[NeedKarma]

You are free to pick a reason. Your religion, the color of your skin, where you went to school, the personal freedom we here in the USA have, the freedom to speak against our elected leaders without fear of being killed. Pick one!

Well that's not really an answer is it. There are many countries that meet that criteria but they don't seem to fear being wiped off the earth.

[ScottGem]

It is sad that people younger than me who have never served in the military are so biased against the judicial use of force to protect our citizens and our way of life. .... All I can do is pray that he will have the strength to stand up to the bullies of the world who want nothing more than to destroy us.

Excuse me? I have no idea how old you are or whether you are older than I or not. But you make a big mistake in assuming or suggesting that I am against the judicious (I think you meant) use of force. As someone who was in 2 WTC on 9/11, I fully and completely supported the action in Afghanistan. That was fully justified. Iraq was not and I was just as fully against it from the get go. I was proven right and so many others were proven wrong.

[450donn]

Why? The afgan people did not attack us. We were attacked by a people hell bent on our destruction as a race, and as a nation. They just happen to land in a country that because of our actions and inabilities was left with nothing, no global support after the Russians left after a 10 year blood bath. Most of the killers of the WTC attack were who? Saudies am I right? We are fighting for our very survival as a race in many places in the world. Was it correct to go into Iraq when we did? I don't honestly know. Was Hussein an evil person? Yes, by anybodies standards and he needed to be removed from office. Again the UN because they are a bunch of wussies did nothing for how many years? 10?20? While he systimitacally killed those that were of a different religious background then him. To place the blame on one person President Bush is simply wrong. He was given bad information from the intelligence community, and with the approval of congress and the UN he went ahead with the UN mandate to remove Hussein from power. To leave a void after that like happened in Afganstan was simply out of the question. See I tend to think he learned from the mistakes of the past. This debate can go on for ever and will solve nothing. Like I said, he is now our President elect. All I can hope and pray for now is that he surrounds himself with level headed people who will make decisions based on the best interest of this country and not as has happened in the past who he owes favors to. Wrong decisions will kill millions, Right decisions will create a strong stable country that will be able to move foreword for another 250 years.

[NeedKarma]

We are fighting for our very survival as a race in many places in the world.

Could you expand on that? What 'race' are you referring to? How do you come to that conclusion?

[ScottGem]

To place the blame on one person President Bush is simply wrong. He was given bad information from the intelligence community, and with the approval of congress and the UN he went ahead with the UN mandate to remove Hussein from power.

Sorry donn, but your views are apologist. Bush rammed through the attack on Iraq. Since Hussein got his nose bloodied from Kuwait, he did nothing but saber rattling. There was no credible proof that he presented a threat. There was only circumstantial evidence. I do agree that Bush isn't totally to blame. Blame can be spread around to those who followed him. But there is no question that he led the way. Was he duped or did he lie? Well that's a matter for debate. However, either way reflects badly on him.

But I don't now, nor have I ever seen any justification for committing Amercian lives to remove Hussein.

[450donn]

So, basically what you are telling me is that you approve of genocide? I knew New yorkers were liberal, but I did not know you were that Liberal!

[ScottGem]

How you get that from what I've said is beyond me. But if you are going to just make up things I see no point in continuing this.

[DoulaLC]

>>>>Was he duped or did he lie? Well that's a matter for debate.

Keep in mind, it was not just the Bush administration that believed there was enough evidence to take action... hence resolution 1441. Even many of Hussien's top advisors and military generals believed this to be true. In reality it was true when you consider that CWs fall under the umbrella of WMDs... and it is well known how those were used on the Kurds and others. To this day, there are those in his previous administration that either still believe or have actually testified that they had them.

Whether we like it or not, America will always be looked upon to police others, but will have to walk a thin line.

America is damned if they do step in by those who dislike it's involvement in the issues of other countries, and damned if they don't by those who feel it doesn't step in and do enough to help those in need.

If the work can be done neat and tidy, people tend to be pleased. If it gets messy or prolonged, people tend to start objecting.

Some people feel America should just focus on it's own internal issues and let the rest of the world deal with their own issues to avoid having to walk that line. While this might appease some, it would only serve to allow others to fall even further into the grip of despair and hopelessness.

The question becomes what is right for mankind and I think, overall, most Americans would opt for what is right and just even when it may cost them some dislike in the eyes of others. The adage, "you can't please everyone" comes to mind.

[JudyKayTee]

So, basically what you are telling me is that you approve of genocide? I knew New yorkers were liberal, but I did not know you were that Liberal!

Must admit Donn that I have no idea where you're coming from -