Hi Seymour,
Re:<<Were Korea and Vietnam officially declared wars?>>
By whose account? My father was wounded in the Korean War. Almost killed. He has combat awards for valor (DSC, Silver Star and the Bronze Star with V device and a purple heart as well as combat ribbons and Meritorious Unit Citation. They don't refer to it as the Korean Police Action. So yes, by most accounts it was officially a war. Congress formally approved the military action of the war as well.
The same could be said about the VietNam War. I was there. I was decorated. Fortunately no purple hearts. It was officially a war to me and to my soldiers and my fellow officers. I lost good friends, classmates from West Point and soldiers. I served my country proudly and with distinction Seymour. How about you?
Re:<<Did anybody go to jail for opposing the government's decision to send troops to fight? Would the invasion of Iraq be a war without being officially sanctioned by congress?>>
Yes. Many went to jail. They went to jail for draft dodging too.
You bet it would be a war for those in the fight. It would also be a war for those families whose sons and husbands and fathers were fighting. It will be a war as far as I am concerned. One in which American soldiers will fight and perhaps die with the express purpose to keep our nation free from tyranny.
Re:<<It looks like most here are deeply concerned about what happened and may happen to people in this country.The big difference is what course of action to take.>>
All are concerned about what may happen to people in this country, and other countries. What is important is how we choose to express our concern and whether our contributions are constructive or destructive. I find accusations that our President is going to Iraq for oil as particularly offensive and abusive of our freedom of speech rights during a time of national crisis. This is an era in which anarchy seems far too prevalent in the mind of dissenters.
Re:<<Seem's to me a discussion on that....>>
Seems to me that is happening. There has been more than enough opportunity for opinions to be expressed. Even constructive ones on occasion.
However, the ultimate decision on a US course of action won't be decided on an Internet thread. It will be decided by duly elected officials who know far better than we what is at stake. You may not like that. I know others here do not. Well that's just too bad. It is the way our democracy works.
So many folks seem to want to pick and choose the things they cherish about our country. Everybody likes to voice their opinions, reasoned or not. They like to go where they want to, when they want to and do what they want to...etc. But when it is time to demonstrate force against an oppressive dictator or a rogue nation...well, that's a responsibility they want to run from. Instead some want to believe that our leaders are self serving demagogues with evil agendas. I have a problem with that.
Seymour, we can't really have it both ways. We are only one nuclear weapon away from chaos in this country. We don't have the luxury of sitting around discussing the virtues of retaliation. Nobody asked for the twin towers massacre. We did nothing to invite that hideous attack. But you ask, "are we at war?". You bet we are. We are at war with anyone who threatens our liberty. We are at war with those who would aid and abet our enemies.
Saddam can avoid this conflict if he will flee. Short of that, you can bet we will use the necessary force to depose him. |
