Letters to the Editor
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People die
That war always has unforeseen consequences is a good reason that war should only be engaged as a last resort, but it is not the reason. In war, even in democracies, people who had nothing whatsoever to do with the war, die. When Aquinas came up with the rules for a Just War, wars were started by autocrats against other autocrats and the average person was just caught up in it with no recourse.
The situation is still the same today. Even if you discount that effect as active in the US's all volunteer army, the Iraqi people, so often forgotten in our comfortable discussions, are killed by the hundreds each week.
I would completely support a war in which the people who decide to take us into that war are in the front line from the very first day.
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Wrong god.
Bush's faith has little to do with the Christian god, but rather hearkens back to other, more ancient gods, namely Ares, the Greek god of war, and Mars, his Roman counterpart.
One web site describes the differences between Mars and Ares thus:
Mars, the Roman God of War, was one of the most worshiped and revered gods throughout ancient Rome. He was the son of Jupiter and Juno and according to legend, fathered Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome, with the vestal virgin Rhea Silvia. Because of this mythological lineage, the Roman people felt as though they were also the children of Mars and he was regarded as their protector. Mars held a special place in the Roman Pantheon not only for his patronly influence, but because of the importance of military achievement in the republic and the Roman Empire, conquering Northern Africa and much of Europe and the Middle East.
When Mars is worshiped, war is seen as not as a terrible thing, but as a useful tool, a way to build an empire. Consider now the contrast with the Greek Ares:
Unlike Mars, Ares never enjoyed the popularity of his Roman counterpart. Ares was tall and handsome, but vain and cruel. He was known as the despicable god of war, who "delights in the slaughter of men and the sacking of towns." Ares was loathed by all the other gods, including his own parents, Zeus (Jupiter) and Hera (Juno). He was loved only by his sister, Eris (Discord), her son, Strife, and oddly enough by the beautiful Aphrodite (the Roman Venus). . . Ares fathered many children with Aphrodite, including his constant companions on the battle field, Phobos (Panic), and Deimos (Fear). They would become the names of the red planet's two moons. The animal sacred to Ares was the vulture - associated with death. There were no Greek cities where Ares was worshiped.
Thus the worship of Mars continues today, ironically, by believers in the Prince of Peace. Bush is a follower of Mars, but Ares is the one who actually showed up in Iraq. And he's going to be around for a very long time.
Note to future presidents: when you summon Mars, don't be surprised if Ares answers the call.
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Faith just for the rubes
Like Reagan before him, Bush was the affable dunce that the GOP power brokers would present to the rubes while retaining the real power for themselves.
The war in Iraq was pre-ordained the moment Dick Cheney selected himself as vice president.
As we learned from former Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neil, the invasion of Iraq was the main agenda of the very first meeting of the Bush National Security Council in early 2001.
The invasion wasn't about national security -- it was about cheap oil and domestic political exploitation for the 2002 and 2004 elections.
The bloody occupation now is soley about running out the clock so Iraq won't be "lost on Bush's watch." Faith? That's just for the rubes.
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The Butterfly Hurricane
Kamiya has given wonderful examples of the butterfly hurricane effects of war. Most of the effects were anticipated by reasonable people who had some understanding of the MidEast. More are coming: Bush is planning to unconditionally sell 20 billion in armaments to Saudi Arabia, and give 30 billion of aid to Israel. The Saudis are already arming the Sunnis in Iraq so another back-door way to foment more carnage, and give more incentive for Iran to overtly enter the fray. Paulsen will ask Congress in Sept to increase the debt ceiling, now 8.9 trillion, or the US won't be able to pay its bills. This is a Middle East disaster that will bankrupt this country.
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The country is nuts!
I was there (NYC) on 9/11 a day I will never forget, you should all remember we were attacked, you act as if it’s our fault and we shouldn’t do anything about it, lets just wipe out all of the terrorists, Israel has been doing it for years because they understand these people are nuts they have no reason you can’t deal with them on any sort of level, stop giving them credit as to caring about anything other then killing the infidels, when we bombed Kaddafi he shut up pretty quickly, all they understand is power, the stronger one wins, that’s it plain and simple.
Maybe if you were standing next to the towers well they fell you would think differently.
When you elect HRC or BHO then everything will be better in the world because all the children in America will have health care and we all know that will keep the terrorists from attacking.
Removing Saddam was a good move at least they are not slaughtering 1000's of people at random, I don't think anyone can argue that fact, oh wait I take that back my liberal forward thinking friends don't think it was a good move they think we should have let that go on and on and on and on, I thought you were the party of compassion for your fellow man, I guess only if they are elitists or socialists. If this was about oil we could have taken the oil
I don’t understand why you libs are into all the movement towards socialism, that’s what we should be worried about we shouldn’t want to go there it has been proven over and over again that it doesn’t work why then would we want to move in that direction?
Think people HRC & BHO are basically socialists!!!! Wake up!!!!
There is an old adage in marketing, keep telling the people the same things over and over and they will eventually believe it, well it’s happened the press has been telling us we hate the war or should hate the war , and that we are very bad people we are shameful capitalists who should provide healthcare and abortions for everyone for free,
Oops it won’t be free all of you middle class socialist idiots will be paying for it because your party wants more of your money to figure out what to do with it, because you can’t. But your rich leaders won’t be paying a dime, think about it that’s the flaw in socialism the rich are treated differently and the middle pays for everything……..sound familiar?
What a shame it will be noted in history that the greatest country in the world fell like the Roman Empire because of the liberal forward thinking American hating media, remember the professors, teachers and reporters are always the first ones killed in a socialist/communist/facist society!!!!