What makes you think we're losing in Iraq?

Question

For those of you who are constantly droning on about how we're losing in Iraq, could I get some good solid reasons why? I've never heard anyone back up that statement.

"You know what was really amazing? The people who said, 'Chris, you know, I don't support the cause, but no matter what the cause, I'm always going to support the troops.' I was just dumbfounded by that. I asked this one guy why you don't support the cause. He said, 'I've been watching the news.' "Well," I said, "that's your problem."

-- Army Reserve Staff Sgt. Chris Bain

reconnaissance and chemical weapons specialist, January-April 2004

I realize of course that not all of our troops support the war, that's not the issue.

That quote was for illustration purposes only.

But you'd have to ask yourself why a soldier would lie or exaggerate about our progress in order to stay there longer. On the other hand, it's easy to explain why a soldier would lie or exaggerate our lack of progress if it means going home.

Soldiers don't enjoy fighting. The fact that ANY of them support the war is remarkable in itself.

3,600 casualties is hardly evidence that we are losing. Have you ever asked how many terrorists we've killed?

Soldiers die. It's a sad fact of war. But you can bet your *** that those boys took down PLENTY of terrorists with them.

stiggo629

You have once again failed to back up your statements. Who says we are in an impossible situation? Who says our military can't solve the problem? GIVE ME EVIDENCE. The only evidence I have is that our military can do anything when it is allowed to do what is necessary and is given the resources and support it needs.

See Revolutionary War, War of 1812, Spanish-American War, WWI, WWII, Gulf War...

Why are we winning?

We deposed Saddam
We are establishing a stable government
We are killing terrorists.
In addition, 8 of the 16 benchmarks for the success of the surge have been met, and it has only been fully implemented for one month.

That's some pretty strong evidence.

We are in Iraq because we are trying to make the Middle East a crappy place to recruit, train, and fund terrorists. I know, that's hard to understand...

And so, the opponents of the war fail to provide evidence that we are losing.

Our troops are not being killed in great numbers compared to the number of terrorists we're killing, the Iraqi government isn't on the verge of collapse, the troop surge is working, the country isn't engulfed in violence, the terrorists aren't in control of significant portions of the country...

Any historical method of determining who was winning a war at a given point once again gives victory squarely into the hands of the United States of America and it's valiant soldiers.

Answer 1

The news media wants us to think we are, I don't. Here are some things you won't see in the news.

What is REALLY happening in Iraq...the stuff the Liberal Anti-Bush media doesn't want you to know...
Do you know?

I didn't know!

How could we?

Did you know that 47 countries' have reestablished their embassies in Iraq?

Did you know that the Iraqi government currently employs 1.2 million Iraqi people?


Did you know that 3100 schools have been renovated,

364 schools are under rehabilitation,

263 new schools are now under construction

and 38 new schools have been completed in Iraq?

Did you know that Iraq's higher educational structure consists of 20 Universities,

46 Institutes or colleges and 4 research centers,

all currently operating?

Did you know that 25 Iraq students departed for the United State s in January 2005

for the re-established Fulbright program?

Did you know that the Iraqi Navy is operational?

They have 5 - 100-foot patrol craft, 34 smaller vessels and a naval infantry regiment.

Did you know that Iraq's Air Force consists of three operational squadrons,

which includes 9 reconnaissance and 3 US C-130 transport aircraft

(under Iraqi operational control)

which operate day and night, and will soon add 16 UH-1 helicopters and 4 Bell Jet Rangers?

Did you know that Iraq has a counter-terrorist unit and a Commando Battalion?

Did you know that the Iraqi Police Service has over 55,000

fully trained and equipped police officers?

Did you know that there are 5 Police Academies in Iraq

that produce over 3500 new officers each 8 weeks?

Did you know there are more than 1100 building projects going on in Iraq?

They include 364 schools, 67 public clinics, 15 hospitals, 83 railroad stations,

22 oil facilities, 93 water facilities and 69 electrical facilities.

Did you know that 96% of Iraqi children under the age of 5

have received the first 2 series of polio vaccinations?

Did you know that 4.3 million Iraqi children were enrolled in primary school by mid October?

Did you know that there are 1,192,000 cell phone subscribers in Iraq

and phone use has gone up 158%?

Did you know that Iraq has an independent media that consists of 75 radio stations,

180 newspapers and 10 television stations?

Did you know that the Baghdad Stock Exchange opened in June of 2004?

Did you know that 2 candidates in the Iraqi presidential election had a televised debate recently?

OF COURSE WE DIDN'T KNOW!


WHY DIDN'T WE KNOW?

OUR MEDIA WOULDN'T TELL US!

Instead of reflecting our love for our country,

we get photos of flag burning incidents at Abu Ghraib

and people throwing snowballs at the presidential motorcades.

Tragically, the lack of accentuating the positive in Iraq serves two purposes:

It is intended to undermine the world's perception of the United States thus minimizing consequent support,

and it is intended to discourage American citizens.

---- Above facts are verifiable on the Department of Defense web site.

.......Pass it on! Give it a Wide Dissemination

~~~~~~~

Answer 2

First, watching the news is not a bad thing. People who watch news or read newspapers are at least trying to stay in touch with the world. What do you recommend -- that they don't read newspapers, watch news on TV, or listen to news on the radio, and then form opinions?

My reason for thinking we're losing is that we're surely not winning. Four years after the president arrogantly declared "mission accomplished," Iraq is riddled with chaos and nowhere near able to govern or defend itself effectively.

I heard Senator Richard Lugar, Republican Senator from Indiana and an expert on foreign relations, say on a TV program that he had personally recommended to the president early in 2007 that the president work harder on the political aspect of Iraq while the military solution was being applied so that when Iraq was militarily stable, the political structure would be in place too. However, the president rejected his advice, deciding to emphasize the political matter later. Well, if the political structure isn't there when there's finally peace, no one will be able to govern effectively, and the peace will disintegrate!

And I heard on Chris Matthews' weekend show that the president lamented not following the Iraq Study Group's recommendations sooner. Again, a situation where the president delayed action.

Speaking of delays, the recent troop surge was needed years ago when it would have been much more quick and effective. But no, the president waited.

And the administration was warned about the possibility of insurgents very early on but dismissed the notion.

So time after time, the president acts first and thinks later. I'm not saying there aren't examples of victories, but they're too small and too infrequent. Meanwhile, Al Qaeda has set up shop and the different religious factions are trying to kill each other. If that's your idea of success, I don't get it.

Answer 3

You've never heard anyone back it up, or you've dismissed the frequent answers that have been given?

We're losing because we are in a position where victory is impossible. At this point, victory would have to be defined as stabilizing Iraq and having the Iraqis able to maintain that stability on their own. This is not going to happen. As long as we are there, there will be an endless supply of insurgents to fight us. If the United States military is unable to solve that problem, how can the Iraqis ever reach a point where they can handle it? If we cannot either stop the insurgents or get the Iraqis capable of doing that, we cannot leave. If we cannot leave, we cannot win. Given the type of war we are fighting over there, if we have not won, we have lost.

I already told you how we're not winning. You responded by simply saying that we can do anything if given the chance and resources. Just because we've done it in the past in completely different circumstances does not mean we can do it now. Tell me how we can defeat the insurgents when our mere presence there creates more? Tell me how we can get the Iraqi security forces to a point where they can handle a situation we can't? And no, I don't think the insurgents will stop fighting when we leave, they'll just be fighting a civil war after that.

Answer 4

hate to be childish, but What makes us winning?

The fact is the mission has been changed so many times no one will be able to answer either question. The only success I would say was the removal of Saddam. Which to me was questionable cause he was not a threat. It is funny how Saddam was a friend(pawn) of America (CIA) in the 80's. It was only after getting a taste of the American system did he realize what power he had in that region. It is funny how people stand behind president bush, yet our government is free to intrude on other countries leaders. You think we could do that to Cuba. What gives us the moral athority to pick and choose other countries leaders. Why not Iran, or Korea which pose a much bigger threat to our freedom. So now, tell me what we have won?

To Daniel A: How many schools, tv stations, police officers, children, hospitals, and temples did we destroy in Iraq?

The bottom line is ofcourse we have to fix what we messed up. That has been in the fabric of america (except slavery another time). We f*** it up beyond reconicion, prove our point, then build it back up so that our capitalistic socitey can profit! simple concept. does not make it right what we did and are going through to get those results!

How many schools are up in the 9th ward in New orleans?

How many people are back in there homes?

Why did congress give insurance companies the freedom to let down americans and a product they thought protected them?

We have a lot to fix here and that is where the decent comes from. It is like Michael Vick holding a pet adoption drive. Sure he did some good, but he is only fixing what he messed up! Americans have good manners!!

Answer 5

I don't pretend to know what is really going on over there because I watch a little CNN, but I have friends and family in the Marines who are either currently active or have come back after serving, my brother being the closest to me. They don't think we are loosing, but they sure as hell don't think we are winning anything . Maybe if we knew why you think we are winning, we would have a better idea where you are coming from, it seems that there a lot more people blowing themselves up as time goes on, at least once daily, just racking up the death toll. Also give us the reason we are in Iraq in the first place. I didn't know suicide bombers were considered WMD's. Let me know.

Answer 6

A) that is from 2004, light years ago in terms of military, in 1942 everyone was sure the Nazis were gonna win that war too.
B) that is one soldier's opinion from the hundreds of thousands of soldiers there.
C) it is not accepted or legal for anyone in the military to publicly talk out against the war or president Bush while in uniform. so you think they are gonna acknowledge what they are really saying?

Answer 7

The question is what constitutes victory? To take out Saddam's regime? Mission accomplished...time to come home.

If victory is to make Iraq stable and able to sustain itself, then we are losing that battle. Not because the troops are failing in their jobs (they aren't), but because you can't make Iraq stable when it's own people are fighting against each other, along with insurgents from other countries coming in and blowng stuff up to incite chaos.

IMO, there was no reason given that justified going to war with Iraq.

Answer 8

its because these idiots base their opinions on what the news tells them. and what the pin up soldiers on CNN tell them. what they dont know is that virtually everyone of the soldiers intervied by CNN are nothing more than army rejects, so of course they will have grudge and start talking trash.



some good news
http://townhall.com/columnists/DavidLimbaugh/2007/07/24/democrats_cant_handle_the_good_news?page=2

Answer 9

THE LIBERAL BLAME AMERICA FIRST CROWD KEEPS POUNDING THIS POINT HOME TO THEIR VIEWERS & READERS. THE DEMS IN CONGRESS SAY THE WAR IS LOST & NO MATTER WHAT WE DO THEY WILL COME UP WITH A DIFFERENT POINT. THEY SHOULD JUST LET THE MILITARY FINISH IT'S JOB.

Answer 10

i think we're losing just b/c the fact we have been in Iraq longer that we were suppose to be.

and many media stations report that the war is going down hill.

i also haven't heard of any evidence, showing or telling the reason why we're winging the war.