The Iraq situation: Vietnam II
The U.S. Army is preparing to keep more than 100,000 soldiers in Iraq for four years or more if need be, a top general has said, drawing expressions of confusion and frustration from senior senators who said the administration was sending mixed signals about how long U.S. forces would remain.
The longer we stay there in Iraq, the more our presence will contribute to the growing groundswell of terrorism there. It is what Donald Rumsfeld once said of this Iraq situation “We are in a slog”. This is just like Vietnam. We’re fighting an uphill battle. The longer we stay, the longer it’ll take us to eventually pull out.
Filed under: News by ramdac |
August 22nd, 2005 at 8:42 am
It is a growing trend in this country to compare things we dont like to the Vietnam War and the Nazis. I am amazed how often I read a story were someone is compared to HIlter or his Nazi regime. The Media has been calling War the next Vietnam from the beginning.
I forgot the journalism term this is called, but it is using strong words or subjects to ignite discussion in a intended direction.
The Vietnam War had Thousands upon thousands die, plus the draft was being used. I guess I have trouble making the comparison.
August 22nd, 2005 at 3:54 pm
The media have a monopoly on what issues the country focuses on the most, and so far, they’re focusing solely on the negative as it pertains to Iraq.
I’ve interviewed two soldiers, one coming back from Iraq, the other on his way there, who have expressed frustration at this.
One even told Matt Lauer off on TODAY last week.
There’s a lot of positive going on because of the US presence–building new schools, advances in women’s rights in Iraq, establishing electricity and sanitation where there previously was none.
Has anyone heard of Operation Able Danger this past week?????
Chances are NO, because it makes the Clinton Administration look extremely bad, since, if this info is true, 9-11 COULD have prevented, were it not for Janet Reno’s politically correct justice department!!!!!
And the mainstream media, in their adoration for the Democratic Party, won’t report it, save for FOX News.
And the Able Danger story also establishes clearer evidence that one of the 9-11 hijackers met an Iraqi security agent in Prague the summer of 2001.
The term you may be searching for, Joey, is advocacy journalism.
I’m not one to go along with the Republican/ conservative agenda 100 percent of the time.
But if I’m president, and CIA intelligence is telling me Iraq has weapons of mass destruction, Iraq won’t allow anyone to inspect their facilities and we already know the country is a state-sponsor of terrorism, I don’t see many other options for the president of the United States to pursue.
August 23rd, 2005 at 11:22 am
I don’t personally care how the media interprete it. I think it’s clear we went to war for the wrong reasons. But we’re there now. We need a fucking exit strategy, period. Clearly defined measureable goals. And bring our men and women home. I don’t care about the price of oil, I want my friends and church members safe at home.
August 23rd, 2005 at 11:26 am
The exit strategy is based on both the military and political development of the Iraqi people. Its an unpredictable equation, but I think it is quite obvious that there has been vast progress over there in that area. Remember, these people are shifting their trust from a feared dictator to a piece of paper… that is a HUGE leap of faith in that part of the country, and I hope it works out…
August 23rd, 2005 at 12:13 pm
jimvford, I also would love to see our soldiers back home. I also know that wont happen untill Bush believes we have accomplished our goals.
There is a young man who I work with that was sent to Iraq. He came home, but he is about to be sent back. He cant wait to go back and help finish the job. He told me that the situation in Iraq is much different than it is portrayed by the news.
I didnt believe that we should have gone to war in Iraq. I also dont believe in making the job tougher on our soldiers by portraying them as failures. I am not saying that is what you are doing Jimvford. I am saying that is what the media is doing.
August 23rd, 2005 at 1:57 pm
For the most part, I agree that it is a waste of time to debate whether we should have gone or not. But personally, I am glad we did it and I think it was the right move. It is frustrating at times but I think meaningful progress is being made. Time will tell.
I am not quite sure what to make of this, but I find it very interesting that our unemployment rate is at an ALL TIME low. I belive around 5%. And our economy, even with high oil prices, it is doing extremely well! All the economic numbers show this…including my index funds
The same is true for many of the other countries that supported us in the war.
But take France and Germany and all the other countries that opposed the war. They have DOUBLE DIGIT unemployment! There economic numbers is causing there leaders to be thrown out of office (Germany).
I am not exactly sure why this is, but I think it is interesting.
August 25th, 2005 at 11:07 am
Joey, you’re right, I’m not implicating our soldiers in anything other than defending the principles of our nation, as directed by our commander in chief. I’m merely stating that in hindsight, this war was a mistake. And we can’t just leave now. I want a communicated, non-politically motivated, documented, accountable exit strategy. What is the American public getting out of this war? It sure as hell ain’t cheap oil. It sure as hell ain’t reconstruction contracts to the mom and pops. I’m sure someone more politically versed and more eloquent than I can explain what in the fuck we’re getting out of it.
I agree, I talk with some of my old fraternity brothers who were or are deployed. They say it IS different on the ground versus what is reported on the news. But it is STILL a quagmire and we gotsta know TRULY why we’re there, what we’re nit picking going to do, and when we’re coming home.