The War in Iraq

Subject: The War in Iraq Fri Apr 18, 2008 9:16 am

In addition to the troops, the worlds largest private army is operating in Iraq under the guise of private security firms. Recently we heard about the private security firm Blackwater operating and how they operate with little or no restrictions. Our government, as well as the UK, use private security firms to circumvent the need for more troops. Funding of these private security forces are costing hundreds of millions of tax dollars. Some of the security improvements that are attributed to the troop surge is misplaced.
Of course the entire war is misplaced.
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Admin Joined : 11 Jan 2008 Posts : 2068 Location : UK

The BBC were against the war from the outset. The fact that they may have been right bothers me less than the way they used the media (television and radio) to express opinions. It isn't just the British who rely on the BBC to be impartial -- so does the rest of the world. That said, anyone interested can listen to a programme on the radio about mercenaries in Iraq and Afghanistan:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/documentary_archive/6670783.stm
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Shelagh Watkins
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Subject: Re: The War in Iraq Fri Apr 18, 2008 3:04 pm

Thanks for the website Shelagh. That will explain better what I was trying to say.
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Subject: Re: The War in Iraq Mon Apr 21, 2008 5:02 am

The Iraq war, over the past five years, has become an insanity costing tax payers hundreds of billions of dollars. The war was started based on faulty intelligence and now, five years later, there is no certain way out. confused

In adition to the fact that priviate secutity companies have been given near total impunity in Iraq, many no-bid contracts have been awarded in the reconstruction of Iraq, many to Hallibutron, including one in which the government payed $100 a load to have the troops' laundry washed. I think the Iraq war is one of the major contributors to the devaluation of the US dollar. The people in Washington need to come up with an effective exit strategy and soon.

Subject: Re: The War in Iraq Mon Apr 21, 2008 5:29 am

I agree with you Gordon.
It was not only faulty intelligence, but the invasion was illegal under the UN charter of which we are a signatory.
We are the invaders. We took it upon ourselves to remove a head of state and watched him hanged. The crimes for which he was accused are not too much different from what has happened since the invasion. So how many people did Saddam Hussein kill and how many are attributed to GWB. Killing is killing. Dead is dead. Are we going to quibble over the method? How is hanging different from a gas chamber, or lethal injection?

Before the war, we were still in a financially healthy position even though GWB gave away most of the budget surplus. The cost of this illegal and insane war has cost America not only cash but prestige in the world. The American economy affects world markets and that is exactly what has happened. We are now in a recession and that can be attributed to the war in Iraq. Our money is being poured down the toilet. It is a war that cannot be won. Yes, with our military might we can win the battles but will lose the war. Not understading the mentality of the M.E. people we continue to think that we can force our ideaology on them.
It is horrible to think of the deaths and destruction we caused but that will not improve by remaining there. We need to admit that we made a mistake. The resistance will continue so long as we remain there. We need to get out now.
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Subject: Re: The War in Iraq Mon Apr 21, 2008 1:36 pm

There was a really good segment on 60 Minutes last night, a US based news magazine program, that highlighted American soldiers based in Afghanistan. It was heartwrenching to watch, in part because a lot of the "popular" news surrounds Iraq, despite the number of NATO soldiers, and contractors, fighting/working in Afghanistan. In Canada we've been having a debate about getting out of Afghanistan (because we aren't officially in Iraq, even though we are), and it makes me nuts to think that people who are doing good work there - and there is plenty of it - will have it undermined by a drug based economy. I cannot fathom why we have to support a place, try to liberate and educate, feed and provide medicine and clear roads and safe passage, when ultimately we are also creating better ways for them to transport and cultivate drugs. Arghh! Don't get me started on how the world needs to learn to play together nicely...Oops, I think I already did...

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Pam Robertson

http://andthebandplayedonmylawn.blogspot.com

Subject: Re: The War in Iraq Tue Jul 01, 2008 5:19 am

CNN is reporting that new evidence shows
Bush invaded Iraq for the oil.

That information was known by many at the time of the invasion but few were listening. Regardless of evidence to support this, it will undoubtedly continue to be denied by Bush, as he will never admit any wrongdoing. This man has cost thousands of lives, billions of American taxpayer dollars that has turned us into a debtor nation, and he is still sitting in the oval office contemplating yet another war with oil-rich Iran.
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Subject: Re: The War in Iraq Tue Jul 01, 2008 3:10 pm

And yet... with the ruinious cost in money, lives, and prestige...

with the massive disapproval of voters, including the huge vote-out of Republicans at midterm (interpreted by press as a "referendum against the war")...

...only two candidates ran against the war, one an early flushout and the remaining one, Obama, never mentions it anymore.
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Subject: Re: The War in Iraq Tue Jul 01, 2008 3:36 pm

What's amazing is that something like 70%-80% of Americans now oppose the Iraq war. Bush's approval rating is under 30% the lowest of any modern president, and still he insists in staying the course. It's like doing something that doesn't work and insisting on continuing to do it even though nearly everyone can see it's not working (or mayby Bush doesn't see that the Iraq war is getting us nowhere but deeper in debt).

Subject: Re: The War in Iraq Tue Jul 01, 2008 4:02 pm

The saddest is how we have compromised the principles and values of our country. Torture, attacking a country for either oil or regime change, traumatizing thousands of children with bunker bursting bombs, not being up front and honest in governing, are all against much of what we have stood for. True in the past, we have had some not so good intentions, mostly from fear, but somehow our principles and values have arisen and overcome them. I found some downright scary ideas during the Cuban Missile Crisis, some one author said were the greatest examples of corruption in our nation's history, but am not sure they even compare to what we have now.

But what we have in place is a system of freedom we all need to take seriously. It strikes me that since my granddaughter will be 18 Nov. 1st, she will be able to vote and her vote will count as much as my older one. How great that is, that we are a country of freedom for all ages. I can only hope we can encourage the young and the old to step up and bring our values back. And we have the right to disagree with our government, and that is a great freedom we can never forget.

Love, Carol

Subject: Re: The War in Iraq Tue Jul 01, 2008 7:55 pm

Subject: Re: The War in Iraq Tue Jul 01, 2008 11:44 pm

I've suspected for quite a while that the oil had a considerable amount to do with the decision to invade Iraq. By attacking Iraq and forcing regime change and torturing enemy prisoners, we show the world that we don't care, we just want our way no matter what the cost. It almost seems like we're turning into an emperialistic power who's ultimate goal is to make the world safe for mega corporations, consumerism, and out of control credit card debt. Evil or Very Mad

Subject: Re: The War in Iraq Wed Jul 02, 2008 1:13 am

Gordon,

Unfortunately that seems to be the way the rest of the world sees us and why we have fallen into such disfavor with those who were once our allies, all those who came to our aid after 9/11, and we stepped on in the process.

I discovered you live in the UP. I love the UP. It has all the wonderful ambience of northern Wisconsin, only more so.

Carol

Subject: Re: The War in Iraq Wed Jul 02, 2008 1:27 am

You yoopers always say that.
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Subject: Re: The War in Iraq Wed Jul 02, 2008 1:35 am