Voices of America speak to me! Please!?

Question

I am from England and would like to hear you opinions (for and against) on the war in Iraq, American foriegn policies the general state of the bush administration. Be as open as you wish.

I'm very interested in what real Americans think, not how the media want us to think of you.

Answer 1

Considering the fact that international intelligence also indicated that Iraq had WMDs, I had no problem going to war. I was frustrated with the United Nation's lack of action - what's the point of making resolutions if you're not going to stand behind them? The fact that Saddam kept screwing around with the UN Inspectors also made me pretty suspicious as to what was going on over there.

I'm not sure how I feel about the lack of weapons found. I do think we gave the Iraqis plenty of time to move them out of the country, but if the intel was truly wrong, I do not blame Bush for that - I blame Bill Clinton. Clinton gutted the intel and military budgets for eight years - no wonder our intel wasn't accurate. Plus, the Sudanese offered Bin Laden to Clinton, and he REFUSED!! I still can't figure out what that was all about, but if he had taken Bin Laden, would 9/11 have happened? No one knows, but it's definitely something to think about.

As to American foreign policy - gads. What a mess - and that sure as hell isn't all Bush's fault, either. Do you know that some Americans say that we "deserved" 9/11 for past foreign policy issues? How f*ed up is that - 3000 people died in the Towers just for going to work that day, and some sickos think that was "just". Please. That type of thinking makes me absolutely sick and if it were up to me, those jerks would be dropped in Sadr City wearing t-shirts with Mohammad cartoons on them.

Sorry - I digressed. I am getting to the point that I wish America would become more isolationist and tell the rest of the world to piss off. We give billions of dollars to foreign countries, yet many of thosecountries (Palenstine, for example) claim to hate us. Fine -you hate us, quit taking our money. I also think that the French gov't should face some type of punishment for being in bed with Saddam throughout the Oil for Food program. I would love to see the rest of our soldiers home safely, but I'm not blind enough to think that needs to happen now. If we leave Iraq now, we will have to face the Islamic extremists on our own soil - no thanks. Besides, I have friends and family who have either been in Iraq or are currently there - and they have all told me NOT to buy into the media's portrayal of the situation. Are things going swimmingly? Of course not - but it's war, and things WILL get ugly. I trust the people that I've talked to who have actually been in combat in Iraq, and they tell me that we ARE doing a good thing over there. Reenlistment is up, which means that the very people who are risking their lives there now are willing to continue to do so. How can I possibly argue with that?

As to the Bush administration, I voted for him the 2nd time he ran for President. Do I love every single decision he's made? Of course not - hell, I don't even agree with every decision my husband makes and I love him! But do I think Bush is the evil tyrant the media makes him out to be? Absolutely not. He's the scapegoat - like any sitting President is - for any and everything that goes wrong. Stubbed your toe? Blame Bush. The anti-Bush crowd in this country is absolutely rabid and aren't always the most open-minded group.

Let me tell you a true story about Bush. Some very dear friends of mine lost their oldest son in Iraq. He was Special Forces, and had made the choice to reenlist while in Iraq. Not too long after their son died, my friends got a call from the Dept of Defense, asking them if it would be possible for them to attend an event at an Anchorage army base (about 450 miles from their home) where a VIP had requested their attendance. Not knowing who the VIP was, they were able to make the arrangements and thought very little of it. They were absolutely floored when they realized that the VIP who had requested their presence was none other than President Bush. The family spent almost an hour with the President and First Lady, and their 16-yr old daughter sat on a couch between the two the entire time. Both George and Laura cried when talking to my friends about the loss of their son and the family was extremely moved. They weren't Bush fans before this, but they won't hear a word against him now. It was a very intimate meeting, too - they know the Secret Service was all over the place, but they never saw them. It was a remarkable thing for them and I think a pretty moving story about a man portrayed in the media as a monster. According to my friends, he's not a monster at all - just a man trying to do an extremely difficult job to the best of his abilities.

And remember - lots of Americans didn't want us to get involved in WWII, either - they would have cheerfully let Europe fall to Hitler and shrugged off the genocide against the Jews. Guess that doesn't say much about us as people, but there it is.

I hope you learn something valuable from the answers you get. You asked a really good question and I appreciate it.

Answer 2

Thank you for realizing that the media are distorting the facts to suit their agenda. I support our President. It is sad that they didn't have more accurate information about the state of affairs, but we don't know all of the facts either. If our President allows the press to know all that he knows, we would have chaos in this country. It is also sad that he is taking so much undeserved heat from everyone. President Bush is not a great speaker, but he is a great man, and I believe that he has our best interests at heart. The past election was won by the Democrats not on their integrity for good ideas, but the fact that the Republicans fell asleep at the wheel complacent that the people understand that the war in Iraq will take years to deal with. The general public no longer are patient - they think we are a powerful country (which we are), but they expect (unrealistically) results now. So, we are in for a season with Democrats who will potentially jeopardize our national security and everything good that has been done to secure this country. I do not like the war in Iraq, but we are there, and removing of troops shows to the world that we have given up - that's what the terrorists want, so why should we give them the satisfaction of pleasing them. I for one, think we need to take immediate action on Iran or North Korea or both. Sanctions will not work, and I favor more serious action. I know that it is a grave responsibility to be in charge of nuclear weapons, but I would not oppose their use to control these rogue mad dog nations - they do not respond to idle threats, and never will. It's sort of like disciplining a child - you either spank their behind or you put up with their back-talk. I still love America, and I do not especially care what other nations think about us. We do, however, need allies like England, Australia, etc. (notice I did not count France). We have many complex problems to work on - I wish more people would realize that overnight and simple solutions are not possible and stop all this political see-sawing. Thank you for asking. God bless America.

Answer 3

I was part of the first conflict in Iraq. I enjoyed working with the Desert Rats. We should have finished things then.

Iraq will be a better place eventually, because of what we have done there. Its a shame we had to go there militarily, but its bad enough for Americans to be both ADD and short sighted. I believe our influence there has been positive overall.

Look at the news regarding women's rights in Pakistan today. While Americans cannot take credit for that, our progressive influence upon the world cannot be denied.

President Bush gets a lot of flack over our military involvements overseas. People need to understand that we are not always doing our own thing. We are part of many international organizations, whose interests we are obliged to serve. We should all look back to times where America was more isolated and uninvolved in world affairs ... and shudder.

If the US were not the world police, firefighters, and clean up crew, via the UN; then who would be? Who esle could afford to be?

Answer 4

I back the actions in Iraq. I am not as happy as I'm sure most every else on Iraq's inability to take over the security forces and get more under control. But pulling out now is the wrong thing to do. The pressure needs to be on Iraq, Syria and Iran. Iraq has the most at stake here. They need to begin thinking like a country or they will end up with something worse that what they just sentenced to death. I will support the action until the end. Cutting and Running is not an option to even be considered.

Answer 5

i have a few friends that have returned from Iraq.
things there have improved a great deal now that Sodom is gone
i am hearing a lot of talk about leaving before the job is complete,
if that happens i think a war(ww3) with all of Islam is inevitable.
winning in Iraq puts there plans of world conquest back many years.
as for Bush i feel he is a weak leader.
where is a Churchill or Patton when we need one

p.s. England and Australia are the only true Allies we have ever had ..THANK YOU !!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 6

The Bush administration is honestly no better or worse than any previously - it's a big government and change happens very slowly.
The war in Iraq was a good idea but it has been mismanaged just like most of our modern wars - due to media, UN, and other factors.
I think in general you will find MOST Americans are kind of in the middle on most issues - and definitely don't believe the media

Answer 7

in the commencing up i became against the conflict.Now that we are in this mess we would desire to deliver some greater troops to stabilize the placement and placed coaching of the Iraq human beings on quickly music.I additionally wish greater of the money is going into the army and out of the contractors palms.i'm hoping we've not only over internet site listening to on conflict profiteering yet substitute in how the money is spent.If the neo-cons had listened to the generals from the commencing up extremely of firing them:for judgments approximately cost troop power mandatory etc:we'd be in a some distance diverse problem now. the biggest problem with Bush is the lack to contemplate evaluations different than their very own speaking factors.In my humble opinion we choose greater open debate with much less call calling.we would desire to conform to disagree

Answer 8

There could be some really long answers to this question... but basically I am frightened by the state of the bush administration. I think it's whole foundation is based on lies and the gross misuse of power. I think we are in such a mess with Iraq that I don't see how anything good can come of it. I don't even know why we invaded Iraq in the first place, I didn't understand then and I don't now. Basically, bush wants the American people to sit back and shut up and let him do what he wants. That's why he acts to irritated and scornful any time someone wants him to back up his actions. I think that this will prove to be one of the most embarrassing chapters of American history, and I am upset that I am judged based on what idiots like bush are doing. Other countries need to realize that only about half of America supports him.

Answer 9

I hate the war. A teacher of mine had a friend killed in Iraq; he was 24. It pissed me off so badly. Bush is a terrible diplomat. He is a complete idiot and a racist, imperialistic oil mobster. He'll go down in history as the man who destroyed our image in the eyes of the world.
And, thumbs up for not believing the media. Many of us are against the war and Bush. Well done!

Answer 10

I'm in favor of the war in Iraq for a number of reasons... we couldn't let Saddam break UN agreements unchecked and all of our intelligence (whether misinformed or not) told us Saddam was attempting to make biological and chemical weapons as well as the fact that he murdered thousands of his own people(Kurds)... we did what we thought was necessary. i refuse to Monday morning quarterback this war... and we are staying in Iraq for the safety of everyone including the Iraqis... if we leave before the elected Iraqi government is ready to control there state, the government will be toppled and a terrorist state will certainly emerge! Sometimes in life, and especially in government and politics, there are no right or wrongs, just thousands of shades of grey... I cannot allow myself to blame America for whats gone wrong in Iraq, we are there and i pray we stay there for as long as it takes... i still remember 9/11 and i pray every morning it never happens again.

as for everything else bush has done... the tax cuts are great and the economy is very strong... i disagree with alot of his positions but his relentless war on terrorism keeps me in his favor.