For those who support the war?

Question

Do you think it has been run efficiently and has been well-thought-out the whole way?

This is not a slam; I really want to know if you think there is anything that should be improved about Bush's strategy.

(And yes, for you extremists, I realize that changing over to a one-party system where Bush can do whatever he wants without challenge is ideal; I'm asking the rational war supporters what they think about the strategy.)

Interesting... pretty universally, so far, everyone seems to think we should have been more forceful at the outset. Thank you for answering.

Answer 1

The first mistake was not going after the real culprit responsible for 9/11.
Bush has not made a well thought out decision yet concerning the war in Iraq.

Answer 2

A one-party system is what the Soviet Union had. If anyone thinks that is ideal, then they are not real Americans.

As for running the war, Bush has done a terrible job which is the main reason I am looking forward to the end of his term.

Had I been president on September 12, 2001, I would have called on men and women between the ages of 18 and 35 to enlist in our armed forces. I would have made the argument for a declaration of war against Saudi Arabia, Syria, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan and if necessary, Pakistan. These are countries that harbor terrorists and have condoned the numerous acts of terrorism against the USA and Israel for the past 35-70 years. 16 of the 19 terrorists were Saudi!!

I would have enlisted support from Europe, Australia, Russia and China - and at that time I believe they all would have supported such an attack.

With 1-2 million soldiers, we would have conquered the middle east and had peace in the region by now. If you're going to go to war, which the 9/11 attacks made necessary, then you GO TO WAR, you don't do the half-baked job that the Bush Administration has done and label as traitors anyone who calls you out on it. You rally the country, you don't say "Oh, your government will do this for you, so you can just go SHOPPING."

Answer 3

No. It has not been run well. I am probably one of the more conservative people out there. I am a former Marine. I can see that Bush should have put more faith in the generals and let them run the war. That is what they do. Politicians should have little or no input in troop movements, rules of engagement, and equipment. They should only say who we fight and then let us win. Not nitpick every decision the men on the ground make and then if things don't go according to the tea-party rules they have set up for combat they call our Marines and soldiers murders and put them on trial. Just for doing the job they were sent over there too well and killing too many of the enemy!
Let us win. Take off the leash that is strangling the will to fight out of our troops. Let us kill the enemy with out mercy! where ever he hides. In a mosque or church or a synagogue or where ever they may hide!

Semper Fi!!!!

Answer 4

There have been problems. Quite frankly, if we had just gone in and dropped all the bombs and flattened the place it would be over but we wanted to be more politically correct. The violence is confined actually to a small percentage of the country. I hate that we have to be there but we never left Germany, Korea, Turkey or other places. And I am not an extremists. I'm just some guy who does not want to lose anyone else in terrorist attack on my own soil.

Answer 5

The problem with our situation in Iraq is that occupying a country (any country) is hard and cannot be taken lightly... after we rolled over the "Iraqi military" I think a lot of people in our government and in the country as a whole thought that was it, they do not understand that occupying and rebuilding a country is not an "in-and-out" deal... as a result there where not enough resources sent to Iraq from the beginning and now we are having to pay even more because we are trying to play "catch-up"... war is one of those things were you have to commit all the way or not at all, politics will not allow either...

Answer 6

I don't support the war, never did. But someone like John McCain who does support the war has said it has been mismanaged. So have many retired generals. So has a very close relative of mine who is an Air Force Colonal, Base Commander. He doesn't know why we are even in Iraq any more. And he just got back last week.

Answer 7

Failed policy, failed leadership.

In all of our major conflicts; WW1, WW2, Korean War, Vietnam, Americans were asked to sacrifice for the sake of our troops. Higher taxes, victory gardens, sale of War Bonds, conservation, etc.

What has Bush done to lead this country to sacrifice?
Nothing.

- The war is being paid for by borrowed money. Estimates for the total costs of the war range from a conservative $800 Billion to $2 Trillion dollars.
- Our kids and grandkids will be paying the INTEREST on those "supplementals" for years to come
- The rich have enjoyed the best tax cuts ever.
- Military families are organizing fund raisers just to get their sons and daughters and the units they serve in body armor.
- 3400 deaths and 12 more seriously wounded for every one fatality.
- Injured vets categorized under 30% disability get NO BENEFITS, just wait in line at the VA, and their families don't get a dime!

Where's the sacrifice of the American people for the troops? Stylish magnetic "God Bless the Troops," or "Support the Troops" on their SUVs that guzzle gas that goes back to the countries that support those who attack our troops? Little cute American flags on our lapels?
All talk, no sacrifice

I served in the first Gulf War and I thank my lucky stars that I came back OK. I feel for my brothers and sisters in harms way and the best I can do is watch the roll call on the News Hour with Jim Lehrer, night after night, as they show the pictures and names of our young and brave. I stand at attention and salute their honor. None of them lost their lives in vain.

But they never should have been there to begin with. Not without our sacrifice and true love for their valor.

But since we are there why not start with asking ALL Americans to really sacrifice for our troops. Have a clear vision of what victory looks and feels like and not just "less violence," as Mr. Bush so eloquently put it. There are no easy answers but those two points could help get us going once and for all.

Answer 8

I think we should have invaded
however , we have dropped the ball by playing patty cakes with
these hooded, murderes,
we need to
1. lift the ROE , use the same tactics they employ.
2. wipe them from the face of the earth, emphasozong that they will all gt those virgins
3. take enough oil to pay for all this crap
4. come on home

Answer 9

We screwed up when we toppled Saddam and did not increase our troop strength then to a size large enough to stop all insurgent ability to have any foothold.

Answer 10

I think we have done well given the limitations levied on our troops. We have essentially fought this war with both hands tied behind our backs to pacify one party in particular. We should have gone in with both barrels blazing.