[Wren57]

Originally posted by GT40FIED
Truth? You mean all of that subjective material and conjecture that anyone can twist to mean whatever they want? Yeah...that truth kicks ass. Look...there's no such thing as truth. There's only opinion and viewpoint.

Yes, there is truth. I am not debating emotions, I'm saying we are at war over ideas; I mentioned motives and goals, not feelings. Keep your eye on the ball.

So who gets to decide which side is picking a fight? I'm sure to many in the Arab world we're the ones picking the fight and they'd be right. To us their terrorist bullshit alone is picking a fight. Again, we'd be right. So if everyone's right, why go to war? What benefit do we have of invading Iraq? Iraqis could have gotten freedom on their own if they had wanted to.

First of all, Iraq picked the fight by invading Kuwait over 10 years ago. Then they were given another chance, and they picked a fight again by not agreeing to the terms of their second chance (resolution 1411 or whatever it was). These are the FACTS, deal with them. Also, terrorists picked the fight with us by crashing planes into the WTC. When have we done anything even similar to that? Please tell me. And no, Iraqis could NOT gain their freedom on their own; pitchforks and shovels don't stack up against RPGs and a huge militia.

My gas prices are still pretty high, so I'm assuming oil wasn't a big part of it. OPEC controls all of that anyway. Then you're just left with Saddam. A whole war to get one guy. But now Iraq is a breeding ground for people who didn't hate us before, but sure as fuck hate us now. Who did the risk/reward analysis on this plan? Fire that asshole.

It was not about Sadaam. Did you read the divide/conquer motives I listed about? THAT is why.

As for the options you gave me, I choose neither. If I feel that my own life or the lives of others are in real danger I'll pick up a gun and fight for myself. I don't need someone else doing it for me. But there aren't really any countries that pose a credible threat to us...

So you want to sit back until someone gets powerful enough to pose a threat? That is stupid. Squash the enemy before they squash you. Duh.

save maybe the one nobody is paying attention to, North Korea. Why haven't we invaded Pyongyang?

Because they have artillery aimed at Seoul, and if we invade, they basically destroy Seoul. Il will be out soon enough, and that will bring about regime change. Their military is antiquated and could easily be crushed, but WE DONT WANT A FIGHT, so we are being patient. Do you have any idea the miserable state of their economy vs the capitalist economy of South Korea? NK will come around soon enough.

I'm sick of people saying that others are fighting for my freedoms. Last I checked, Saddam wasn't in any way gearing up to take away my freedom of speech. More than anything, I fear that from our own government. So with all of this legislature running around trying to control what people can say, why doesn't the military invade Washington DC? I mean, if anyone is screwing with my freedoms, they're in DC. The bottom line is that being like a drunk in a bar swinging a bottle...taking on all comers is not an effective option or, given the size of our military, even a possible one.

I agree... if you feel so strongly, do something about it. The ACLU drives me insane, as do many other censoring bodies. You will have to admit it is mainly the left extremists censoring everything... well, them and the bible-beating far-right zealots. If you feel strongly about it, write your congressman; they do listen.