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Kandahar said:We've all heard from the Bush Administration and various people on this forum that we need to stay in Iraq "until the job is done." But doesn't that imply that we're making some kind of progress?
An analysis released today indicates that the number of American deaths in Iraq have NOT slowed down in tandem with various political milestones, indicating that the insurgency is just as strong as ever.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/latimests/20051026/ts_latimes/adeadlysurge
Tell me, pro-war people, what is the purpose of staying in the country if we aren't making any progress? "Staying the course" is not a strategy to winning the war, it's merely an act of stubbornness that gets more and more soldiers killed.
Kandahar said:We've all heard from the Bush Administration and various people on this forum that we need to stay in Iraq "until the job is done." But doesn't that imply that we're making some kind of progress?
An analysis released today indicates that the number of American deaths in Iraq have NOT slowed down in tandem with various political milestones, indicating that the insurgency is just as strong as ever.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/latimests/20051026/ts_latimes/adeadlysurge
Tell me, pro-war people, what is the purpose of staying in the country if we aren't making any progress? "Staying the course" is not a strategy to winning the war, it's merely an act of stubbornness that gets more and more soldiers killed.
FiremanRyan said:have you completely ignored the fact that Iraqi's just voted on their constitution and Saddam is on trial right now? you dont call those milestones?
FiremanRyan said:besides that, a steady insurgency is just another reason why we shouldnt cut and run. if we did, we'd leave the country in the hands of these terrorists and Iraq would be just as worse off as it was to begin with.
FiremanRyan said:dont get me wrong, i cringe at the fact that Americans have to die, but it would be completely irresponisble for us to just leave this infant democracy to its own devises. while you're checking statistics, why dont you look up the number of Iraqi security force units being trained by our soldiers on a monthly basis or the number of hospitals and schools being built.
FiremanRyan said:im with a lot of you anti-war folk. although i supported this war and still do, i think we could be handling it in a more efficient manner. but that doesnt excuse the blantant spin being put on the issue to make it look like no progress is being made and that this is some kind of stalemate.
FiremanRyan said:so again, if you're in favor of leaving this half-finished and basically want to push Iraq off a cliff without a parachute, go ahead and keep fighting for a selfish withdraw.
AK_Conservative said:Death is a part of war. This war, from what we have accomplished from removing a regime and setting up, what hopefully will be a legitament and good government, and a new allie in the world is meaningful. Once we have been able to train the iraqi forces to the point where they can defend their own country, we will get out, though the "insugency" will still exist for a point beyond that.
The death toll, though tragic if ONE soldier dies, is minuscule compared to other wars, even the ones we did not accomplish our goal, i.e. korea and vietnam.
AK_Conservative said:to add, if we pulled out now, what all these soldiers have died for will be lost in ruin. To stay the course, atleast their death's will be honored, even from the iraqq government!
Kandahar said:I do. The point is that even with democracy progressing, the insurgency hasn't died down. If our primary reason for still being in Iraq is to establish security (as opposed to democracy), we are failing.
That strategy assumes that our presence will reduce or eliminate the insurgency, while the evidence to this date does not support that conclusion.
I don't deny that there are some good things happening in Iraq. But we have been told by our government that the reason we are still there is to fight terrorism, not to build hospitals and schools.
The study released today indicated that the number of American deaths per day has not significantly declined. This indicates to me that it IS a stalemate.
If Iraq has already jumped off a cliff without a parachute and there's no chance that we can toss them one, is it really advisable to jump off with them?
FiremanRyan said:your right, which is why i said two things...1. i think this war should be re-evaluated and handled more efficiently to succeed in defeating the insurgents, and 2. a steady number of insurgent attacks is just another reason to remain in Iraq because their security forces arent able to combat these terrorists yet. but even you can admit that 'democracy is progressing' so you cant truely believe that 'we arent making any progress.
FiremanRyan said:just like what i said above, we need to pull our heads out of our asses and focus on training Iraqi's to do the job themselves. that still doesnt mean we should cut and run.
FiremanRyan said:not true. our government has clearly said that the stabilization of Iraq will aid in the war on terror, but never said it was our sole reason for being there. if anything, i think we've made our main reason for staying as long as we have to establish a solid democratic system of government, and access to schools and hospitals is clearly a part of a working democracy.
FiremanRyan said:if it were a stalemate, we wouldnt have won the war and no government would be in developement. casualties are one of many factors when determining the progress of a war.
FiremanRyan said:not quite. Iraq is on the edge right now as i see it. if we get our act together and maybe get some support from the rest of our country, we can equip them to make that leap on their own, hopefully sooner than later. but if we just give 'em a slap on the back and wish them luck while we pack up and leave, theres no doubt they'll crash and burn.
Kandahar said:We've all heard from the Bush Administration and various people on this forum that we need to stay in Iraq "until the job is done." But doesn't that imply that we're making some kind of progress?
An analysis released today indicates that the number of American deaths in Iraq have NOT slowed down in tandem with various political milestones, indicating that the insurgency is just as strong as ever.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/latimests/20051026/ts_latimes/adeadlysurge
Tell me, pro-war people, what is the purpose of staying in the country if we aren't making any progress? "Staying the course" is not a strategy to winning the war, it's merely an act of stubbornness that gets more and more soldiers killed.
Analysts Warn of Effects of Iraq Civil War By CHARLES J. HANLEY, AP Special Correspondent
Wed Oct 26, 8:21 AM ET
AMMAN, Jordan - Any all-out civil war in Iraq could shake the political foundations of places beyond that stricken land, sending streams of refugees across Iraqi borders, tempting neighbors to intervene, and renewing the half-buried old conflict of Sunni and Shiite in the Muslim world, Middle East analysts say.
FiremanRyan said:have you completely ignored the fact that Iraqi's just voted on their constitution and Saddam is on trial right now? you dont call those milestones?
Excellent post!cnredd said:I wrote this a couple of months ago and kept it in my notepad for future reference....Like now, for instance...
Many believe that the reason Afghanistan turned into a Taliban-ruled
country was the fact that the US stopped supporting the Afghanis
after their defense against the Soviets.
When the Soviets retreated and the country was in shambles, the
warlords started to slice the country up and there were years of
"in-house" fighting; technically, it was a civil war with 50
opponents all against each other.
This was a perfect time for the Taliban way of thinking to step
in...This extremist organization went around this un-ruled country
and started imposing their Sharia law on everyone(no kites, no music,
executions a plenty). The general population felt doomed.
They looked to the US for help and accused us of abandoning them
...correctly, I might add. We stopped "meddling in their affairs",
which set the stage for the Taliban to accept Bin Laden and become
the ones that "harbored" terrorists.
Leaving Iraq now would result in the same scenario. The "insurgency"
against the US is not REALLY against the US. Its a power grab.
Certain factions...ones that even hate each other...are teaming
up because they know that if a democratic government becomes too
powerful, the insurgents attempt at grabbing this power will be lost.
That is why the US MUST make sure that the new government becomes
self-sufficient and legitimate. If we leave too early, the government
will crumble and set the stage for another "Taliban" to take over.
ShullsM said:As much as I don't necessarily agree with the war, I do agree that to withdraw from Iraq now would be irresponsbile. We have to stay until the country is stable. There is no way around it. Doesn't mean I don't continue to question the evidence and reasoning for entering in the first place.
Binary_Digit said:Excellent post!
I would argue that one reason we haven't seen a decline in the insurgency is because our government is openly torturing prisoners. I wonder how many civilians have joined the insurgency for that reason alone.
I'll take a look through it and comment. Thanks.cnredd said:I have stated previously why....I won't "taint" this thread with it...
If you feel like it...read this...
getinvolved said:I have disagreed with this war since day one. But I also think that we have a certain level of responsibility to the people of Iraq. How can we leave now? WE have broken Iraq down to it's very core. To leave now would be a disaster.
ShullsM said:As much as I don't necessarily agree with the war, I do agree that to withdraw from Iraq now would be irresponsbile. We have to stay until the country is stable. There is no way around it. Doesn't mean I don't continue to question the evidence and reasoning for entering in the first place.
Binary_Digit said:Excellent post!
I would argue that one reason we haven't seen a decline in the insurgency is because our government is openly torturing prisoners. I wonder how many civilians have joined the insurgency for that reason alone.
Kandahar said:... - is because democracies are supposedly more peaceful than dictatorships. ....
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