Do Republicans think Osama bin Laden owns the United States?

Question

Many Republicans keep repeating that the US owns Iraq because "you break it, you've bought it". Do they also believe that Osama bin Laden owns the United States because of 9/11?

(Properly applied, of course, the saying "you break it, you buy it" would mean that the US must pay reparations to Iraqis.)

I'm surprised that answerers aren't familiar with this analogy. It's known as the Pottery Barn rule and it was first used by Colon Powell in the form "you break it, you own it"; Mike Huckabee has recently argued in debates as follows: "We have to continue the surge. And let me explain why, Chris. When I was a little kid, if I went into a store with my mother, she had a simple rule for me. If I picked something off the shelf of the store and I broke it, I bought it. I learned don’t pick something off the shelf I can’t afford to buy. Well, what we did in Iraq, we essentially broke it. It’s our responsibility to do the best we can to try to fix it before we just turn away because something is at stake."

Answer 1

I have never heard that analogy from any Republicans so I don't know in what context you are alluding to.

Answer 2

I have never heard a Republican say that we own Iraq. The opposite is true, we believe that Iraq should be owned by Iraqis not dictators.

We do not owe reparations for getting rid of Saddam.

I realize that you hate the President and all Republicans but if you want to insult us please use ACTUAL events and quotes.

Answer 3

I am truly sorry, (and, God and the Y-A, know that I am NOT a Republican by any definitions whatsoever !!) BUT -- this is ludicrous at core in your premise -- and party TO the single mindedness of edgy dialog that serves to add rift between the seperate parties OF American politics !!

At Prime here --- 9 / 11 Did -- in NO WAY -- "break" the USA !! It shed precious blood of innocent people from numerous countries --- it dented a significant portion of our feelings of security --- it created a catalyst for a "dumbing down of American politics" --- and an excuse for and a reasoning from which to base a great deal of private agenda pursuits --- But, it in no way --- broke the USA !!!

And, the SAYING "broke it, bought it" in NO WAY presents any type of POLICY at all --- it is simply a idiom used to promote a view of circumstance and reprocussion involved in certain actions and their aftermath !! And, to use such an idiom as premise to a statement of ANY political party's views of policy is -- simply put --- WAY OFF BASE AND OUT OF LINE with clear thinking !!

Answer 4

I haven't heard that before, perhaps someone will ask bin Laden that question after he delivers the keynote speech at the Democratic National Convention.

Answer 5

the tough get fighting, the liberals are shopping at the pottery barn. sad, sad sad.

Answer 6

Nothing you say is correct. I think I smell a liberal here.