tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16816866.post6567273913139912011..comments2024-02-29T02:10:56.878-08:00Comments on J O S H U A P U N D I T: House votes for deadline on Iraq withdrawalFreedom Fighterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13649470110087808596noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16816866.post-71571750364614222102007-03-23T13:33:00.000-07:002007-03-23T13:33:00.000-07:00Hello, B.Poster,As far as failure in Iraq goes, I...Hello, <B> B.Poster,</B><BR/>As far as failure in Iraq goes, I think you know that in terms of what our aims were as defined by the president - 'a free, stable democratic Iraq that will be an ally in the war on terror' I feel we've already failed in most of those goals.<BR/><BR/>Iraq will neither be free or an ally..though it may be stable. On the plus side, we've killed a helluva lot of jihadis,smashed a good part of al Qaeda, marginalized Moqtada al-Sadr and seasoned and motivated our army.<BR/><BR/>At this point, what we're looking at is a graceful exit...and that's not entirely to be sneered at, although our victory in Iraq could have been used much more successfully.<BR/><BR/>I'm chiefly concerned with morale - that of our army, that of the people at home and that of our enemies.<BR/><BR/>Stooo-pid, cowardly legislation that sets deadlines like this, undermines our troops, holds General Petraeus to ransom and signals our enemies that all they have to do is wait us out is immoral and wrong.<BR/><BR/><B> Hi Nazar, </B><BR/>I hope you see the difference between VietNam and Iraq in terms of the effect on the US.<BR/><BR/>(and BTW: not to take anything away from our troops, but we didn't `smash' Saddam's army..it disintigrated and much of it simply went underground. It wasn't head to head combat like the first Gulf War).<BR/><BR/>If we don't we bug out of Iraq prematurely, it will have untold consequences in our ability to fight. You also forget a singular difference between the jihadis and the Soviets..the Soviets cared about staying alive to enjoy their victory. The jihadis welcome apocalypse.<BR/><BR/>You also, I think, underestimate th efifth column here in America and theri ability to mount domestic terrorism. An Abrams tank or a B1 bomber has limited effectiveness against that kind of war.<BR/><BR/>Will we be defeated? Nah! But will it cost us much more in lives and heartache? You betcha.<BR/><BR/>Have a good weekend, y'all!Freedom Fighterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13649470110087808596noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16816866.post-44656124507634215872007-03-23T13:10:00.000-07:002007-03-23T13:10:00.000-07:00I don't think that even a worst case scenario of I...I don't think that even a worst case scenario of Iraq becoming a terrorist safe haven like Afghanistan was will end us as a major world power. It will set us back and be disastrous for our anti-jihad efforts, but it won't be the end of us. Remember, we lost Vietnam, but won the Cold War. <BR/><BR/>Also, keep in mind that we smashed Saddam's mighty army in about one week. It's the rebuilding that we are having so much trouble with. We have the power to destroy, but not to control. As long as we have the power to destroy, we are a formidable force in the world.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16816866.post-47735038723543977952007-03-23T12:52:00.000-07:002007-03-23T12:52:00.000-07:00I agree if the war was a "grotesque mistake" we sh...I agree if the war was a "grotesque mistake" we should end it immediately. The problem is Iraq has become a central front in the Jihadists war against us. If we pull out troops before we can achieve a situation where Iraq is allied with us and is a stable country, the country will become a terrorist haven. At a minimum failure in Iraq will mean that the US will be finished as a major world power. In fact, failure in Iraq will probably place the very survival of the country in grave danger. On some level, the Democrats must understand this. This is why they won't simply cut the funding for the war and pull out the troops right now. <BR/><BR/>The sad thing is the surge strategy that the military is trying to employ probably would have worked, if only it were given the time needed to work. <BR/><BR/>Even if we fail in Iraq, Americans will eventually wake up to the existential threat that they face. When they realize it, I expect them to fight vigourously. Unfortunately by the time we realize it it may be too late. <BR/><BR/>As we are currently doing things the enemy is only growing stronger. We may soon find ourselves fighting to the death not becuase we have any chance of winning but because death is preferable to slavery.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com