I just read this 5 minutes ago in an article on Yahoo's home page. Is this a good thing, or a bad thing?

Question

"Five years after President Bush declared war on Islamic extremism, the military has lost 3,599 troops and spent $503 billion in Iraq and Afghanistan."
Good or bad? I think it's sad.

Answer 1

It represents a form of lunacy which 30% or so of Americans have been infected with. You can see it in their answers trying to defend the indefensible travesty of Bush and his war.

Answer 2

I think both parties lose. For 5 yrs of war not only money was lost but lives of thousands of people who are supposed to protect and promote peace. That much money could have turned a third world country into something better. Iraq and Afghanistan may be extremist but why don't just the government trace the real prob. Maybe they move against the government because they are not heard of their cries.

Answer 3

It's bad in that human life was lost and money was spent yet no solid improvements have been made in the life of the Iraqis. What's worse is that most of those deaths could have been prevented if things had been planned and implemented better.

Answer 4

Those numbers only refer to the military losses. There is no mention of the private contractors killed, of the hundreds of thousands of Iraqis killed (men, women, children). No mention of billions spent or diverted from non-military budget. All because of a set of lies perpetrated by Bush & Co.

BAD.

Answer 5

And what do you think of the fact those same Islamic militants have stated repeatedly that they are going to continue attacking Israel and the US, even if we pull out of Iraq, until we convert to Islam? Watch Al Jazerra TV on the web and see for yourself. The radical Clerics talk about the fact that they are in a war against all who are not Muslim, and will not stop until the world is in Allah's fold. Do you think if we pull out of Iraq they will just go home? They will rush their fighters to Afghanistan. When we run away from there, they will just follow us here. The more we ease up. the more they see it as a sign of weakness, and a victory given to them by Allah. Do you people have your heads in the sand? Your talking about less dead than in one day in WWII at times. Thank God you and the Liberals were not here then, or we would still be watching poor England try to fight the Nazi's by themselves.

Answer 6

wow, that first answer says it all really.

Personally, I don't know what the hell the US is still doing there, it is obvious they got a 2nd Vietnam on their hands, only this one will cost a whole lot more. I hope their economy can survive this one, or if it doesn't that it won't pull down the EU and other economies with it. Fat chance though, everything is linked.

Answer 7

It is unfortunate.

war is never a good thing.

but if the outcome will be a Iraq and Afghanistan with freedom and liberty for its citizens then it will be worth it.

If not then it was a waste.

Answer 8

You have forgotten one thing, Before we went to war, we lost 3000 people in one second, & in Vietnam we lost 58,000 & WW2 we lost about 450,000. Yes Death is always sad, but so were those 3000 people that did nothing to deserve death. you sound very much like an anti-war person to me. Get over it, we did not ask for war. We were forced into it & remember, every soilder that went over to Iraq went on their own free will, Remember, we don't have a draft nymore, They all are vollenteers. It is not like it was in Vietnam when I had to sign up for the military, Back then you were drafted.

Answer 9

Freedom is never free. Someone has always paid for it. And people will always have difference of opinion about it.

Over 40 000 people die every year in the USA on Highways in car accidents. That is a lot more that in this was against TERRORISM.

Answer 10

think what good they really could do with $503 billion
end world hunger ... yup i think so

to spend that amount on war is disgusting , and one death is one too many