Letters to the Editor
cabdriver
Published Letters: 594 Editor's Choice: 8
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The "fait accomplit" argument
[Read the article: What John McCain didn't learn in Vietnam]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I am afraid that Obama. is a McGovernite Democrat whose mind is so clouded by hatred of what he thinks is a puppet regime that he would stand by if the Iraqi government were overthrown/taken over by Iranians or their surrogates.
Leaving the "McGovernite Democrat" paste-on label aside, for the nonce (Barack Obama was 11 years old when George McGovern ran for president) I think you've alluded to an important point:
the most plausible reason that Bush and his war cheerleaders invaded Iraq in the spring of 2003- during sandstorm season going into sunstroke season, with a force that was entirely too inadequate to have the slightest possibility of either maintaining law and order or repairing the basic infrastructure required to return the nation to good working order, despite the advice of military commanders who were forced out for not telling them what they wanted to hear- is that by doing so, they were able to foment the maximum amount of chaos required to justify their agenda of a high-profile American military presence in the country- permanently.
And the people most responsible for stopping that scam, fell for it. And now that it's happened, and all the scam bullshit reasons that the invasion supposedly took place are forgotten- so conveniently- the reason being provided by the war supporters that the US military has to stay there is because "we can't leave."
Great president we got there, Robbysh. No doubt, he'll go down in history for that move.
Of course, from your latest message, it's apparent that you think history is something you can take or leave- taking out little factoid bites here and there, to suit your preconceptions.
At this point, the question to be answered is- even if the US withdraws, and the Arabs and Kurds of Iraq form a friendly alliance with the Persians of Iran- so what? Is that worse than a continuing US occupation continuing to poison relations with huge fractions of the populations of every country in the region year in and year out, with tens of thousands of US service personnel stationed in "little USA" garrison outposts in the midst of a foreign society with whom they share neither culture, religion, or even basic language skills?
The last I heard, the people cooking the meals for US residents of the Green Zone still have to be imported from countries like the Philippines, lest the locals poison their food. Pardon the intrusion of a germane historical comparison, but does that sound like post-1953 South Korea to you?
Bear in mind that the median age in Iraq is 20.2 years. Half of the population of Iraq is under that age- growing up in a dysfunctional society; 70-80% lacking access to basic services like clean water or to a steady supply of electrical power; where even the most optimistic estimate of the the unemployment rate range around 25-30%; living in a country where foreign troops have been kicking in doors and disrespecting and humiliating their countrymen; alienated and prone to being influenced by the extremist militants who took advantage of the vacuum of power in the wake of the US failure to secure safe streets and basic services as an imperative in the aftermath of the victorious invasion...
This is the fault of the Iraq War opponents exactly how?
Back to my earlier question, Robbysh: lay out your worst-case scenario if US forces pack up and leave Iraq. Do you really think that Iran wants to annex Iran? That would make them responsible for repairing all of the damage, and for suppressing the local "insurgencies"- because guaranteed, a lot of Iraqis do NOT love them, especially the Kurds and the Sunni Arabs.
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Correction
[Read the article: What John McCain didn't learn in Vietnam]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Do you really think that Iran wants to annex Iran
I meant "do you really think that Iran wants to annex Iraq", of course.
apology for the typo.
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The Iraq Occupation Is Not Like The US Having Bases In South Korea...
[Read the article: What John McCain didn't learn in Vietnam]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]...it's like having a 5 lb. tick attached to this country, continuing to suck away.
Tell me how the worst consequence of withdrawing US forces from Iraq could equal that.
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@historybuff1
[Read the article: What John McCain didn't learn in Vietnam]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]One more thing: when/if you do return to comment in Salon, kindly be prepared to reference your comments next time around.
Simply trying to grab the "high ground" by attempting to stick labels on your opponents is no substitute. Especially when the ad hominems are rote cliches...that's a little too obvious.
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To really get the lowdown on white people...
[Read the article: The unbearable whiteness of being]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]...read A World Lit Only By Fire: The Medieval Mind And The Renaissance, by the historian William Manchester.
Any grounds that white folks may think they have for having origins and heritage of superior social development and cultural refinement will shift into quicksand, immediately upon reading.
That book takes the cake. The SWPL website isn't even icing, in comparison. It's food coloring.
Admittedly, it's sporadically funny. Although the Manchester book is funnier, and more quotable.