The War Must Go On, O RLY? Options

[fameONE]

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/03/19...iraq/index.html

Story Highlights
-President Bush says victory in Iraq necessary to demonstrate U.S. resolve
-Bush says removing Saddam Hussein from power was the right decision
-Bush marks the fifth anniversary of the Iraq war with a speech at Pentagon
-The president praises the so-called surge of U.S. troops in Iraq

Hmmm.

Two Pennies:
At this point in the game, we must see this fight through. The accrued debt, the lives at stake, and the foundation built in Iraq prohibit the U.S. from pulling troops out of Middle Eastern hostile zones. I never supported the war in Iraq from a political standpoint because the motives were just too unclear. Pardon my wording, but now, I'm just balls deep in this bitch and I don't have a choice.

Thoughts?

[karmakiller]

There's people at the capital here that are doing a 5 day strike. They don't have many people because of spring break.

I think we're going to be in Iraq for a long time, whether or not we're "in conflict" with them. I think that if America couldn't check off Iraq as a victory in the books that a lot of the families of the deceased would think that their loved ones died for nothing. Plus, there are some innocent and misplaced Iraqis that can't do it on their own.

[ersatz]

Well obviously we can't just exit swiftly now that we're already there, have destroyed any sort of government they had and have not set up a viable option to restore order, have not set up a stable police force, and have not enabled their army to operate on their own terms. That's why we can't leave, not because we need to prove that we can beat up little countries. I actually think that the longer we're there, the more embarrassing it is. We supposedly beat the Nazi army but we can't defeat Iraqi insurgents? Are you kidding?

[illriginal]

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/03/19...iraq/index.html
Hmmm.

Two Pennies:
At this point in the game, we must see this fight through. The accrued debt, the lives at stake, and the foundation built in Iraq prohibit the U.S. from pulling troops out of Middle Eastern hostile zones. I never supported the war in Iraq from a political standpoint because the motives were just too unclear. Pardon my wording, but now, I'm just balls deep in this bitch and I don't have a choice.

Thoughts?

I just wanna know why is gas still rising, specially when we're colonizing parts of the Middle East? And why do we have to pay 12 billion a month to support our killing machine? Where's Bin Laden?

Good job! Bush. =\

[*Steven*]

I just wanna know why is gas still rising, specially when we're colonizing parts of the Middle East? And why do we have to pay 12 billion a month to support our killing machine? Where's Bin Laden?

Good job! Bush. =\

I think it's plateaued. It's started to drop again in our area. It got to a point where people were like "f**k this, I'm just not gonna drive as much". There is more carpooling, too. The higher the gas gets, the harder it's gonna fall. People will start spending more and more of their paycheck on gas, and because of that they don't have as much to spend on luxuries. When they aren't buying the luxuries, they aren't driving to the places that sell them. When they aren't driving, they don't buy as much gas. When the gas stations don't get money from the gas, they lower prices.

[illriginal]

I think it's plateaued. It's started to drop again in our area. It got to a point where people were like "f**k this, I'm just not gonna drive as much". There is more carpooling, too. The higher the gas gets, the harder it's gonna fall. People will start spending more and more of their paycheck on gas, and because of that they don't have as much to spend on luxuries. When they aren't buying the luxuries, they aren't driving to the places that sell them. When they aren't driving, they don't buy as much gas. When the gas stations don't get money from the gas, they lower prices.

It's gonna rise to $4 dollars minimum, supposedly by the end of summer.

[*Steven*]

I don't know. I think they underestimate the general public (don't get me wrong, I think most are idiots too). The price of crude oil dropped pretty significantly today, like $10. It's almost sub 100 again.

[illriginal]

I don't know. I think they underestimate the general public (don't get me wrong, I think most are idiots too). The price of crude oil dropped pretty significantly today, like $10. It's almost sub 100 again.

Hm... the price has been stable at $3.59 - $3.63 for premium gasoline. Been like this for nearly two weeks now. Hopefully it doesn't hit $4. I already spend $40 to fill my tank from empty to full.

[*Steven*]

It's like 3.39 for premium in Houston. I gassed up for $3.04 for regular yesterday, and was quite happy with that. It's so shittastic how we think of $3 as good now, and $2 as amazing. I remember when $1.20 was annoying, and when $.88 was the norm.

[illriginal]

It's like 3.39 for premium in Houston. I gassed up for $3.04 for regular yesterday, and was quite happy with that. It's so shittastic how we think of $3 as good now, and $2 as amazing. I remember when $1.20 was annoying, and when $.88 was the norm.

yeah =\

I miss the good ol' days of just payin $1.00 per gallon.

[Be-Faithful]

YES YES WAR

RATATATAT COMMON DIE n*gga DIE MUTHAf**kA DIE

war is cooooooooool

"make love not war" SUCKS


better say

"make love and make war after" again

[brooklyneast05]

YES YES WAR
RATATATAT COMMON DIE n*gga DIE MUTHAf**kA DIE
war is cooooooooool
"make love not war" SUCKS
better say
"make love and make war after" again

shut the f**k up

[illriginal]

shut the f**k up

I have a feeling that's nguoicasison.

[brooklyneast05]

I have a feeling that's nguoicasison.

they're different people. i know it's hard to believe they are both really this obnoxious

[illriginal]

they're different people. i know it's hard to believe they are both really this obnoxious

Oh...

[ersatz]

You're complaining about $40? My tank is $65 and I go through it within a week.

[brooklyneast05]

You're complaining about $40? My tank is $65 and I go through it within a week.

what do you drive?

[Melie]

The price of crude oil dropped pretty significantly today, like $10. It's almost sub 100 again.

but what is the explanation for the price of it being so high?

[illriginal]

but what is the explanation for the price of it being so high?

Yeah... I think there's more to it that they're not telling us, not to be a conspiracy nut.

[Melie]

Yeah... I think there's more to it that they're not telling us, not to be a conspiracy nut.

no i agree. no one can seem to narrow it down to one substantial "excuse" as to why Americans are paying so much money for gas. it's bad enough that a gallon of milk is just as much. at our nearest Wal-mart, it's almost $4.

my biggest pet peeve about this whole war is that there never was just one agenda. what's the reason for the war this year? because i'm confused. every year it's something different. weapons of mass destruction, oil, saddam, terrorists, the iraqis need us. now for 2008 it's because we've invested so much money in it that we're in over our heads. hmm, if only we did like powell, quit before it got stupid.

[*Steven*]

Not a conspiracy. Trained American public. Greed and profit seeking, that's all. The fact that they can do it and still get money makes them keep going at it.

[illriginal]

no i agree. no one can seem to narrow it down to one substantial "excuse" as to why Americans are paying so much money for gas. it's bad enough that a gallon of milk is just as much. at our nearest Wal-mart, it's almost $4.

my biggest pet peeve about this whole war is that there never was just one agenda. what's the reason for the war this year? because i'm confused. every year it's something different. weapons of mass destruction, oil, saddam, terrorists, the iraqis need us. now for 2008 it's because we've invested so much money in it that we're in over our heads. hmm, if only we did like powell, quit before it got stupid.

That's true that we have random and multiple agendas (which become confusing) and the sad part is because of the investment, and the time spent there; they don't want to pull out. Because it would look like it was nothin but a cheap way to get rid of the old twin towers, replace them, and make huge profits from oil, while screwing not only the middle east by colonizing them but also the Americans =\

Capitalism.... Ermmm imperialism at its best.

[Melie]

That's true that we have random and multiple agendas (which become confusing) and the sad part is because of the investment, and the time spent there; they don't want to pull out. Because it would look like it was nothin but a cheap way to get rid of the old twin towers, replace them, and make huge profits from oil, while screwing not only the middle east by colonizing them but also the Americans =\

Capitalism.... Ermmm imperialism at its best.

now, 9/11 had nothing to do with iraq according to intel if i'm not mistaken. and i completely supported the deployment of troops to afganistan. but what i'm not supporting is an unexplainable war which has not been a gain for us americans. we have been the ones that are sacrificing our hard earned money to support our troops to be in a country that never asked or needed us to be there in the first place. when we had countries like britian, australia, france and even spain supporting the us in iraq, it gave me a feeling of a world that unifying for the good of the lost souls from 9/11. but once they pulled back and realized something that our own chief of command can't seem to see, then it became a something that allowed him to be come a dictator. i for one, knew that there was something wrong with that man when elections started in 2000. when there was a recount in FL, none of the less, i knew that there is a conspiracy among that family and possibly more than we will ever know. and what scares me is the fact that our own media is turning a blind eye towards it. NOT TO MENTION A 2ND COUNT IN FL!!!! OMG, are you guys f*cking blind!! when will someone finally realize that maybe it's time we start snooping into their finances and their investments and see what is really going on with that family. that movie farenheit 9/11 got me so bad when it came out that i never believed a word that ever came out of that man's mouth even when i was in. i just did what i was told and kept sh*t to myself. but let me tell you, if i had one opportunity to sit down and be able to give him a piece of my mind, well, i would rather give him a slap and a punch in the face and force him to withdraw the troops.

[illriginal]

There's someone(s) I believe is a lot more powerful than the president. Pulling the strings and working in shadows. But that's my opinion on it.

His speeches a lone proves how ridiculous of a man he is.

[fameONE]

We supposedly beat the Nazi army but we can't defeat Iraqi insurgents? Are you kidding?

That's just it, we're not losing to Iraqi insurgents. Hostile forces have suffered an immense number of casualties compared to US forces. It's such a touchy situation because of the political ties involved. If we were faced against a somewhat conventional military force, then this would be a landslide victory. Unfortunately, we have to be 100% sure that a man armed with an RPG is indeed a threat, or we could face some serious penalties.

[illriginal]

That's just it, we're not losing to Iraqi insurgents. Hostile forces have suffered an immense number of casualties compared to US forces. It's such a touchy situation because of the political ties involved. If we were faced against a somewhat conventional military force, then this would be a landslide victory. Unfortunately, we have to be 100% sure that a man armed with an RPG is indeed a threat, or we could face some serious penalties.

Yeah but the terrorist you're tryin to fight is not uniformed. These are nothing better than street thugs with AK-47s and other military weapons that we've given them, yeah... we.

On top of that terrorists exist all around the world, all different shapes and sizes, genders, skin color, race, ethnicity, different agendas etc... you can't kill terrorism.

Only way that would be possible is if the world was taken by one government and had surveillances on every single object that ever existed.

And from my understanding of it all, the media has a contract with the military. There's only certain footages/intel they can provide to the American public. Not for the sake of security and giving away strategies or blowin covers either. But to keep us uninformed in what's really goin out there.

The numbers of death they report to us can't even be claimed legitimate in the first place. If they did tell us, not only will the terrorist feel like they're accomplishing and winning but it would also drop the American morale.

Think about it.

[fameONE]

Yeah but the terrorist you're tryin to fight is not uniformed. These are nothing better than street thugs with AK-47s and other military weapons that we've given them, yeah... we.

On top of that terrorists exist all around the world, all different shapes and sizes, genders, skin color, race, ethnicity, different agendas etc... you can't kill terrorism.

Only way that would be possible is if the world was taken by one government and had surveillances on every single object that ever existed.

And from my understanding of it all, the media has a contract with the military. There's only certain footages/intel they can provide to the American public. Not for the sake of security and giving away strategies or blowin covers either. But to keep us uninformed in what's really goin out there.

The numbers of death they report to us can't even be claimed legitimate in the first place. If they did tell us, not only will the terrorist feel like they're accomplishing and winning but it would also drop the American morale.

Think about it.

I work in a combat operations center, with Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF) planners. It's like a big ass game of risk that is real life. It's a long way from sleeping in the field and playing with C4, but we process the casualty reports. We're not losing this war in terms of combat losses. We're losing a political struggle. f**k the media, b.

[Jiji]

It's an odd issue. People like to make it seem very odd. America has turned into a melodramatic victim in the eyes of middle-class society. Because no one bothers to think, maybe Blackwater DID something, exploiting Iraqi workers like America has been doing for years now, maybe Bush is too DAMN COZY, and maybe we're all JUST TOO HAPPY.

The soldiers need to come back, before all of those men are broken entirely- physically and mentally. They went willingly, but now there is simply no purpose. Unless, tossing puppies off cliffs and blowing up schools counts as liberation and purpose. Kinda.

[ersatz]

what do you drive?

1997 Dodge Caravan.

[*paperplane*]

^Is that a minivan? (I had to google it.)

I don't know. I think they underestimate the general public (don't get me wrong, I think most are idiots too). The price of crude oil dropped pretty significantly today, like $10. It's almost sub 100 again.

Hm, gas here seems to have been steadily around $3.19 for at least three weeks. Around campus it can get over $3.30, but that's just taking advantage of the convenience.

I drove home and back today in only about a quarter of a tank. That's about 62 miles each way. I don't know how much it costs to fill the whole tank because my parents demand I have at least half a tank when driving to or from school, but the last time I probably had to fill 3/4 of the tank, it was just under $30. So yeah, I'm not complaining because I drive a small car in Georgia where gas is still comparatively cheap.


But for the sake of being at least slightly on topic, I read today that Dick Cheney's response to being told that 2/3 (or was it 3/4?) of the American public didn't approve of the war and found it unnecessary was, "So?" Lovely.

[*Steven*]

It's dropping here, I can get a tank of regular @ $3/gallon.

[BadCraziness]

Contrary to Bush's perspective, we are not the world police.

We have so many problems in our own country, and we should be focusing on them now. This war is one of the reasons our economy is so bad.

Why are we spending billions of dollars to blow up Iraq and then put it back together again, when there are millions of people in America who don't even have homes?

If we directed all of the money we're spending in Iraq on the homeless here, we wouldn't have half as many homeless people anymore.

Or, if you're a cynical tard who thinks most homeless people chose to be homeless, we can direct our money towards making our schools suck less. Being the most prosperous nation in the world and being, what, 17th in education is pretty awful.

[illriginal]

If we directed all of the money we're spending in Iraq on the homeless here, we wouldn't have half as many homeless people anymore.

Or if we could stop bullshitting each other into believing that this democracy erm... capitalism is good, we would realize we're only f**kin our selves. Capitalism is only meant for the rich by exploiting the poor til their death.

Introduce socialist-democracy, then we'll fix health care, education, classism would be abolished, and finally our well being as Americans would be far better than any other nation. THEN we can work on all our homelands that we've been exploiting the shit out of for the last what? 500-600 years?

[BadCraziness]

Or if we could stop bullshitting each other into believing that this democracy erm... capitalism is good, we would realize we're only f**kin our selves. Capitalism is only meant for the rich by exploiting the poor til their death.

Introduce socialist-democracy, then we'll fix health care, education, classism would be abolished, and finally our well being as Americans would be far better than any other nation. THEN we can work on all our homelands that we've been exploiting the shit out of for the last what? 500-600 years?

Yaaaaay holy shit we agree on something!
I'll start organizing the parade.

[illriginal]

Yaaaaay holy shit we agree on something!
I'll start organizing the parade.

[Comptine]

If anyone has been keeping up with current events, the death toll in the Iraq has been rising and the extremists are getting more violent as the number of troops decrease (semi-first phase of pulling out).

America's caught in a dead end. Whether we leave or stay, the violence won't end. What do you propose we do?

[illriginal]

If anyone has been keeping up with current events, the death toll in the Iraq has been rising and the extremists are getting more violent as the number of troops decrease (semi-first phase of pulling out).

America's caught in a dead end. Whether we leave or stay, the violence won't end. What do you propose we do?

Realistically... nothin. I just sat here for a good 10 minutes thinkin. Terrorists are terrorists, they don't belong to a specific country, or race, or gender, etc... they're every where with their own agenda and twisted belief system.

This whole anti-terrorism war is nothing but a creation of a genocidal census. Hell not even the troops want to be there. In fact majority of them that spoke out about their wantin for a change, and a few of them admitted to personally endorsing Obama.

[Stuckie]

Yeah but the terrorist you're tryin to fight is not uniformed. These are nothing better than street thugs with AK-47s and other military weapons that we've given them, yeah... we.

Actually, they're using unconventional means of attacking U.S. Soldiers. They dont come out and meet us head on. They use IEDs (Improvised Explosive Device) to target supply trucks, Humvees, and other convoys. They'll place an IED anywhere and in anything. They leave IEDs in dead animals, rubble in a city, or in our own vehicles that are already destroyed. Even in this form of cowardice fighting, we are training soldiers how to identify IEDs and what to do when they encounter one.

[Melie]

Actually, they're using unconventional means of attacking U.S. Soldiers. They dont come out and meet us head on. They use IEDs (Improvised Explosive Device) to target supply trucks, Humvees, and other convoys. They'll place an IED anywhere and in anything. They leave IEDs in dead animals, rubble in a city, or in our own vehicles that are already destroyed. Even in this form of cowardice fighting, we are training soldiers how to identify IEDs and what to do when they encounter one.

^that is very true. my hubby was telling me some stories about what was going on down there.

[Stuckie]

My Drill Sergeant from Basic told me about when he engaged an insurgent.He was using a kid as a human shield while standing behind a group of women. They use low, dirty tactics to fight.