So, a free nation wherein we have diplomatic relations and hope of intervention is better than Hussein, who wouldn't have done a damn thing whether we asked or not?

Do you think when Iraq has stabalized that it will be easy to have "terrorist" training grounds"? Do you think you could start one here? Evidently so, considering the militias that function in the US. If it is impossible to stop militants from training HERE, what kind of expectations are you imposing on Iraq?

That said, wtf is the big deal? We now have an Iraqi government we can have relations with. We have a certain level of transparency, so that we can know what is going on in Iraq, wheras before EVEN SADDAM'S GENERALS didn't know if he had WMD or not. If, in the event they take this freedom and use it to threaten us, we can bust their ass again. A chance at security is better than doing nothing.

It's more of a shame that you are so blinded your hate that you can't see both sides of an equation...

That is not the issue. The issue is our security not removing all the despots in the world. There are worse dictators than Saddam like in North Korea. In addition, the terrorists were not operating in Iraq under Saddam. Please explain the assesments from the Sec Def and CIA Director? The Big deal is 1,450 dead, 25,000 injured and $300 billion dollars. If that is not a BIG DEAL what is? In addition, there was a news story this week that estimates at least 100,000 Iraqis have been killed in this war. That's more people killed than any report I have seen killed by Saddam Hussein. So more of the big deal.

Oh, sorry, I thought the point of your article was that Iraq had terrorist training camps. You don't mean it was actually just another excuse to post the same statistics you've posted about 100 times... Say it ain't so...

It IS the point. We had no way of knowing what was going on in Iraq, any more than Iraqis in high stations did. THE ONLY REASON YOU CAN SAY THERE WERE NO TERRORISTS IS BECAUSE WE WENT AND LOOKED. It is a lie, anyway, because Zarqawi was in Iraq long before we invaded.

For that reason, Hussein was a threat to the Middle East, and either directly or indirectly to us. You ignore his human rights abuses, you ignore his flagrant abuse of sanctions, you ignore his history. You don't believe that, and as you've said before the safety of those in the Middle East or the freedom of the people of Iraq doesn't matter to you.

So, really, is there any more point in discussing this? You are coming from a totally different values system, where the only time you stick out your neck is when something is bearing down on you like a Mack truck. You opt for an 'ostrich with its head in the sand' operating procedure, that's cool.

I salute your right to hold those opinions. The fact that you view the "morality" of the situation as somehow self-apparent, is both blind and a little scary. Face it, others have different values. Others feel that Hussein needed to go, Iraqis needed to be free, and that the process would make the world a safer place.

Using every press conference as an excuse to relate the same damn opinion, over and over, isn't going to change anyone's mind, and you aren't offering a damn thing that you didn't offer before the election. The "headlines" are just excuses for a body count.

Waste your time if you like, but no one that believes the war in Iraq what the right thing to do is going to be effected by it. Anyone else probably already agrees with you. Have fun until the next election, you lost.

First, this is not old info it is new as today. It is the assessment of our two top officials. The human rights issue is another smokescreen. Bush insisted China be entered into WTO. Human rights violations you've got in spades in China. I agree that it would have been better for Hussein to have been overturned. The problem is it was not our responsibility. It has not enhance our security and we made a tragic mistake by interjecting American forces into a Muslim country to remove an evil dictator that should have been removed by either the people of Iraq or at least other Moslem military. We have created a recruiting campaign for enemies by our actions in Iraq. The assessments of both Goss and Rumsfeld clearly indicate that we have not improved our situation but rather changed it to another dangerous situation. This is not my opinion this is the opinion of the people who were most knowledgeable about the situation as well as Bush appointees.

Those who support Bush never seemed to be able to take a look at what is going on and accepted it for what it is. It's always to defend the decisions that he has made whether or not they are working. I brought up China and the WTO in relation to human rights. Take a look at what it has done to the trade imbalance. Today China is responsible for a one third of the 600 billion dollar trade imbalance which is a direct result of the decision made by George W. Bush. He continues the trade policy that has proven ineffective over the last 12 years. Why? Does he ever admit that it isn't working? No, he simply ignores the growing trade deficit and proposes to further expand the same policy that has not worked into the Americas. God save this country from those who support policies that are simply failing to serve the best interests of the American public.

And what other tidbits from Col Gene's Obelisque of the Obvious will you showcase next??

Last I checked, anytime you go after the criminal element in any situation, the violence will get worse before it gets better. The reason our gang problem in this country has gone unchecked for so long is because too many Americans think like this. I'm sure the mafia was at it's absolute most violent as Elliot Ness and the FBI was at its peak in fighting them.

Better stay away from the crackhouse, cops, if you go near there, they might shoot at you!!!

Go after them Nazi's? Are you kidding, thousands of Americans could be killed per day!!! "Operation Overlord"? Oooh, that just wouldn't be worth the risk of pissing off them Nazis!!!

Unless Goss and Rummy are wrong, what we have done is just create another security problem. How does that make us safer? if what I have the say it's so obvious, how is it President Bush and his supporters can't see what is happening? It is amazing to me how people can look at things and not see them. Have we not gone from surplus to a deficit? Is our trade situation not gotten worse? Have we not lost 1450 brave Americans, injured another 25000 and committed $300 billion to the Iraq War with no timetable for extracting us from the mess we created? Do we not have economic growth which is not producing enough new jobs for the growing population in this country? Have we established an energy policy that is moving us toward more energy independence? Have we made Medicare and Social Security more financially secure? Have we not increased the distance between and haves and have nots in this country? More of this success and we will become a third rate nation!

the time has come to honestly assess our foreign and domestic policies from the perspective of how are they benefit the majority of Americans in the long-run. There are been a number of blogs alluding to the the Bush fiscal policies are setting up you future deficits and liabilities for the American taxpayer. How does that benefit us? Was ignoring the loss of American jobs and a growing trade deficit benefit Americans? It's time we demand both the Congress and the president to do what he says he wants to do when that is be judged by results. He has been in office over four years and has had the control of Congress that entire time. Although there are many things that he cannot control, his policies have been put in a place and it's time to see how well they are dealing with the issues that confront us both at home and abroad.

When you take a look at the most recent polls concerning the approval of his policy in Iraq, the way he's doing his job, his solution for Social Security, they all show the majority do not agree with what George W. Bush wants to do. It's time Congress assert itself and not merely rubberstamp what George Bush wants. We have a Republic and it is time for the elected members to look at what the American people want not what George W. Bush wants.

Unless Goss and Rummy are wrong, what we have done is just create another security problem. How does that make us safer? if what I have the say it's so obvious, how is it President Bush and his supporters can't see what is happening? It is amazing to me how people can look at things and not see them. Have we not gone from surplus to a deficit? Is our trade situation not gotten worse? Have we not lost 1450 brave Americans, injured another 25000 and committed $300 billion to the Iraq War with no timetable for extracting us from the mess we created? Do we not have economic growth which is not producing enough new jobs for the growing population in this country? Have we established an energy policy that is moving us toward more energy independence? Have we made Medicare and Social Security more financially secure? Have we not increased the distance between and haves and have nots in this country? More of this success and we will become a third rate nation! the time has come to honestly assess our foreign and domestic policies from the perspective of how are they benefit the majority of Americans in the long-run. There are been a number of blogs alluding to the the Bush fiscal policies are setting up you future deficits and liabilities for the American taxpayer. How does that benefit us? Was ignoring the loss of American jobs and a growing trade deficit benefit Americans? It's time we demand both the Congress and the president to do what he says he wants to do when that is be judged by results. He has been in office over four years and has had the control of Congress that entire time. Although there are many things that he cannot control, his policies have been put in a place and it's time to see how well they are dealing with the issues that confront us both at home and abroad. When you take a look at the most recent polls concerning the approval of his policy in Iraq, the way he's doing his job, his solution for Social Security, they all show the majority do not agree with what George W. Bush wants to do. It's time Congress assert itself and not merely rubberstamp what George Bush wants. We have a Republic and it is time for the elected members to look at what the American people want not what George W. Bush wants.

wah-wah-wah! No intelligent content added because none was given in the first place. BTW the high-lighted section is pure BS>
This is from MSNBC.

Accordingly, young people are more likely to favor the president’s proposed changes to the system—at least those young people who know about the plan: 18 to 34 year olds are split evenly: 28 percent favor Bush’s plan, 29 percent oppose it, but 38 percent are “not aware of it.” Among 35 to 44 year olds, 28 percent favor the plan, 33 percent oppose it, and 32 percent are not aware of it. Among 45 to 54 year olds, 30 percent support it, 34 percent oppose it, and 25 percent are unaware of it. Even among those closest to retirement, or already retired (55 and older), 24 percent are unaware of the changes proposed in the president’s plan.

Try again oh doom and gloom sayer.

Bottom line, other than just venting, what is this for? Bush is in office. We can't go back in time and not invade IRaq, even if we wanted to. We can't walk off and leave Iraq until they are ready.

So, instead of stating glaringly biased interpretations of current events over and over and over, why not just say what you want to do about it?

Listen, I can understand commenting on current events, but you have to admit, this is a broken record. I could storm outside and shout "Look Dammit, it's cold outside!! There oughtta be a law!!". It might even be beneficial to the neighbors, since they have learned my opinion.

What benefit would they get the 15th time I did it? I'm just wondering what the hell these blogs are really about. Look around. The election is over, and you aren't going to effect policy. Comment on it, sure, but this is like a one-man movement with no purpose...

the value in recognizing when you make a mistake is to not make it again. That is the purpose of recognizing what we did in Iraq isn't working. Problem is President Bush doesn't recognize what he did as a mistake and is therefore likely to repeat the same mistake over and over again. We must not give him the authority from Congress he had for Iraq in the future.

So far as policies regarding Social Security ,Medicare, taxes ,trade etc. these are issues that are before the Congress today and the purpose of my comments is to make people think and let their congressmen know what they think. The problem we have today if you disagree with what George W. Bush proposes you're somehow unsupportive and disloyal - a Bush basher. This is not a dictatorship its republic. George Bush can propose solutions and policies and legislation, but is the Congress, not the president ,who passes laws. Therefore the purpose of all of this is to make people think and inform their congressmen and senators what policies they really want about taxes and trade, jobs ,Social Security ,Medicare ,education et al.

Cool, okay. According to you, what we are doing isn't working. Since you feel this has some value, you must think there is something that we might do differently.

Now, what would you do? Not starting before the invasion, because like I say we can't go back in time.

So, starting right now, you are promoted to Emperor Gene. What's next for Iraq, your majesty?

there is no good solutionin Iraq other than to try and create some stability before we remove our forces. The more important issue is that I have said not to make the same mistake in the future. The preemptive use of military force can only be justified when there's an imminent danger to this country. There was no imminent dangerto the United States from Iraq and the preemptive use of our military was not a wise choice.

I do not pretend to have all the answers but I have been fortunate in having attended military training in combat intelligence, nuclear weapons as wellas the Command and General Staff College and the Army War College. That does give me a perspective that many people don't have. In addition I was fortunate to have commanded three units in the Army Rreserve during my 30 year tenure. I've also done a significant amount of research on the issues we are discussing in order to write my book. I have also read a significant amount of material written by people who have extensive backgrounds in military and political affairs as well as economics.

Informed opinion can be wrong. That's what happened with the Iraqi WMD issue, but you call it lying. So accept that your opinions, informed or not, might be wrong. Otherwise, we'll just have to call them lies, too. The constantly-half-empty-glass way of looking at things is counterproductive. The more you bleat, the less seriously I take anything you say.

Iraq has also become a fledgling democracy in the heart of the Middle East. Given that terrorists were actively seeking the destruction of the United States long before the liberation of Iraq, I don't feel any less safe as a consequence of that liberation. In fact, I feel the prospects for a future free of terrorism have improved. I don't necessarily disagree with Goss & Rumsfeld about how Zarqawi and others have exploited our victory, but I disagree with the oversimplification of their remarks and the attempt to use that oversimplification as support for your preconceived notions, not to mention the code-phrase headline that doesn't quite fit the facts.

Cheers,
Daiwa

Unless Goss and Rummy are wrong, what we have done is just create another security problem. How does that make us safer? if what I have the say it's so obvious, how is it President Bush and his supporters can't see what is happening?

Yawn!! Of course we see it happening, and my posting pointed that out. Btw, thanks for completely ignoring the point of that post and using it as a springboard for your rant (in lieu of an actual response) Sen. Clinton would be proud of you!!!

ParaTed2K:

I admitted I have no solution to the Iraq mess we have created. My point was not to make the same mistake again!

You are right Daiwa, Bush did not lie about most issues he selectively used information to do what he wanted to do-- Remove Saddam.

You will see in many of my Blogs, I offer suggestions, to the current policy, to move the glass from half -full to 3/4 or more full. Some of the policies we are following, like our fiscal policies, will drain the glass. Anyone can see that by the results over the past four years!

You are right Daiwa, Bush did not lie about most issues

Title of recent COL Gene article:

BUSH LIES got him reelected

Cheers,
Daiwa