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Politics : Foreign Affairs Discussion Group -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: KLP who wrote (171339)	9/27/2005 10:38:44 AM
From: Wharf Rat	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 281500

I don't need no stinkin' attitude adjustment; he does. We can sit and read this BS for 9 more years, or.... Out now.

To: KLP who wrote (171339)	9/27/2005 3:46:41 PM
From: cnyndwllr	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 281500

Karen, the foundational assumption of the article is correct but it is used in a manner that is fatally flawed. I.e.: In the end, history will prove you right – or wrong. But as of today, we simply don’t know how things will turn out in Iraq. Read the last sentence again, slowly, because it really is the heart of the issue. We are in the middle of a war and no one – absolutely no one – knows whether we will win or lose it. That's correct in the sense that the future is never 100% predictable. For black and white thinkers that might be enough of reason to hold off on recognizing a failed policy but for many of us who make decisions every day based on risk/reward assessments, it's not a reason to reject the realities of the Bush American/Iraqi adventure. When the odds of success keep getting smaller, when the costs keep getting greater, when miracles are in short supply, how do we make decisions? Do we shut out the facts and claim that we have too much invested to quit now or do we cut our losses? I'd restate the realities of Iraq by paraphrasing the open letter's statement to say: We are in the middle of a war and no one – absolutely no one – can be absolutely sure whether we will win or lose it. What we can be sure of, however, is that the costs have far exceeded our direst expectations and that the odds of success have shrunken to the point where carrying on cannot be supported under any kind of rational cost/benefit basis. Ed

To: KLP who wrote (171339)	9/27/2005 4:24:34 PM
From: bentway	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 281500

"The War on Terrorism" isn't the war in Iraq. It never was, and isn't now. The mistaken, failed war in Iraq is the greatest reason we may LOSE "The War on Terrorism", since it creates three terrorists for every one we kill, and just proves the Islamists correct in their accusations, not just in Iraq, but in every country they're contending for. The only reason we're in Iraq NOW is for the sick pride of the chimp. Every dead and maimed soldier is on his head. This failure IS his legacy. 63% of Americans want out NOW.

To: KLP who wrote (171339)	9/27/2005 6:17:36 PM
From: geode00	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 281500

Bush plea for cash to rebuild Iraq raises $600 Mark Townsend in Houston Sunday September 25, 2005 The Observer An extraordinary appeal to Americans from the Bush administration for money to help pay for the reconstruction of Iraq has raised only $600 (£337), The Observer has learnt. Yet since the appeal was launched earlier this month, donations to rebuild New Orleans have attracted hundreds of millions of dollars. The public's reluctance to contribute much more than the cost of two iPods to the administration's attempt to offer citizens 'a further stake in building a free and prosperous Iraq' has been seized on by critics as evidence of growing ambivalence over that country. This coincides with concern over the increasing cost of the war. More than $30 billion has been appropriated for the reconstruction. Initially, America's overseas aid agency, USaid, expected it to cost taxpayers no more than $1.7bn, but it is now asking the public if they want to contribute even more. It is understood to be the first time that a US government has made an appeal to taxpayers for foreign aid money. Contributors have no way of knowing who will receive their donations or even where they may go, after officials said details had be kept secret for security reasons. USaid's Heather Layman denied it was disappointed with the meagre sum raised after a fortnight. 'Every little helps,' she said. In the past 12 months, Americans raised some $250bn for charity, including other foreign causes such as the Asian tsunami victims. Layman said: 'There is no financial goal. People are looking for a way to help rebuild Iraq and this is a way to facilitate that.' The fundraising comes amid concern that some US projects in Iraq will be scrapped or only partly completed because of rising costs. Some officials fear that money may run out before key projects are completed. Last week, the number of US troops killed in Iraq rose above 1,900.http://observer.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,6903,1577750,00.html