Ted Re..Harry, read the news...the last Iraqi firing on American warplanes was over a year ago. Why are we retaliating now? <<<
I read the papers all of the time. AFAIK the last retaliation by US forces was over a yr ago. Tims statement "US planes are attacking control center that directed AA fire against US aircraft" suggests a recent occurance; and that statement is what you were posting to.
Why now? Coould be many reasons. 1. Bill didn't retaliate for over a yr. because he was trying for a peace settlement; and he didn't want the air force to upset the apple cart. Bills peace initiation failed; but in the meantime Saddam has strengthened his missle batteries. It was time to abandoned the restrictions on air strikes, and eliminate the danger built up for over a yr. @ With new leaders in Jordan and Lebanon, friendly gov. in Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, Saddam is the main hostile dictator in the area supporting the palestinians. If you cut Saddam down to size, you just could cut back Iraq's ability to support the palestinians, which could force the palestinians back to the table. 3 A wake up message to Saddam. The no fly zone will be enforced. In order to end the no fly zone, the US needs concessions from Iraq. Saddam won't concede anything unless he feels he has to. So US needed to assert its power in order to get an arrangement which will allow the US to drop the no fly zone prohibition and still protect the allies.
How do you know the retaliation wasn't appropriate?
How do you know that it was?<<<<<<
Isn't that essentially the definition of patriotism. Support the flag in a time of war. I am not trying to say one should support the flag at all cost at all times. But the flag should be supported until one can ascertain that we shouldn't be in that war. We weren't at that point yet. And we can't just pull out and destabilize the region. And we still need the oil. Us turning tail and abandoning the middle east in not an option. And if we are going to force our pilots to patrol the no fly zone, they should be given the ability to defend themselves.
For an answer go back and read all my posts on Bush.<<<<<<
I normally read everybody's posts. Even Scumbria's silly ones. I have yet to see you post an actual problem with Bush which would threaten you. You talk about GW forgetting names, and drilling ANWR, and the tax cuts, and imagined slights to foreign rulers, but how would they threaten you. GW hasn't passed a major piece of legislation yet. What is wrong with waiting until a piece of legislation is actually passed before you condemn it. Or how about holding off on ANWR until you know the plan, and some idea of the amount of oil and damage. WE know nothing yet. Give it a chance.
Harry, Harry, we all have opinions. I am entitled to have mine and to express them just as you are free to express yours. <<<<
The trouble is, your statements blaming GW don't include all of the people who shared in their decision on who was to keep Japan informed and send our sympathies. You seem to have no idea that almost everything done on the international stage is scripted, mainly by the state dept. If GW started dealing with the Japanese without going through state, you would really hear the howling. Colin and Condelesa run the show at state and would propose their plan to GW before GW can do anything. How the US responded to the sinking most likely was determined by state, not GW. And with all of those people with more experience than him, why wouldn't he accede to their wishes? |
