An international debate! Should the War in Iraq go on any longer?

Question

This is open to everyone: conservative, liberal, Christian, Muslim, etc. I just want to start a talk. This war is a big issue today, but we cannot let the media do all of the talking. Let's just give our opinions.

Please do not insult anyone for his or her opinion. The purpose of this question is to get people to share their views. Hopefully, we can get a better idea of what the world really wants.

The "best answer" will go to whomever can support their opinions with the most facts. It will have nothing to do with my own views, which are purposefully withheld.

Should the war go on until peace comes? Should the U.S. get out of there before anyone else dies?

You tell me.

This is just what I wanted: there are already several opinions here, each of them unique.

Please feel free to "edit" your response over time. I won't pick a winner until the question is about to expire, so you can update your arguments at any time.

Let's get the whole world in on this!

Answer 1

The war is and has always been, never ending. Just because we are in Iraq doesn't mean it started then or will end when we leave. History teaches us this. Pick any recent decade....the murder of the Israeli Olympic team in Munich and Iranian's taking the US Embassy and it's personnel hostage in the 70's. Bombing of the PanAm flight over Lockerbie in the 80's, the US Embassy, USS Cole and barracks bombings in the 90's, the WTC and Pentagon in this millenium. This isn't something new and G.W. Bush didn't start it. it has been an ongoing struggle since the beginning of time.

Those who say "War is not the answer", OK, what is your solution? If you can come up with a viable solution that has historically proven to work, I'm all for it.

Man (including women) is a violent being. Ignoring it doesn't change it. Peace, Love, Dove sounds and feels great, but ignores history, nature and the fight for survival.

Everything in nature, including Man, must fight to survive or die out. We call this "survival of the fittest". There are animals that do not fight, they survive by breeding enormous amounts of themselves. Think of Anchovies. Thousands of them, but many are eaten by the Barracuda's. They survive by reproducing more. Is this what you want?

Saying, we'll leave them alone doesn't work if they say they won't leave you alone, you must die, and we won't stop until you no longer exist. Read the Qur'an. Listen to what your enemy says and does. You can say "well the Bible says" stone a disbeliever, but we don't re-state it or act on it. In fact, is an American used the Bible as an excuse to murder, they would be arrested, tried, and if convicted, go to jail or possibly get the death sentence.

If you say, "I'll fight them when they come to our shores"....They have. If you wait too long, you're dead.

You have a choice, it's called Fight or Flight. When the Ostrich sticks it's head in the sand, it believes there is no longer any danger, because it cannot see it. It still gets eaten. If you run, the Hyena's or Lions chase you down. If you're lucky and fast like a Gazelle, you may survive to see another day. Meanwhile you must always look over your shoulder to see if the Lion is hiding in the grass waiting for you.

There is one thing I want more than Peace. I want me and my family to survive in a free manner. I am, have been, and will continue to fight and support those who fight for this principle. This isn't Vietnam, there is no draft, and this won't go away because you wish it will.

George Washington and Abraham Lincoln had great difficulties holding their respective Armies together. Desertion's ran high, food was scarce, medical treatment was non-existant or crude and minimal at baest. More Americans died than in Iraq by a very wide margin. They had to shoot their own people to keep the war going.

There are always disenter's in a war. It's a great sanity check and it's what gives us our "moral compass". In my mind, the inexcusable things are name calling, unbridled hatred, lies and half truths used to further a political position. If the position is so strong, why would you need to resort to it?

To those whose slogan is "Bush Lied, People Died".....How stupid are you? People died anyway. There were many in the International community (Putin, Blair, Schroeder, Chirac) and US Congress, including almost all Democrats, who saw the same intelligence (or lack thereof) and came to the same conclusion. Half of the Senate Intelligence Committee was made up of Democrats. They saw the Intel. They voted to go.

I respect the opinion of those of you who disagreed then, but there are very few of you. I respect those who are true pacifists and believe all killing is wrong (including abortion). I have no respect for those who lie (I was never for the war, well the polls showed differently back in 2001), feign ignorance, or voted to put our troops in harms way and then threaten to pull funding or use them as pawns in political gamesmanship. You are disgusting to me.

I also have issues with the planning and execution of the "War on Terror". I believe you have an acceptable plan when you have:
A skilled resource, assigned to specific tasks, with clear and measurable objectives.
Until then you only have good intentions.
We have a highly skilled Armed Forces. I'm not so sure about specific tasks. I'm less sure about clear and measurable objectives. They goals and objectives may exist, but they are not well communicated to us. I also believe political issues within Iraq have caused many problems and American lives.

I have seen that most polls would like to see Iraq succeed. I also see most polls say the war isn't going well. Our soldiers lives and the crime (murder) rates are certainly one indicator. What other indicators are there of success or failure? How many women can go to school? How many schools rebuilt? How many have an opportunity to take part in their countries government? How many voted? How many have clean drinking water, or access to decent medical care? It seems body count is all I see, and I know from speaking with soldiers who have been there that there is so much more.

You must choose. Long term survival or not. Nature is not kind, it just is. You are part of it. Ignoring danger doesn't make it go away.
Personally, I'd rather fight this with professional troops, well trained volunteers, than with civilians who don't expect and cannot defend against what may be coming. I don't want to live in fear, and I give thanks everyday to those men and women who have sacrificed and worked hard to ensure my survival. You are my heros!

Answer 2

yes the war should be over, we have seen enough failure of this administration, therefore Bush is in no title to lead anymore. We need to get in a better president who can actually lead and direct the soldiers to a winning side, rather just keep on asking hte congress for more troops. Having a large number army will not help win a war, if the commander in chief has no idea what he is doing.

Answer 3

Yes, Here's how I look at it. The war in Iraq will have one or two outcomes on americ, both of them are good.

1. We will eventually plant a long standing positive American influence in the middle east that will last for decades to come.

2. We will have our asses handed to us and we will finally be humbled by the experience and this time, hopefully learn from it.

Answer 4

No debate to be had!

Only the fanatics want the Iraq War to continue. Namely to live the pockets of the rich, which is what this so-called war was always about in the first place.

Answer 5

More people will die if we do not stay and help the new government get more stabilized and on their feet. We are seeing good progress and I'm encouraged. We are in Iraq by the wishes of the Iraqi Government. We owe it to the people of Iraq to help them get on their feet. The whole world will benefit when this job is done.

Answer 6

It's no secret that the international debate ended long ago....the war in Iraq must end.

Saddam was removed....so in a sense, the USA won.

We have lost the war of hearts and minds. So we can send 250,000 more troops, and it won't do much good. Nor is there no type of final victory plan.

Answer 7

Short answer, it doesn't matter, the only one who can change it is the President.

Congress can run their chompers all they want and make all kinds of non-binding resolutions, but do they have the walnuts to stop the funding?

I seriously doubt it.

Answer 8

It ain't over till it's over !!!!!
When Complete Victory and the stability of Iraq has been achieved..then and not a minute sooner, should we consider surrendering

Answer 9

It's not up to the internation community (UN) to decide this. They chose to make themselves irrelevant, so the US led the mission to oust Saddam, and the US will decide when it ends.

Answer 10

It should end now so the terrorist can turn their attention to fund raising for the liberals.