Are Your Views Changed?

[Asher]

Originally posted by MichaeltheGreat
There's a couple of really big problems here - the US is not involving Iraqi expatriates, exiles and opposition figures to any degree at all

I'm not sure this is entirely correct. I've seen a news story on CNN about an Iraqi man who fled Iraq in the early 80s and is now a successful business man in California with several kids and a wife (also from Iraq).

The State Department selected him, among many others, to help rebuild Iraq once the war is over (he's an engineer). They agreed to move there, since the US government would incur all the costs of the move.

[Frogman]

I would like to have gone in as a UN coalition. Short of that, I don't think setting the precedent of first strike is good for world peace or peace in the US.

I had plans to go to the mediteranean this fall but don't think I want to put up with the antiamericanism. It seems to me I am less safe around the world than I was 6 months ago. Unless we find a big cache of WoMD and a big I told you so to the UN, our image is tarnished for at least a generation.

[MichaeltheGreat]

Originally posted by Asher

I'm not sure this is entirely correct. I've seen a news story on CNN about an Iraqi man who fled Iraq in the early 80s and is now a successful business man in California with several kids and a wife (also from Iraq).

The State Department selected him, among many others, to help rebuild Iraq once the war is over (he's an engineer). They agreed to move there, since the US government would incur all the costs of the move.

I'm talking about political leadership and establishing connections with the traditional tribal and clan leaders in the Sunni north. They're hanging out with the Kurds, and basically chilled out of the action, on every level.

I'm talking the equivalent of bringing in the Iraqi versions of Hamid Karzai, but lots of them, all over the political spectrum, to have them get the message to the Iraqi people, not a bunch of USAF leaflet writers and translaters.

[KrazyHorse]

Originally posted by Frogman
I would like to have gone in as a UN coalition. Short of that, I don't think setting the precedent of first strike is good for world peace or peace in the US.

I had plans to go to the mediteranean this fall but don't think I want to put up with the antiamericanism. It seems to me I am less safe around the world than I was 6 months ago. Unless we find a big cache of WoMD and a big I told you so to the UN, our image is tarnished for at least a generation.

Sew a Canadian flag to your backpack like every other American who's afraid of his country's reputation.

[Dis]

that doesn't help if you live in the U.S. and you die from a terrorist attack

[KrazyHorse]

According to my brother, if you saw a bag with a Canadian flag sewn to it in Europe then chances were better than even that it belonged to an American...

[Jon Miller]

can you blame them?

Canada is just plain cool

Jon Miller

[KrazyHorse]

Too damn cool.

But it was nice today. The snow's basically gone, but there's still a bit left.

[KrazyHorse]

Originally posted by Dissident
that doesn't help if you live in the U.S. and you die from a terrorist attack

Develop stealth nation technology like we have.

It's very simple. Keep telling everybody else what to do, but stop invading them when they don't listen.

[Asher]

When I went to Europe with my American school, the lines we needed to stand in as Canadians for customs took far longer than the American customs lines. Out of the 18 kids on the trip, me and this other girl were the only Canadians, and we took forever to get through those lines.

Always perplexed me.

[notyoueither]

Originally posted by Frogger
Too damn cool.

But it was nice today. The snow's basically gone, but there's still a bit left.

It snowed here today.

And yes, I am slightly taken aback by events. I did not think the Iraqi Army would fight for Saddam the way they appear to be doing. I was a bit concerned right off when the war was launched on the ground at the same time as from the air. I had assumed that the Iraqi's would be hit out in the open, from the air, somewhat like they were the last go round, before the ground pounders entered in seriousness.

Damn, this thing is a mess already. HTH do they finish it now, cleanly? Especially with news coming up that will drive Americans into a froth.

I guess there will be no clean end, short of a miracle.

[KrazyHorse]

What news?

[notyoueither]

Executed prisoners.

[notyoueither]

That's the way CNN is angling. They are not out in full froth yet. I think they are wondering if it could be true, or just what effect it will have if it is...

[KrazyHorse]

Is that for sure yet?

So far all I've heard is that a couple of the KIAs appeared to have bullet holes in their foreheads. (Haven't seen the vid of the bodies, so I don't know)

Not that I really think executing POWs would be beyond Saddam or his thugs.