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My first hand experience in the region tells me a different story, but you go ahead and believe what you want.
No, I showed the content behind the number. Not surprising for a new democracy. You don't expect it to be an 8 after 7 years do you? Before we can say it was a successful start? It was a successful start and the men and women who died there for it did not die in vain.
Fair enough. But I know from translations that many of these publications are openly critical of the government and PM Maliki. That's probably not the case with the Iranian publications.
I am not merely trying to score points. I am asserting the recognition that what the US did was valuable and helpful to Iraq and the region. We acted appropriately. It is a model for the region.
I know Iraq is quiet in the news. Perhaps you are unaware of economic developments in Iraq brought about by a stable government and rule of law. Regionally, they are more aware of such developments.
You really are unbelievably uninformed about Iraq.
Which one are you? I am a hands off kind of guy.
America's role in this world hase been clear over its history. Even for the most selfish and and self centered of America, the spread of democracy and freedom is very much about our personal security and prosperity.
That's because your opinion has no bearing on the development of the civilization that has provided you your cheap gasoline by making the tough choices that you have the luxury of not making. Hands off is a foolish policy. The Middle East is begging for democracy.
* Radical Islam is mostly made up of frustration and people who have surrendered any hope in mankind and now rely upon divine intervention to lift them out of miserable failure.
* Modernist Islam is mostly made up of those who maintain hope and see the democracy of their neighbors or global "brothers" as the means to reach civilizational prosperity and success.
America's role in this world hase been clear over its history. Even for the most selfish and and self centered of America, the spread of democracy and freedom is very much about our personal security and prosperity.
Was Barrack Obama not expected to pander to the religious right by showing that he was a church-attending Christian during the campaign? Oh wait. Yeah, he was.
You mean to say he was pandering to the right for 20 years with a Preacher shouting "God Damn America"? How is this pandering? That was the Religious Left. btw.
You can call that "christian privilege." In other words, the ongoing pandering and accomodation that the religious right expects to see from anyone who wants to get elected in this country.
So he began this courtship of the religious right 20 years ago, and by voting "present" whenever possible after being elected?
If he wanted to pander to the religious right, why wouldn't he have run as a Republican? It would have saved him a life of hypocrisy.
What does this mean in practical terms in Egypt?
What is the official conservative position on this crisis? Half say we should stand by Mubarak because the alternative will be worse and the other half say we should support the protesters and their quest for democracy. You guys better see what FOX wants you to think so you can all get on the same page..
In practical terms, we had far better control with Egypt's future last week. Our military relationship with their military is solid. But as this goes on, the Muslim Brotherhood gets its claws deeper rooted into the movement and we look more and more as that "foreign devil" who would rather their oppressions be intact for our immediate and short lasting stability concerns than gamble on them being decent human beings in the end, which is better for our long term security.
But we have to accept that after decades and decades (even centuries for some of their societies), that they may choose a bumpy path. Like the French, maybe they will slaughter out polityical loyalitsts that disagree with them. But one thing is sure. They will not take 70 years to figure it out.
I try to see things from a tactical vantage point. And there has been nothing tactical about any of our Cold War behaviors, in regards to dictators, pharaohs, and twisted regimes, when it comes to our long term security.
News Flash, there isn't a uniformed conservative response on this because there's not a uniformed singularly conservative view point. There are many facets to conservatism and various conservatives hold various pillars in higher or lower regard thus creating different reactions to different political situations. Shocking I know, sorry to disrupted your stereotyped view of the world.
I will say this, I'm not thrilled with how we're handling Egypt but I'm much happier with it then I am with regards to Iran...which I was, and continue to be, furious towards Obama and his administration for.
In this case I think a mores restrained and behind the scenes approach with sparce but pointed public statements is the proper course of action due to our issues in the past with supporting said dictator.
I'm actually loving this, to be quite blunt, for the fractures it is creating and revealing behind the conservative facade. There are wide divergences amongst political commentators, and I will enjoy watching the fracas (in the U.S., not Egypt...in Egypt, I hope most of all for a peaceful transition to self-governance, and very little fracas, unless camels are involved).
I like it when you people fight, particularly when it is loud and public.
Its the ways and means in which one reaches those conclusions that gives a highlight as to whether or not the person is making it based on conservative principles...but the end points can both be reached through conservative thought.
Then why do conservatives label people that don't agree with them liberals?News Flash, there isn't a uniformed conservative response on this because there's not a uniformed singularly conservative view point. .
I'm actually okay with how the state department has handled it, so far. I strongly believe that they have been applying pressure, behind the scenes, for Mubarack to step down. However, I do think that we need to be making clear statements, as a country, both from the president and the officials in the state department, that the U.S. supports democracy, and self-governance for all people around the world.
Then why do conservatives label people that don't agree with them liberals?
Dying for your country is never dying in vain.
I dont think you realize there are problems with freedoms and equality which have contributed to this number. Sadr and his Islamic ilk (Maliki) are not interested in expanding freedoms.
There is a high cost for those who speak out against the government.
nrc.nl - International - Features - Free speech behind armoured doors in Iraq
And i have stated repeatedly why it most certainly is not. It benefited Iraqis yet the costs of the war and the rise in certain extremist factions has only eroded there quality of life further. There is nothing about the Iraqi state of being in terms of society and politics and even economics that one would dare aspire too. That is the sad truth.
It says nothing about the situation in Iraq, i am afraid. The driving force behind this growth is probably Kirkuk anyway.
I'm actually okay with how the state department has handled it, so far. I strongly believe that they have been applying pressure, behind the scenes, for Mubarack to step down.
However, I do think that we need to be making clear statements, as a country, both from the president and the officials in the state department, that the U.S. supports democracy, and self-governance for all people around the world.
Do you agree or disagree?
Then why do conservatives label people that don't agree with them liberals?
President Obama is absolutely looking at the long term while maintaining a gamble on preserving the short term. We need to be finished with this short term madness. In the end, I firmly believe that by living up to our historic rhetoric (sometimes very hard in this world, I know this) that we maintain our long term security and guarantee our prosperity and preservation. And hey...maybe some folks outside our nation gets to experience some freedom along the way.
It's this or we aren't "America."
I like it when you people fight, particularly when it is loud and public.
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