.
     
  6. red55

    red55 curmudgeon Staff Member

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    So what? The situation is complex and evolving with no solutions that are ideal. His pragmatic approach is preferable to a rash one.

    I was talking about the article you presented. I am entitled to criticize it and point out its flaws.

    No, you said the president has proven that he is out of his depth. He has not done this. It is merely your opinion. If you had said "I think the President is out of his depth" it would be clear that it was your opinion. But you made a misleading statement as if it were fact.
     
  7. uscvball

    uscvball Founding Member

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    Winston1 likes this.
  8. Winston1

    Winston1 Founding Member

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    His lack of resolve has been part of the reason that have been over 100k killed in Syria and ISIS is as powerful as it is. Sometimes waiting for ideal is worse than taking action when the problem is small.
     
  9. red55

    red55 curmudgeon Staff Member

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    The concern is certainly so. But Al Qaeda was a far more significant danger and they have been decimated and have made no successful attack in the US in 13 years. ISIS has so far made only empty threats while we are bombing their forces on their turf. It is wise to be vigilant, but not a time to panic or overreact. The Boston Marathon bombing was a pinprick compared to our own domestic terrorists like McVeigh or Kozinski and wasn't even committed by Arabs. We can deal with them without Trillion dollar invasion/occupations.
     
  10. red55

    red55 curmudgeon Staff Member

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    Dude, you wanted us to go to war against Assad. Now you want us to go to war against the guys that are fighting Assad. Obama is letting them beat up each other at no cost to us, but you want us to fight them BOTH! Amazing.
     

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