Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : Don't Blame Me, I Voted For Kerry -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: the navigator who wrote (15845)	4/18/2004 7:48:34 PM
From: cnyndwllr	Respond to of 81568

Still Standing, I have to agree with you on issue of "politics." It's more than a word that means elections. In the Islamic world it's mixed irrevocably with religion and it won't change at the point of a gun. We should understand that, and also understand that we can't "buy" their compliance with billions of dollars of aid and the prospect of "westernizing." No matter what people like Chuck say, there was no way of ultimately "winning" the war in Vietnam through the use of force. In 1969 the faces of the S. Vietnamese told their own story; they were the faces of resentment, hatred and malice. And those were the faces of the women, children and men that were our supposed "allies" and for whom we were supposedly fighting and dying. There, as in Iraq, the allied forces from within largely refused to fight and die for the "cause," and when they did fight they generally fought weakly and ran strong. The exceptions were the minority Yards, as the Kurds are the exception in Iraq. People that say we could have "won" the war refuse to look at the experience of other nations that had overwhelmingly strong military forces and left occupied countries with their tails between their legs; just as we left Vietnam. Tough talk is cheap; demeaning the efforts of those that have been there and done that is easy; having the humility and wisdom to learn lessons of failure instead of to deny them is more difficult.

To: the navigator who wrote (15845)	4/18/2004 11:07:49 PM
From: cnyndwllr	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 81568

I'll just have to say it: if I had the power to undo the war in Iraq, put those lives lost back and those limbs back on those brave soldiers, bring home the hudreds of millions of dollars we've spent, and leave Saddam Hussein in charge there and the gutless or fanatical Iraqis to deal with him, I would. I'd rather have left him to kill and subordinate the will of those radical Muslims than for us to have taken over the job ourselves. I'd rather fight the war on terror rather than to have "liberated" a bunch of people who are not too keen on our brand of "liberation." I'd rather have the rule of international law stronger rather than weaker. I'd rather have an attack on the ideas of radical Islam than our attack on an Islamic believing nation. But hey, I guess some higher power didn't tell me that I was to insure the world's "god given right to democracy." For sure that power didn't tell me that I should do it in secret, without the benefit of wise counsel from experienced sages and under false premises. George Bush's "higher power" must be really, really convinced that the ends justify the means. Hey, who am I to argue with a diety that believes; "give them liberty or give them death?" Fundamentalists are truly dangerous, regardless of which side of the ocean they come from. Woodward's report unveils a man with a weak mind, wielding great power fueled by religous righteousness and certainty.