Such smugness, arrogance ...such insufferable moral superiority.

[Arrian]

Oerdin a commie

That's funny.

-Arrian

[Dinner]

Originally posted by Dr Strangelove
The report mirrors the sentiment of the American public, so evidently Bill Bennett considers us smug, arrogant and insufferably morally superior. Furthermore most of us haven't been ouitside of the Green Zone. Maybe what Bill Bennett wants for America is something akin to the government of Starship Troopers.

Some of us have.


(You're not missing much)

[Elok]

Commie? Is that what he meant by "shades of red?" I was thinking red as in Red States, ie conservative, which confused the devil out of me.

Oh, and what will happen if we do not follow the suggestions of the report? Short of a massive increase in troops, etc., the same bloody thing as if we had followed the thing, just with more U.S. casualties, no? So: more troops (which I imagine would involve a draft), or get the hell out of there?

[Cranky]

Originally posted by Oerdin
(You're not missing much)

other than bullets, mortars, IED's and lots and lots of AK-47's

[Zkribbler]

That is the conundrum:

(1) Increase the number of troops (which means bringing back the draft)...
(2) Stay the course (taking casualties with no hope of winning)
(3) Institute the Baker plan: Withdraw into enclaves, Iraqify the conflict and switch our emphasis into diplomacy.
(4) Get the hell out of Dodge.

[Sandman]

I see we still have people arguing for escalation, escalation and more escalation. Just admit you've failed and move on. It's that simple.

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by Sandman
I see we still have people arguing for escalation, escalation and more escalation. Just admit you've failed and move on. It's that simple.

You make it sound like weve been escalating all along.

[Lord Avalon]

Enough with the add or subtract n*(10,000) troops. Pick a city and raze it.
Now that's real escalation.

[Ogie Oglethorpe]

Originally posted by Arrian



Americans lack the will to "stay the course" in Iraq indefinitely. I present our very own Slowwhand as exhibit A. He supported the war, he'll argue that it was justified, etc, etc, but he's done with it and is fine with a pullout. He is not alone. The war was sold a certain way. It didn't end up being that way. If Bush had really understood what he was getting us into, and had laid that out truthfully in the beginning, the US population would have balked.

Course you got contrary cusses like me that did not want to go to Iraq b/c I thought the basis was flimsy at best but argue now that we are there it is our obligation to see it to its end and see it done rightly. Course with cut and run being the fad looks like I'm in the minority again.

[Sandman]

Originally posted by lord of the mark
You make it sound like weve been escalating all along.

Thankfully, American policy is not totally unchecked by reality. Yet.

[Zkribbler]

Originally posted by Lord Avalon
Pick a city and raze it.

I thought the Iraqis are supposed to be on our side.

[Ned]

Saying that all Oerdin sees are shades of red and pink does not make Oerdin a commie. When a guard in the asylum sees nothing but shades of insanity, he himself could be sane. There is that possiblity.

[Zkribbler]

Mental patient: We like you more than the other doctors.
Psychiatrist: Oh? And why is that?
Mental patient: Because you're more like one of us.

[True story ]

[Ned]

Originally posted by Elok
Commie? Is that what he meant by "shades of red?" I was thinking red as in Red States, ie conservative, which confused the devil out of me.

Oh, and what will happen if we do not follow the suggestions of the report? Short of a massive increase in troops, etc., the same bloody thing as if we had followed the thing, just with more U.S. casualties, no? So: more troops (which I imagine would involve a draft), or get the hell out of there?

Not only more troops, but a strategy for victory. It is the latter element that seems missing here, which makes this exactly like Vietnam. Johnson kept sending more and more and more and more troops. What he did not do was adopt any strategy that would result in victory. That is why Johnson ultimately failed and brought his party to defeat in '68.

[Lord Avalon]

Originally posted by Zkribbler


I thought the Iraqis are supposed to be on our side.

Yeah, they're either on our side, or they're dead! If they don't get their sh!t sorted out, Bush'll not only fvck them up, but their whole city, too. He'll show he's one crazy mofo, and not to be messed with!