01-09-2005, 11:04 PM | #1 (permalink) | |
Junkie
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Economist article on US Marines in Iraq
I found the following article from December's Economist very interesting. I'm sure it will raise the heckles of the pro-war camp, but I thought I would post it for discussion purposes anyway.
It's rather long, but I think it's worth it. Quote:
Yet... it still rankles and leaves me feeling a little numb... I know I shouldn't be suprised. But I am. Mr Mephisto Last edited by Mephisto2; 01-09-2005 at 11:06 PM.. |
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01-10-2005, 08:04 AM | #2 (permalink) |
My future is coming on
Moderator Emeritus
Location: east of the sun and west of the moon
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I don't know, I'd like to see something that focuses more on the big picture than on the cultural insensitivity of the military (surprise!). I'm so against the war it's not funny, but at this point that's a little like being against winter. It's happening, and there's not much I can do about it besides know what is happening there, and take action to encourage our government to take a different approach. But I would like to know if it is all just fuck-ups, or if there are other places where the situation is improving for the Iraqi people. Are we making progress anywhere at installing competent and effective Iraqi security forces? Are we ourselves able to keep the peace in some places? Are we making progress in getting basic services restored? Given the insurgency, what needs to happen for us to be able to withdraw and not leave a chaotic vacuum in our wake? Is that stuff happening, or are we just treading water?
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"If ten million people believe a foolish thing, it is still a foolish thing." - Anatole France |
01-10-2005, 10:28 AM | #4 (permalink) | ||
whosoever
Location: New England
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I simply do not understand nor accept the calculus that states that an ongoing war of attrition is justified.
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For God so loved creation, that God sent God's only Son that whosoever believed should not perish, but have everlasting life. -John 3:16 |
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01-10-2005, 12:18 PM | #6 (permalink) |
Junkie
Location: bedford, tx
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What I find completely and hilariously ironic about the sunni minority is that they had no problem with the status quo when they were the ruling party during husseins regime, yet NOW that they are the minority in a soon to be free country they don't want to participate for fear of being pushed aside.
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"no amount of force can control a free man, a man whose mind is free. No, not the rack, not fission bombs, not anything. You cannot conquer a free man; the most you can do is kill him." |
01-10-2005, 12:49 PM | #8 (permalink) | ||
Junkie
Location: Detroit, MI
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01-10-2005, 12:50 PM | #9 (permalink) | |
Junkie
Location: Detroit, MI
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Last edited by powerclown; 01-10-2005 at 12:54 PM.. |
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01-10-2005, 01:09 PM | #11 (permalink) | |
Junkie
Location: Detroit, MI
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The 'good' guys are trying to help 25 million people help themselves. The 'bad' guys are trying to stop this from happening. |
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01-10-2005, 01:14 PM | #12 (permalink) | |
Getting Medieval on your ass
Location: 13th century Europe
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Last edited by Coppertop; 01-10-2005 at 01:58 PM.. Reason: spelling |
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01-10-2005, 01:26 PM | #13 (permalink) | ||
Junkie
Location: Detroit, MI
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It helps immensely to look at the Big Picture. Quote:
Last edited by powerclown; 01-10-2005 at 01:34 PM.. |
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01-10-2005, 01:42 PM | #14 (permalink) | |||
Junkie
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With regards to "insurgency" and "insurgents", are you honestly labeling them all terrorists or Bath'ists? I think that is the height of over-simplification if you are. Alternatively, I guess you could be taking the common "one man's freedom fighter is another man's terrorist" point of view; which is an entirely defensible opinion. Mr Mephisto |
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01-10-2005, 04:48 PM | #16 (permalink) | ||
Wehret Den Anfängen!
Location: Ontario, Canada
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Being moral and willing to kill is harder -- maybe impossible. But, death does happen, even if you are a pacifist, and dealing with it is hard. I hold that Inflicting deaths on the scale appearing in Iraq is quite possibly a moral act, a superior option in a bad situation. I don't know if the Iraqi war is moral -- the scale of the death raises the stakes to insane levels. Those who have blind faith in the current leadership of the USA hold that their leaders can do no wrong, and thus the deaths in Iraq, while signs of high stakes, are signs that the war is a great one -- and because it must be moral, it must be a great moral act. Those who lack this faith look at the stakes involved, and tremble in fear. Quote:
The people of Iraq have less reason to trust the US government than I do. You identify with the US forces in Iraq, and thus extend your own self-belief that you are 'good' into the belief that the US forces are doing good. How do you know the current 'truth' about why US troops are in the middle east is really true? I will admit that is their current stated goal -- get the Iraqi's on their feet. How long ago was the stated goal about weapons of mass destruction? Enforcing UN resolutions? Building a perminate US military base inside a vassal state in the middle east, to provide the US with a secure supply of oil? Opening a new front in the cold war? I don't trust governments who lie to me. The Iraqi people who rise up and attack an occupying power are doing what nearly every nation has done. Some of the rebels are assholes, some of them are evil, some of them are patriots, some of them are just proud. Can you, from a nation whose birth was a bloody struggle against overseas domination, really condemn a citizen of a nation for giving their lives to prevent a foreign power from occupying their land? The European colonial powers (and especially England) convinced themselves that they where carrying "white man's burden" to civilize the world. Other oppressors believed they where 'superior' to those they oppressed, and justified themselves that way. I'm afraid that America has fallen into just another variation of the same self deception.
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Last edited by JHVH : 10-29-4004 BC at 09:00 PM. Reason: Time for a rest. |
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01-10-2005, 06:01 PM | #20 (permalink) | |
Junkie
Location: Detroit, MI
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I respect your opinions here, but do not share them. I do trust my government to try to do what's right for the Iraqi people, the US, and the rest of the world. Call me naive. |
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01-10-2005, 06:12 PM | #21 (permalink) | ||
Loser
Location: manhattan
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http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/relea...0021002-2.html Here are just a few selected passages: Quote:
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01-10-2005, 06:22 PM | #22 (permalink) |
Getting Medieval on your ass
Location: 13th century Europe
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Yeah, because Bush and Co. did not repeat the phrase weapons of mass destruction before the invasion ad naseum. It wasn't exactly a household phrase before hand, you know.
By the way, I just love the "ignoring the UN to punish Saddam for ignoring the UN" justification. Go us. Last edited by Coppertop; 01-10-2005 at 11:51 PM.. Reason: crappy latin |
01-10-2005, 07:23 PM | #23 (permalink) | |
whosoever
Location: New England
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__________________
For God so loved creation, that God sent God's only Son that whosoever believed should not perish, but have everlasting life. -John 3:16 |
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Tags |
article, economist, iraq, marines |
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