What do conservatives think of the strategy of "Winning hearts and minds"?

Question

Do you think we have been successful at it so far?

Answer 1

Not successful in the least, and conservatives have convinced themselves that, merely by being successful, they can justify preemptive wars that are based on lies.

"If you believe that it's the U.S. government's responsibility to invade a country solely to liberate that country's downtrodden people, then you must accept perpetual global war." -Claire Wolfe

Answer 2

I think conservatives have shot themselves in the foot for not being conservative. Just look at this Immigration Bill. There are all of these so-called "conservatives" who support it. Guys like McCain and Bush give real conservatives a bad name with this type of action.

Answer 3

Well, in Iraq we ARE getting there. Just today I was reading about sunni's in Anbar province disliking Al-Qaeda more than the U.S., and with allied help fought them. In Iraq it is going to take a while. Afghanistan is going much better.
However, where we are really doing this great is in Africa, specifically Ethiopia. The army builds hospitals, and trains local forces. The locals love us, and won't let Al-Qaeda in. Winning hearts and minds is important, and we will eventually get there. You just don't hear about stuff like this on the evening news.

Answer 4

I believe it's an excellent idea, now just get the liberal press to be a bit more honest or at least neutral in their reporting, but I don't expect that will happen any time soon. Report ALL the news all the time but in a fair and unbiased manner........Neva hoppon friendo................

Answer 5

Conservatives must abandon the fascist religious right aspect of the Republican party whose advocation of government entitlements is compassion. Stick to what works. Low taxes and small government.

Answer 6

They hate it, the conservatives do I mean. They prefer the stragegy of starting wars to win over those who disagree with them and they prefer the stragegy of dragging people into Fundamentalist Christianity after they've beaten them senseless with the Bible.

Answer 7

Conservatives don't think about winning hearts and minds. They only think about winning more money for their bank accounts. No, they haven't been successful at anything except creating more terrorists to hate us. They did a good job of that........great question.

Answer 8

This phrase originated during the Vietnam war and was part of a propaganda campaign to sway people in favor of the continuing conflict. I don't care for it. If you are going to war, I prefer Conan the Barbarian's view- "To crush your enemies, to see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentations of their women."

Answer 9

it won't work.