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Politics : PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: DuckTapeSunroof who wrote (283900)	8/5/2002 1:48:49 PM
From: Neocon	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 769667

The policies did a splendid job of advancing American interests. In supporting the Shah, we prevented an oil rich state bordering the Soviet Union from becoming a client state of the Soviets. In supporting Saddam against Iran, we prevented Iran from becoming the regional hegemon, and/or plunging the region further into war, as Iran has designs on Mecca and Medinah. In pursuing Desert Storm, we rebuffed aggression; curtailed, to some extent, Iraq's abiility to pursue its military goals (such as the creation of weapons of mass destruction); and enhanced our credibility as a super-power. It is idle to argue that not all problems are resolved by each conflict, when the immediate goals are achieved.......

To: DuckTapeSunroof who wrote (283900)	8/5/2002 4:21:30 PM
From: Srexley	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 769667

">>> I'm only judging the results of a failed foreign policy which was based upon faulty assumptions" I'll agree that you are "judging". Problem is it is after the fact. Why are you so sure our foreign policy was a failure? Don't you have to know what would have happened had we taken a different route? I can only guess that you think you know what would have happened or you could not judge it to be a failure or a success. Therefore it looks more like a mindset than an accurate "judegement". "I disagree. If we had not interfered in the Iran/Iraq war by arming Saddam, then the later Desert Storm war likely would not have been necessary. If the Iranians had made advances (after Iraq attacked them) then the Arab world would have turned to the US for support, and our position would have been stronger... and Saddam might not be on the scene anymore." Lot's of specualtion on how you think stuff would have turned out. If America turned out (in you scenario) as succesful and powerful as we are, the Arabs would still hate us for the most part. You see they do not like things like freedom of religion, materialistic success, woman's rights (people's rights in general). They do not hate us becuase we helped Saddam 15 years ago imo. " I don't question their 'motives', just their judgement. And, facts are facts" Again, it looks to me like you are using your beliefs about what might have been as "facts" to support your poisition. There are no "facts" about how things would turn out if different course were taken. I still say the fact that the Soviet Union is not as large of a threat as it was when I was a youngster is great testament to the greatest President in my lifetime, Ronald Reagan. We'll get through this mideast mess, and hopefully for the poor souls that live over there, their lives and their fortunes will improve. To me it looks like the suck for a large percentage of their populations.