Bush said "Victory in Iraq will not look like a traditional victory" How will we know if we win or lose???

Question

Will the same Bush rule apply to losing the war aganist Iraq???

It won't look like a traditional loss

Nice thought but I doubt is Bush ever saw Kirosawa's film.

Answer 1

We'll know whether we win or lose when we declare victory or defeat.

Of course it won't look like a traditional victory. There's no single objective that we can achieve or fail to achive.

We have no single direct opponent, no finish line, nobody setting any goals over there but us. We can declare victory at any point, because we're the only one drawing the finish line.

Answer 2

What we have here is a classic catch 22 situation. If America withdraws under the current political climate there will unquestionably be an expansion of Islamic Fundamentalism into all areas of the Middle East in order to prevent a Western power from ever interfering in the region again and also into other countries to allow attacks against America and her allies in their home countries. If America stays Iraq will effectively become the front line in a war between America and Islam because Islam will not stop fighting until Iraq is completely independent of foreign influence. The cost in terms of military losses would be huge and the financial cost to America could cripple the economy. The biggest problem with the Iraq situation is the stubborn refusal by the Bush administration to enter into negotiations in order to bring the conflict to an end. Without some kind of negotiations there are only two possible options, either stay and endure another Vietnam or leave and allow Islamic Fundamentalism to take over Iraq. To me that's an each way lose. The only sensible option is to enter into indirect negotations in order to at least bring about a cessation of violence. As much as Bush's ego will resent this it is in fact the only credible option available given that the cause of the current fighting is the fact that Bush over stayed his welcome. If Bush had withdrawn shortly after Saddam was ousted we would not be in this situation, even his own advisors are admiting that much. If Bush refuses to enter into negotiations I cannot see how the situation can be relieved. The only option will be to wait until Bush leaves office and let the new administration sort out his mess. That's in 645 days. Who knows how bad the situation in the Middle East will be by then and how many American servicemen will have died in this pathetic, pointless war that is costing the American tax payer $6bn every month.

Answer 3

It up to the Iraqis if we win or lose this war. If the Iraqis can take control of their country and take down the extremists and the foreign fighters without the US, then that will be a victory. However if the Iraqis are not serious about maintaining stability, then it will make matters a lot worse. Basically it's up to the Iraqis if we win or lose this war.

Answer 4

Bush made up the whole cut and run, we cant be defeated in IRAQ...but HE KNEW GOING IN PRIOR had he listened to his advisors .. that we could not come out successful.

So it was never really a matter of success or defeat was it?

Answer 5

Victory will be when the Soldiers come home so bush can quit killing them off to finish a war his daddy started and left undone

Answer 6

Thats the thing...we associate iraq with terrorism and terrorism is a faceless enemy. So we'll never know if we "smoked-out all the evil-doers". The war on terrorism is an endless war, i hope that you all at least see that much.

Answer 7

I think that only Bush knows the answer to that question

Answer 8

Don't worry, Bush will tell you.

Then again, he did say, "Can we win? I don't think you can win it."
--George w. Bush

Today show interview
08/30/2004
after being asked whether the war on terror was winnable

Answer 9

It's because it will look like a defeat

Answer 10

It's like "retreat" being a "strategic withdrawal".