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 British and other world media portrays your views. And please do not give people a bad answer ratings for their opinons. This is an open forum for future debate. Many thanks.

Answer 1

Hi Bouch,

I am American and "generation X". I didn't vote for Bush either time, I voted third Party.

I never liked him. I am originally from the NY area and I'm not into that Southern cowboy ignorant act, I also felt he got ahead due to pure nepotism. I always thought he wasn't exactly the sharpest knife in the drawer.
--of course now I think it's really an act for the most part, he was inspired by Reagan.-- Don't look like you know too much or they will expect you to answer for more.

I wasn't for the war in Iraq from the start being as it had nothing to do with 9-11.
I tried to keep an open mind about it, and since have gone back and forth supporting it and not, usually just being a fence sitter.
It makes me sick how many of our boys are dying over there, and yours, of course.
I feel terribly about the citizens of Iraq, the innocent ones, and the children, they never asked to have a crap dictator, be invaded, and live in a war torn country. Who deserves that? right?
We are so fortunate to live in the Western world, we can sit in comfort and not be so worried our children won't grow up in relative peace (mine anyway, I kind of fear for your country's future).

But I have to say that there is a point to some of this. There is an elephant in the middle of the room., that is the jihadi fundamentalist Islam who are indeed in persuit of a one sided religious war on their part.
Part of it might also have to do with immigration policies of the past few decades over in Europe.
After all, some of the terrorists were British nationals, and for whatever reason, some of your countries have become fertile breeding ground for Radical Islam and violent Muslims who target the UK and the US.

I don't know why exactly we are in the war in Iraq, people in this country say the same things, with the same questions you do.
I have said it's for oil as much as anyone on your side.
Sometimes I wonder if it's for a strategic military installation, a foothold in the middle East to control the population of Arab Muslims as well as secure oil reserves since we are at peak oil production.

Answer 2

in the beginning I was against the war.Now that we are in this mess we need to send a few more troops to stabilize the situation and put training of the Iraq people on fast track.I also hope more of the money goes into the army and out of the contractors hands.I hope we have not just over site hearing on war profiteering but change in how the money is spent.If the neo-cons had listened to the generals from the beginning instead of firing them:for judgments about cost troop strength needed etc:we would be in a far different situation now. The biggest problem with Bush is the inability to consider opinions other than their own talking points.In my humble opinion we need more open debate with less name calling.We need to agree to disagree

Answer 3

Just as in the UK you have areas which are predominantly one political party or the other, I live in an area which is anti Bush.
Most of my community hold the belief that we should not have gone in the first place. That said their are families with young men and women in the military and they get our support. Just like all counties it is from the top that these decisions come and the lower ranks follow orders.
Do you think as I do that money or politics drives most of these conflicts, rather than what we are told by our governments.
Why did Thatcher send troops to The Falklands? British people I am sure supported the everyday soldier even if they did not want the war?
My hope is that one day this sort of discussion will be held in the past tense.

Answer 4

The war in Iraq is the center of our war on terror. The Islamic radicals have pursued their agenda through the tactics of murdering and maiming thousands of innocent men, women and children. Their threats and demands are well known. Their response in the past to negotiations, diplomacy and appeasement have always been met with frustration and failure.

If their tactics prove successful, they will continue their quest for world domination under Islamic rule. This is obviously not acceptable.
There is no possible explanation or excuse that can ever justify the murder of innocent people to further ones agenda of a demented ideology.

They must be stopped finally and decisively.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you and your country for your continued support.

During WWII, Chamberlain sincerely thought he had brought "peace in our time" and, while the French were searching for reasons to oppose Hitler, the reasons came marching into Paris wearing swastika arm bands. Great Britain remembers, apparently France doesn't.

This psychopathic ideology of hatred and death is a threat to every civilized nation in the world.

The consequences of loosing this war are enormous - it is simply a war we must win.

Answer 5

the country is split right now. half believe that we should stay in Iraq the other half want out. as far as the administration is concerned i think most Americans would agree that George is not doing too well. the congress has changed hands and soon the presidency will do the same. the sad part is that the democrats will fair no better.

Answer 6

I am generally a Bush supporter and the war in Iraq was a good
idea for the right reasons..
It has turned out to be much more trouble because we thought
the Iraquis would be pleased to have a free and democratic
nation without an despotic dictator...
Instead, they want to divide up and kill each other...
We are trying to stabilize the nation and make it whole..
Without gratitude from many...

Answer 7

Bush is responsible for the consequences of his actions. That being said, it was bad intelligence that led us to believe Saddam was an immediate threat to us (we do KNOW that he had chemical weapons; he used them on his own people).

Bush at least has courage. I think he listened the same people for too long (think, Rumsfield), but hopefully he's come out of that now that he's engaging the Democrats in discussion. As for the details of what is his fault, what is his administration's fault, and what isn't, I don't think I have enough knowledge to judge.

No one is perfect. I support Bush, and I support the war in Iraq for as long as it is necessary. We just need to work together now and make sure that it isn't necessary for very much longer.

Answer 8

Bush is and has been a great President. Only Lincoln and maybe Johnson were more hated. American Presidents who do nothing, think nothing and have no opinion are usually well liked. The war in Iraq is a bloody mess. However, I believe it is absolutely necessary. At the moment nasties are going to Iraq to kill Americans....and anyone else they can. If our troops went to France the nasties would go to France to kill us. You see, they declared a Jihad on America, Israel and the Catholic Church in 1991. Don't ask me how the CC got included. Just one of those mysteries of the church I guess. If our troops come home the nasties will come to America to kill them and everyone else. They hate America. Lucky us.

Answer 9

We elected the President, twice. Many wished to follow his leadership. I am in favor of my government leaders doing anything and everything to defeat, eliminate, quash terrorists...anywhere, everywhere.
Mr. Bush, on very many occasions, has stated that his #1 responsibility as President is to protect the citizens of the US. On that point, I agree. So far, the Bush Administration has protected the US from attack, after 9-11-01, from terrorists.
I think the US is trying to fight a polite war. We should use our full force to defeat terrorists and not worry about what others may think of us.
Mr. Bush outlines what he thinks is the right thing to do and does what he believes is right. For that, I thank him and applaud him.

Answer 10

I am not an American, so I won't give my view. But I want to say that you have received some nice answers.
I don't agree with some of them, but that is what debate is all about, isn't it?