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Sternhand4 -> RE: Jihad Jane??? (2/4/2007 12:09:48 PM)
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Sternhand4:
Perhaps you could tell us just how the war in Iraq is preserving freedom for us. From what I have read there is less freedom in Iraq now that we are there and have installed our puppet government than they had under sodamned insane. More Iraquies have been killed since we have been there than under sodamned insane in his entire tenure.
One can join the service when they are 17. You cannot vote, drink alcohol or enter into a contract when you are 17. Hardly an adult decission.
What is that I do not get?
thompson
[/quote]
I cant say that the current war in Iraq is preserving our freedom per se. Thats more of a constitution issue.
Here's my take..
It is demostrating that we have the will to go along with the ability to fight.
This and only this will prevent country's like Iran, China, N Korea from entering conflict with us. You want a political solution, then you have to be able to project force in a region, or else.
After Viet Nam, this country appeared weak.. look at the Iranian taking of our embassy. The military was drawn down and under equiped, so we had little ability to defend our nation interests. After Somalia Osama has been quoted as saying we wouldnt take the losses to insure victory, thats what gives them hope. Make us bleed and we'll run they belive. This kind of thinking is what led them to attack us.
Our own media " I'm not going to diverge into how left they are" helps them. They dont show how we help build schools, roads and wells. Its only negative aspects being shown.
We learned many lessons from these defeats. We fight at night now like no other nation. We can bomb targets from thousands of miles away now, with amazing accuracy. But you still unfortunately have to put boots on the ground to control populations. More unfortunate is that it only takes a few radicals/ terrorists to inflict harm on the rest of us.
It took us many years after WWII to insure democracy's in Japan, Germany and others. They also were not tribal people like in the middle east. Where democracy is a new idea. Education is the longterm answer, with more moderation. We should also not be opposd to splitting Iraq into 3 parts so the sunni's, shites. and kurds can separate.
It is in the strategic national interests of this country to have at least 1 stable arab democracy in the middle east. It will not be easy, or the cost in live cheap.
But in the long run it will save lives.
I highlighted a section of your quote above because of the ridiculous nature in its posting, lets ask the Kurds if the found this to be true, Saddan gassed whole villages into extinction for opposing him. We also let them down after Gulf I when we led them to believe that they would be supported in overthrowing Saddam. We cant just walk away again. every time we do it costs us credibilty and livesndown the road.
On a personal note I enlisted at 17 myself,, mom wasnt happy but she signed the contract. I agree that at 17 you should be able to vote if your on active or reserve duty. And The drinking part was never a problem, actually a lot of the fun went out of it after it wasn't a challenge to get into the bars. But again on active or reserve duty, you show an ID and you should get served.
Not all the decisions I made at 17 we're adult but entering the service was one of the best ones.
Stay warm
S
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