The next US President

[Dr. Freeman]

okay.. so my brother and i were having a discussion on the situation in Iraq/Afganistan and how it would affect the next US president.

we both agreed that who ever takes over will be in a "no-win" situation as far as Iraq and Afganistan go..

whether u agree with Bush originally sending in troops to "hunt down" Saddam and/or Bin Laden.. the next president will be criticized for pulling out after having spent billions of dollars over the past 2-3 years..

and the president will be criticized if he decides "might as well finish what was started" (whatever that is...)

so i think the president will be starting with "digging himself out of the hole" type of situation..

what do u think? will all this "war" be over by then? or will the new president be facing a tough decision?
im not so sure..the "war" will be over...things just seem to get worse everyday.

 

[A2597]

the "war" in Iraq will be an ongoing thing for years. the Iraqi government is no where near organized enough to take on the resistance fighters that are trying to tear down the new government.

Bush will stay there, and with luck, Kerry would be forced to. If we leave now the world will be 10 times as mad at us for not cleaning up the mess.

 

[JimmehH]

They have to finish what's been started in Iraq no matter who the next president is. To leave now would be an enormous mistake that would have bad repercussions for years to come.

 

[alehm]

Think about, how many people really cared about the people of Iraq and Afganistan before Sept 11? Hardly anyone, and they were dieing by the many thousands every year. CNN and BBC weren't showing their plight to us every night on television. Its as though people in the middle east are less human than us somehow. It just isn't big enough news than a congressmans missing mistress or what have you.

Perhaps we should pull out and let Iraq and Afganistan become ruled by homocidal maniacs again. Or do we suddenly care and admit that we were either racist or just apathetic?

 

[CptStern]

"Meet the new boss, same as the old boss" ...the Who "Wont get fooled again"

 

[not28]

as long as they don't institute a ****ing draft...

 

[Mechagodzilla]

Le roi est mort. Vive le roi!

 

[CptStern]

"We (america) have no king but Jesus" John Ashcroft, religious boob

 

[DarkStar]

I agree with our actions in Afghanistan, but think the action in Iraq was unjustifiable.

 

[bgesley426]

"I will do anything that I can to stop these terroristic actions.......Now watch this drive. (tees off). - Bush on a Par 4

 

[CptStern]

from the same clip "This place is full of the have's and the have mores" ....ooooohhh I wanted to kick the bejebus outta him for that line

 

[A2597]

our action in Iraq was justified under the surrender of Iraq in the Gulf War, not to mention the humanitarian side of putting Saddam out of commission.

 

[nicrd]

No one likes to be told what to think or what to do. "Teaching" someone what is "good" and "bad" is very insulting, and thats what the iraqis feel the americans are doing. The only way for them to be in peace is that they do it by themselves. Even if the americans leave the country with a democracy, it will not hold.

 

[The Mullinator]

No one likes to be told what to think or what to do. "Teaching" someone what is "good" and "bad" is very insulting, and thats what the iraqis feel the americans are doing. The only way for them to be in peace is that they do it by themselves. Even if the americans leave the country with a democracy, it will not hold.

Currently the only other groups in Iraq with any power are islamic extremists that will reinstate a government like Saddams if they are in power, it would also result in a huge Iraqi civil war if the US leaves and that would mean a lot more blood shed than what is currently happening. Besides, its not like the Iraqis aren't used to people "teaching" them what is "good" and "bad" like what you said the americans are currently doing.

 

[nicrd]

Currently the only other groups in Iraq with any power are islamic extremists that will reinstate a government like Saddams if they are in power, it would also result in a huge Iraqi civil war if the US leaves and that would mean a lot more blood shed than what is currently happening. Besides, its not like the Iraqis aren't used to people "teaching" them what is "good" and "bad" like what you said the americans are currently doing.

Yes, this is all true. But I think civil war is unavoidable in Iraq. Honestly, what can the americans do to stop it ? Or any other western country? There is absolutly NO democracy in any arab country. If americans leave one in Iraq someone is bound bring it to a dictatorship. A democracy cannot be installed by force in a country, it is the people of that country that have to make it. This way they will unite to prevent another dictator from taking power. They need some political heroes, like every other country.

 

[The Mullinator]

There is always a first for everything, besides one of the biggest reasons democracy may seem so unlikely to work right now is because most Arabs havn't known one, perhaps they will like it much more than what they had before (once they finally get a democracy) and will be willing to fight to protect it. The US will probably have to remain in Iraq for at least 10 years to provide security and opinions can easily change during that time depending on what happens. Although the way the US has been handling most things related to Iraq is only making things worse, but that can change as well.

 

[clarky003]

Bush will stay there, and with luck, Kerry would be forced to. If we leave now the world will be 10 times as mad at us for not cleaning up the mess

us? why would anyone be mad at you dude... , you didnt decide to go to war, its not the American public's responsibility, although why it comes across that way sometimes from some people I dont know...

its those few people ontop with the power and the political ego's that are to blame ,,

but as for a civil war ,, god knows,, or should I say Rumsfeld knows,, hes one of the honcho's behind all of the future and present planning of the situation.. but I wouldnt be suprised if all war broke loose in the middle east, and many country's got plunged into it,, escalating to a point where the world becomes split to such an extreme that theres a distinct possibility that WWIII could be on the way. (horrible thought)

all over what we think is the only viable source of energy , as the buisness in oil is already set up, I doubt anyone in the buisness wants to see them slump and loose production,, and lets face it, the guys with the oil, hold us all to ransom as we are dependent on the 40% of energy it provides us ( if production dropped by half, with the growth of society in the future, it then becomes difficult to provide the same percentage of the population as today, with electricity. not to mention not all of us get electricity at the moment anyway in LEDC's)., there the ones who really rule the world. 'shakes fist'. and surely they dont want to let that go.. I guess .. at any cost.

my guess to that is they want to keep their flash cars and lifestyles , how small minded if thats the case

 

[Tork]

Well I think of it this way, over 8,000 civilians killed, even 1 of them was more then enough. Remember people all americans dont think alike, there are still a lot of good people in the USA who respect life. Maybe im the only one here that respects life but I dont want bush to becone president again, anyone but bush. But I fear he will be elected again.

 

[clarky003]

you think that maybe because hes pushed himself into the position of being responsible for the war, and now that secure's his presidencey better. I hope to god that man knows what hes doing if he gets elected again. it would be such a cliche if this 40 billion dollar pipeline ive heard about in the Caspian sea over in Iraq, gets built by US energy companies, then how can he denie that they went in there for alterior motives...? I guess well just have to wait.

 

[not28]

There is always a first for everything, besides one of the biggest reasons democracy may seem so unlikely to work right now is because most Arabs havn't known one, perhaps they will like it much more than what they had before (once they finally get a democracy) and will be willing to fight to protect it. The US will probably have to remain in Iraq for at least 10 years to provide security and opinions can easily change during that time depending on what happens. Although the way the US has been handling most things related to Iraq is only making things worse, but that can change as well.

That was a bunch of hypothetical maybes and what-ifs.

Sounds like VIETNAM: THE SEQUEL!

 

[Baal]

I think that Bush will get re-elected because all the rednecks like his "Mop the floor with the rest of the world" policy.

There are a lot of rednecks.

 

[The Mullinator]

That was a bunch of hypothetical maybes and what-ifs.

Sounds like VIETNAM: THE SEQUEL!

Its the future, it is all hypothetical. Its not guaranteed to turn worse or better, but I like to be optimistic. Maybe things will start getting better? I would rather think that than simply assume that things will be getting worse.

 

[Prince of China]

The Next US President

A box of tic-tacs.

 

[clarky003]

optimistic, < from what I know about new technologies. im very optimistic. but its relavent to consider the worst possible outcome to encourage you to not want that to happen , for the more driven optimistic approach.. if it all goes cock end up in my mid 20's to 30's, im gonna be a farmer lol,

 

[Baal]

Its the future, it is all hypothetical. Its not guaranteed to turn worse or better, but I like to be optimistic. Maybe things will start getting better? I would rather think that than simply assume that things will be getting worse.

I didn't really think things could get much worse...