how many agree that prez bush strategy in iraq is not working .?

Question

and his refusal to listen to countless others is just plain arrogance

Answer 1

It isn't working, and I will tell you why I think it never will, no matter who is president here.
Iraq, and the middle eastern countries in general, are run according to the religious beliefs of the person in charge. And being a dictator is what is the norm for them. But regardless of that, when you put a government in place, you are going to have to split everything evenly between the various religious factions.
Try to imagine doing that here. You need an equal number of every major religion in the US in your government. Otherwise, people who settle things with violence ( and religion has sparked more than one war) are going to revolt because their religious group does not have enough representation, or at least they feel that it doesn't. They are going to shoot however many are in charge that are not of their faith. Even when we go away, there are going to be car bombs, people killed for their religious beliefs. Even if we could find every radical there now, there would be more.
You might be able to help your own child for however long they need, but you are not going to be able to help an entire country for its entire existance.
I see no end to us having to be there if we are expecting them to be able to run there own government and police force. They will get gunned down at some point by opposing radicals.
Their whole belief system is different than ours, and making them into another US isn't going to happen. You don't find Americans beheading people except in rare cases of crimes ( usually crimes of passion). Their kids are being raised to think this is okay, so how many generations would we have to be there to raise?
I love our troops, and I think it is time to bring them home. If we can get Bin Laden, we need to do that, but we can't reform Iraq.

Oh, and congrats to tomjohn for being able to type with both hands in the air ;-)

Answer 2

I neither totally agree nor disagree.

The military Surge seems to be working since Anbar is pretty well tamed and tribal leaders are coming over on our side to help us. They may not like us much but they are helping and seem to have finally realized we are not trying to steal their oil.

The part of the strategy that is not working is the political part, specifically Maliki, the Iraqi prime minister, and his Shia political cronies. They are not passing needed legislation and are not trusted by the Sunnis.

The Iraqi military seems to be doing pretty well and advancing pretty well but the Iraqi police are corrupt to the core and infiltrated by Iranian stooges and Shia partisans who are mistrusted, with good reason, by the Sunnis.

In the far north, the Kurds are doing pretty well economically and causing no trouble internally for Iraq but are allowing Kurd "terrorist" or "insurgents" to make raids into Turkey which is causing problems there and could lead to a very difficult situation since Turkey has threatened to invade Iraq to put a stop to it. Since Turkey is an ally of the U.S. this could put us in a very difficult situation, to say the least.

All in all a real mixed bag - some good and some bad.

The only thing worse would be if we pulled out. Then the Kurds would definitely be invaded and probably wiped out by Turkey and probably Iran who also has a lot of problems with this ethnic group both internally and from without.

Syria would invade immediately as would Saudi Arabia in order to secure the oil fields for the sunnis who comprise only about 1/3 of the population or less of Iraq.

Iran would also invade in order to get control of the oil fields in the south where most of the Shias are and in the north where most of the Kurds are.

In short, if we pull out there will be a widespread regional conflict with Russia and China likely backng Iran who will naturally have the upper hand since most of the population in Iraq is Shia muslim as are the Iranians.

The oil market will immediately react with higher oil prices causing our oil related costs to increase even though the U.S. does not get much of its oil from this area. The global market for oil will be affected and it will likely cause widespread economic hardship, decline or depression and widespread unemployment.

In short, leaving Iraq will be a disaster.

I voted for Bush twice and would do so again for I think both Gore and Kerry are complete fools. And, I do agree that Bush is an ARROGANT ***-HOLE who never explains his position and takes too long to change his strategy.

Answer 3

No, needless to say speaking his technique isn't working in Iraq. easily, no technique will paintings in Iraq or the different united states. as a results of fact the belief is to unfold peace and not hatred and evil in the time of people's homelands. we ought to have staying power and need the final that presidents of our united states will quit making judgements which will harm us and others. i does not area with Bush, as i think what he's doing is politically, socially, morally, and religiously incorrect. on the comparable time, i'm hoping each and every physique has an equivalent possibility to stay in peace and get advantages and have a great existence with not something to rigidity approximately and love for one yet another.

Answer 4

Arrogance is correct. Bush is a good example of the Republican party. Bush is also stupid. According to Peter Pace, chairman of the joint chiefs. The number of Iraqi battle ready battalions able to fight in Iraq has dropped from 10 to only Six. Bush wants all of America now to wait for a Sept. report from the Commanders in Iraq. Democrats and some smart Republicans want Bush to start the draw down now. I see the impeachment of Bush and Cheney as the only course of action for Democrats. In America we fire failures.

Answer 5

Well we haven't won a war since WW II so no real surprise at all. The way we fight wars now is pathetic and half assed. Like everything else there are so many rules of engagement I don't know how the troops can stand it.

Wonder if anyone will ever do anything bad enough to us were we will really "take the gloves off" and win a war again. Probably not until China invades or something I guess.

Answer 6

I must say bushes strategy isn't working real well at the moment, but I believe it will all pan out in the long run. I'm an aussie and believe it or not, I quite like George Bush, afterall! He is not the sole decision maker in all matters.

Answer 7

If there were an actual strategy, I would agree. As each day passes I wonder the same thing, what is this doing to our country and how does it effect our ability to deal with other countries. V.P. Cheney insisted, was absolutely adamant that we would be greeted as liberators. I guess this administration is still reeling from the shock of that turning out to be miserably false. Three years of utter failure and the response, send in more troops, wash more billions down the drain. The only thing more painful than watching this debacle, the people who still cheer about our troops being killed while telling me they are volunteers and extending their tours of duty against their will. Support our troops? You have got to be kidding me.

Answer 8

Are you or any of the others that claim it's not working qualified to know it's not? (As in a 5 star General?). Are you aware what will happen in that country if we pull out as all the complainers suggest. Have you listened to the Iraq people who are asking for patience while they get their country together? It doesn't happen in a year or a few years for that matter. It takes time for freedom, to develop a Government and to get people to agree. Everyone should just quit trying to micro manage the war as if they're experts and let the soldiers do their job.

Answer 9

He listens to military commanders on military issues, not politicians. Do you think President Bush devised the strategy?
The military was successful in defeating Saddam's army in a relatively short period of time. Rebuilding a country doesn't happen overnight. Establishing a democracy in a country that is infested with suicidal terrorists and Iranian infiltrators, hell bent on causing disruption takes time. I believe most of the Iraqi people would like to be free to choose their own leaders and establish a democracy. The egg of democracy is about to hatch. Don't be so eager to push it out of the nest.

Answer 10

I would agree that past strategies have not worked. The current one, though, it's harder to say. It certainly isn't working as well as could be hoped, so far.


I think it takes a degree of arrogance to even want the job of President of the United States of America.