Marines End Role In Iraq

[ricksfolly]

we've known for 40 years, since we passed peak oil in this country, that we should transition to sustainable energy and conservation. We chose to keep making the oil companies rich instead. Our lack of planning has resulted in the deaths of innocent civilians to maintain our addiction to foreign oil.

It's too late to do anything about it now. Even if we converted 10 million cars and trucks into alternate energy every year, we still couldn't catch up because 10 million more would take their place. Not only that, but they still don't know what kind of alternative energy to develope.

ricksfolly

 

[MSgt]

The problem is we don't know if our efforts will have a positive effect or make things worse or even who to believe. The media's no help because they only report negative things and sometimes fabricate conspiracies just keep their sponsors and followers interested. As for me, I don't believe anything until I can prove it to myself.

ricksfolly

Well, there's been a lot of positive changes amongst the governments in the region already since 2003. Whether it's the sight of Iraqis voting on the laws that would govern them or the sideffect of watching so many of their own citizens cross the border to slaughter fellow Muslims, there have been far more progressive Muslims in Egypt and Saudi Arabia than before. Saudi Arabia relaxed and gave into the pressures of its communities by giving them local voting right. And I dare say that all of Iran's youthful protesting is ignoring the freedom that Iraqis have right across the border. The voices of change and religious reform are exponentially growing. Denying a free Iraq its role, where over 15 million Muslims are deciding their future's fate, is impractical and closed minded.

There will be further blood shed. Even France had to go through its internal and external slaughter (even electing the future Emporer Napolean) before its Revolution started to really matter. But people have to see this as a process. They are too quick to note the negatives while ignoring the regional positives that have been emerging. Every bombs seems to signal the "proof of failure" for some. Of course, for those who demand to see Vermont in the desert as the proof of success, they will always be dissapointed and full of vinegar. After all, the French in Europe took decades to get it right. Are Iraqis in the Middle East really supposed to do it in just a few years?

And yes. Oil deals with a democracy is far more moral than oil deals with a dictator. It's win/win unless we consider the resentful feelings of those who prospered while standing on the oppressed and brutalized.

 

[MXracer169]

there are soooo many misinformed people on this board! catswaba, you realize that there arent American troops in combat roles in Iraq now, and there havent been for a long time, right? We havent been doing kinetic operations there for a long time!
Like it or not, the surge worked, and Iraq is doing well compared to the past. Will it probably plunge out of control again? Yep, but thats just they way it is over there. If you haven't been there, than you really dont know, its just a different mentality.

 

[ricksfolly]

there are soooo many misinformed people on this board! catswaba, you realize that there arent American troops in combat roles in Iraq now, and there havent been for a long time, right? We havent been doing kinetic operations there for a long time!
Like it or not, the surge worked, and Iraq is doing well compared to the past. Will it probably plunge out of control again? Yep, but thats just they way it is over there. If you haven't been there, than you really dont know, its just a different mentality.

You can't really call it a success until the three million Sunni refugees come back home.

ricksfolly