I am against the REASONING behind this war.
I am not for President Bush.
And, I am anything but a "peace loving hippie". My tastes run more towards Athena as opposed to Irene and I think that wars should be fought the old fashioned way ... with sticks, clubs, swords and shields. Peace has its place but so does violence. Man is still an animal when it comes down to it. There is and was, no way a man like Saddam Hussein would have been removed from power without violence. He is a violent man and unfortunately, violence inevitably begets violence. My problem is this:
Please Mr. President, don't pretend we are doing this for purely humanitarian reasons. And please don't tell me we are doing this because Saddam is a direct threat to my baseball and apple pie because if you truly believed this, why did you not mention this in your campaign? Why did you not say: "And one of the first things I am going to do as president is free the people of Iraq." Were you scared that by saying "I want to go to war for humanitarian reasons", you'd lose votes? If it seemed so out of line then why does it seem okay now?
Saddam has been large and in charge since when your Father was president so please don’t give me that he is any more of a threat after 9/11 than he was before it. And more importantly Mr. President, if you are going to play the humanitarian angle, why are we not getting involved in more military action in Africa, home to many more petty dictators and tyrants who regularly abuse and terrorize their own countrymen? Is it because we don't have the resources - or is it because they don't have resources useful to the United States and are not strategically important? Are we policing the world? Are we not? If we are policing the world, why go to the UN in the first place? There is no middle ground here anymore.
I have no problem with war. Sometimes it's what must be done. I do have a problem with dishonesty. I don't think Bush is being 100% honest and I can't in good conscience want our men and women being sent halfway across the world to fight for a half truth.
Article comments
1 - Eric Olsen
V, Welcome! Very thoughtful and well-written. I would only say thatit doesn't matter much to me which the rationale of the week from the Bush administration is as long as the action is the right thing to do, which I think it is. I view Bush as the instrument to get this done - that's all.
2 - san
Eric, man, that one is slow and right over the plate. Yes, I will... No, I won't. Oh, but it's such a fat pitch. Nah, better leave it alone.
Victoria, I can't say that I agree with you on all your points -- commending intelligence personnel as you do the guys and gals on the front line is a stretch -- but I think you are at least honest about the complexities behind antiwar sentiment.
3 - Brian Flemming
Eric,
All right, so san won't take this one, but I will:
"I would only say that it doesn't matter much to me which the rationale of the week from the Bush administration is as long as the action is the right thing to do, which I think it is."
It doesn't matter? The stated rationale for a war by its initiator doesn't matter?
Don't you think at some point, in a purported democracy, dishonesty with regard to launching an elective war reaches the point where it "matters"? I mean, is there a level of dishonesty you would categorize as too much, or is any amount okay?
Victoria,
Hi. I can help you out with this one:
And please don't tell me we are doing this because Saddam is a direct threat to my baseball and apple pie because if you truly believed this, why did you not mention this in your campaign? Why did you not say: "And one of the first things I am going to do as president is free the people of Iraq."
The pro-war answers to this question are (pick one or more):
1. 9-11 changed everything. It was on September 11, 2001, that the Iraqi people started suffering under a dictator. When GWB was running for President, they weren't really suffering that much. So because 9-11 happened, which directly caused the Iraqi people to need our help, we have to defy the world and depose Saddam via a military invasion.
2. Inspections weren't working. We had 12 years of inspections. The fact that the chart of effectiveness for those inspections was taking an approximately 1000% increase in the weeks before the invasion, and was about to take another gigantic leap, is irrelevant. Inspections weren't working. 12 years. So, because inspections weren't working, that directly caused a humanitarian crisis in Iraq, which means there was absolutely no other choice but to launch a military invasion to depose Saddam. Also, Hans Blix can't be trusted. I think he's a Communist.
3. Iraq and al Qaeda are in cahoots. IRAQ 9-11 IRAQ 9-11 IRAQ 9-11 IRAQ 9-11 IRAQ 9-11 IRAQ 9-11 IRAQ 9-11 IRAQ 9-11 IRAQ 9-11 IRAQ 9-11 IRAQ 9-11 IRAQ 9-11 IRAQ 9-11 IRAQ 9-11 IRAQ 9-11 IRAQ 9-11 IRAQ 9-11 IRAQ 9-11 IRAQ 9-11 IRAQ 9-11 IRAQ 9-11 IRAQ 9-11 IRAQ 9-11 IRAQ 9-11 IRAQ 9-11 IRAQ 9-11 IRAQ 9-11 IRAQ 9-11 IRAQ 9-11 IRAQ 9-11 IRAQ 9-11 IRAQ 9-11 IRAQ 9-11 IRAQ 9-11 IRAQ 9-11. There, now do you understand that Saddam Hussein ordered the World Trade Center and Pentagon attacks? It actually became true the 24th time I screamed it at you. It wasn't true before that, but it is now. Because I repeated it a LOT. Do you understand? Good citizen. Keep watching TV. TV is good. I like Fox. Have you watched Fox? It's good. So, because IRAQ 9-11 IRAQ 9-11 IRAQ 9-11 IRAQ 9-11 IRAQ 9-11 IRAQ 9-11 IRAQ 9-11 IRAQ 9-11 IRAQ 9-11 IRAQ 9-11 IRAQ 9-11 IRAQ 9-11 IRAQ 9-11 IRAQ 9-11 IRAQ 9-11 IRAQ 9-11 IRAQ 9-11 IRAQ 9-11 IRAQ 9-11 IRAQ 9-11 IRAQ 9-11 IRAQ 9-11 IRAQ 9-11 IRAQ 9-11 IRAQ 9-11 IRAQ 9-11 IRAQ 9-11 IRAQ 9-11 IRAQ 9-11 IRAQ 9-11 IRAQ 9-11 IRAQ 9-11 IRAQ 9-11 IRAQ 9-11 IRAQ 9-11, therefore we must rescue the Iraqi people by invading Iraq and deposing Saddam. There's really no other way.
Oh, by the way,
IRAQ 9-11 IRAQ 9-11 IRAQ 9-11 IRAQ 9-11 IRAQ 9-11 IRAQ 9-11 IRAQ 9-11 IRAQ 9-11 IRAQ 9-11 IRAQ 9-11 IRAQ 9-11 IRAQ 9-11 IRAQ 9-11 IRAQ 9-11 IRAQ 9-11 IRAQ 9-11 IRAQ 9-11 IRAQ 9-11 IRAQ 9-11 IRAQ 9-11 IRAQ 9-11 IRAQ 9-11 IRAQ 9-11 IRAQ 9-11 IRAQ 9-11 IRAQ 9-11 IRAQ 9-11 IRAQ 9-11 IRAQ 9-11 IRAQ 9-11 IRAQ 9-11 IRAQ 9-11 IRAQ 9-11 IRAQ 9-11 IRAQ 9-11
Ah, yes. How true.
4 - san
Brian, well said. I'm glad I waited for the next batter: I was only going to make some pithy comment and it would have fallen far short of your response.
5 - Perry Perdis
What really burns by butt to a crisp is what i read in the newspaper over the weekend.
While the media frenzy and the country's attention is focused in Iraq and the war,our esteemed senators and congress men/women are going to cut Veterans health benefits to the tune of over 10 BILLION DOLLARS!!!!!! Does this sound like our government "supporting our best and brightest" as the president puts it? Does the government really think that this is the way to keep america strong? Today,right now,there are army personnel living on WELFARE because the military of this country cant seem to afford a decent pay scale for the people that put up the most. We can certainly find billions of dollars to bail out the airline industry for no reason,oops wait,the Pres has buddies that have airline stocks. Another little tidbit i think you might enjoy is that pillar of governmental clarity Dick Cheney. Our wonderful Vice-President under Dubya. Mr. Cheney has a buddy that has a company the puts out oil well fires. Guess which company got the contract to put out the oil fires in Iraq? THAT'S RIGHT BOYS AND GIRLS!!! If there is anyone out there that thinks this war is for humanitarian reasons,i suggest you stick your head back in the sand. Let's not forget that war is good for the economy,and the bottom line for the big boys portfolios. Defense contractors are mile immense amounts of money during this war,which means STOCKHOLDERS are making money during this war. Who are the stockholders? Certainly not me or 99.99999% of the general american population. Countries like FRANCE and GERMANY that do business with the IRAQI REGIME also have defense businesses that supply parts for AMERICAN weapons. The F-16 is a is a great example of this.
It is not made soley in the USA. Its made in almost 10 countries,with parts being made in more than that. Take a look at the freedom of information act,you can get tons of information if you go about it the right way.
Now,after my little tirade,let me tell you that i am not pro war and i'm not anti war. I believe that eventually Saddam Hussein would have done bigger and worse things than he has in the past.
I believe that this war is an excuse by Dubya and his cronies. I believe that Dubya is a coward, an inept politician and most likely the worst President to ever sit in the office. Even worse than Jimmy Carter,and that's saying something.
6 - Perry Perdis
What really burns by butt to a crisp is what i read in the newspaper over the weekend.
While the media frenzy and the country's attention is focused in Iraq and the war,our esteemed senators and congress men/women are going to cut Veterans health benefits to the tune of over 10 BILLION DOLLARS!!!!!! Does this sound like our government "supporting our best and brightest" as the president puts it? Does the government really think that this is the way to keep america strong? Today,right now,there are army personnel living on WELFARE because the military of this country cant seem to afford a decent pay scale for the people that put up the most. We can certainly find billions of dollars to bail out the airline industry for no reason,oops wait,the Pres has buddies that have airline stocks. Another little tidbit i think you might enjoy is that pillar of governmental clarity Dick Cheney. Our wonderful Vice-President under Dubya. Mr. Cheney has a buddy that has a company the puts out oil well fires. Guess which company got the contract to put out the oil fires in Iraq? THAT'S RIGHT BOYS AND GIRLS!!! If there is anyone out there that thinks this war is for humanitarian reasons,i suggest you stick your head back in the sand. Let's not forget that war is good for the economy,and the bottom line for the big boys portfolios. Defense contractors are mile immense amounts of money during this war,which means STOCKHOLDERS are making money during this war. Who are the stockholders? Certainly not me or 99.99999% of the general american population. Countries like FRANCE and GERMANY that do business with the IRAQI REGIME also have defense businesses that supply parts for AMERICAN weapons. The F-16 is a is a great example of this.
It is not made soley in the USA. Its made in almost 10 countries,with parts being made in more than that. Take a look at the freedom of information act,you can get tons of information if you go about it the right way.
Now,after my little tirade,let me tell you that i am not pro war and i'm not anti war. I believe that eventually Saddam Hussein would have done bigger and worse things than he has in the past.
I believe that this war is an excuse by Dubya and his cronies. I believe that Dubya is a coward, an inept politician and most likely the worst President to ever sit in the office. Even worse than Jimmy Carter,and that's saying something.
7 - Perry Perdis
What really burns by butt to a crisp is what i read in the newspaper over the weekend.
While the media frenzy and the country's attention is focused in Iraq and the war,our esteemed senators and congress men/women are going to cut Veterans health benefits to the tune of over 10 BILLION DOLLARS!!!!!! Does this sound like our government "supporting our best and brightest" as the president puts it? Does the government really think that this is the way to keep america strong? Today,right now,there are army personnel living on WELFARE because the military of this country cant seem to afford a decent pay scale for the people that put up the most. We can certainly find billions of dollars to bail out the airline industry for no reason,oops wait,the Pres has buddies that have airline stocks. Another little tidbit i think you might enjoy is that pillar of governmental clarity Dick Cheney. Our wonderful Vice-President under Dubya. Mr. Cheney has a buddy that has a company the puts out oil well fires. Guess which company got the contract to put out the oil fires in Iraq? THAT'S RIGHT BOYS AND GIRLS!!! If there is anyone out there that thinks this war is for humanitarian reasons,i suggest you stick your head back in the sand. Let's not forget that war is good for the economy,and the bottom line for the big boys portfolios. Defense contractors are mile immense amounts of money during this war,which means STOCKHOLDERS are making money during this war. Who are the stockholders? Certainly not me or 99.99999% of the general american population. Countries like FRANCE and GERMANY that do business with the IRAQI REGIME also have defense businesses that supply parts for AMERICAN weapons. The F-16 is a is a great example of this.
It is not made soley in the USA. Its made in almost 10 countries,with parts being made in more than that. Take a look at the freedom of information act,you can get tons of information if you go about it the right way.
Now,after my little tirade,let me tell you that i am not pro war and i'm not anti war. I believe that eventually Saddam Hussein would have done bigger and worse things than he has in the past.
I believe that this war is an excuse by Dubya and his cronies. I believe that Dubya is a coward, an inept politician and most likely the worst President to ever sit in the office. Even worse than Jimmy Carter,and that's saying something.
8 - Perry Perdis
What really burns by butt to a crisp is what i read in the newspaper over the weekend.
While the media frenzy and the country's attention is focused in Iraq and the war,our esteemed senators and congress men/women are going to cut Veterans health benefits to the tune of over 10 BILLION DOLLARS!!!!!! Does this sound like our government "supporting our best and brightest" as the president puts it? Does the government really think that this is the way to keep america strong? Today,right now,there are army personnel living on WELFARE because the military of this country cant seem to afford a decent pay scale for the people that put up the most. We can certainly find billions of dollars to bail out the airline industry for no reason,oops wait,the Pres has buddies that have airline stocks. Another little tidbit i think you might enjoy is that pillar of governmental clarity Dick Cheney. Our wonderful Vice-President under Dubya. Mr. Cheney has a buddy that has a company the puts out oil well fires. Guess which company got the contract to put out the oil fires in Iraq? THAT'S RIGHT BOYS AND GIRLS!!! If there is anyone out there that thinks this war is for humanitarian reasons,i suggest you stick your head back in the sand. Let's not forget that war is good for the economy,and the bottom line for the big boys portfolios. Defense contractors are making immense amounts of money during this war,which means STOCKHOLDERS are making money during this war. Who are the stockholders? Certainly not me or 99.99999% of the general american population. Countries like FRANCE and GERMANY that do business with the IRAQI REGIME also have defense businesses that supply parts for AMERICAN weapons. The F-16 is a is a great example of this.
It is not made soley in the USA. Its made in almost 10 countries,with parts being made in more than that. Take a look at the freedom of information act,you can get tons of information if you go about it the right way.
Now,after my little tirade,let me tell you that i am not pro war and i'm not anti war. I believe that eventually Saddam Hussein would have done bigger and worse things than he has in the past.
I believe that this war is an excuse by Dubya and his cronies. I believe that Dubya is a coward, an inept politician and most likely the worst President to ever sit in the office. Even worse than Jimmy Carter,and that's saying something.
9 - Brian Flemming
Well said, Perry. And often. (Blogcritics comments sometimes have a LOOOOONG lag time while posting, but they always post with one click in my experience. I usually just open up another browser while I wait.)
The veteran's health benefits cuts, coming on the heels of one gift after another to the wealthy, and while the government is creating new war veterans and corpses, really makes me wonder...how far is too far? How much before people actually notice?
This country already treats its veterans shamefully. To cut benefits to them while giving the wealthiest 2% a break on the estate tax? Well, I guess those heirs of giant estates deserve not to pay taxes on their windfalls. Atter all, they earned them. Oh, wait. I guess they didn't.
But what the heck did our veterans do that was so great that they deserve health benefits, anyway?
10 - Rob
"But what the heck did our veterans do that was so great that they deserve health benefits, anyway?"
I guess you wouldn't know.
11 - Rob
I have got to learn to read entire comments before I post responses, please forget I said anything.
12 - Perry Perdis
Sorry about the multiple posts. I kept getting a "server disconnect error"