do you have to be clinically insane to think the war is going well ?

Answer 1

Oh no, it's entirely possible to be that crazy without ever having been diagnosed by a doctor.

cp_scipiom: Here's how the war is going: http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d07814.pdf

Answer 2

I don't know that anybody thinks it's a cakewalk, but if you've studied the history of fourth-generation wars, it's probably going a little better than most. I'm sure your view is different, but many of those who think it's going terribly badly don't even know what fourth-generation warfare is, so they're judging by the standards of other types of war, and that is a guarantee for misunderstanding and disappointment. Consider that these things usually last two or three decades. The al Maliki government is less than two years old, and it under-represents the Sunnis, so there are major problems that can be expected through their next election. I can't imagine what things will be like in Iraq then, but I can imagine they'll handle it fairly well, and by then with a whole lot less US support.

Answer 3

Not at all.

In many cases -- whether people think the war is "going well" depends entirely on what set of standards they are using.

Opinions differ, and people have different values and different goals -- and different ways of measuring progress.

While I may disagree with someone, I don't think it's reasonable to call someone insane just because they come to a different conclusion....

That being said, I think there are some people who are delusional, because their conclusion is not based on facts or logic or different interpretations -- it's based on denial of reality, and a refusal to even attempt a logical analysis by whatever standards -- and those are not signs of good mental health.

So, coming to a different conclusion, using different logic and different standards -- that's just a different opinion, and as valid as any other. But making up facts, and refusing to face reality -- that's a different story.

Answer 4

Being crays really helps as this is an effort to change the world by having a war in Iraq. No that's insane!

Answer 5

I think the opposite is true. It takes an amazing amount of self delusion to be able to keep insisting that the Iraq war is a "quagmire".
Or else it is an eye problem- the defeatists are blinded by hatred to the point of being perfectly happy to sabotage their own troops just to spite Bush

You demand a miracle in Iraq? Why do you think the ham-strung Army will do better that the pork barrel politicians in the inner cities?

Answer 6

Bush is a prime example. He's perversly delusional and I would add dangerous as well.But yes anyone who believes in Bush's war is insane or an example of cognative dissonance.

Answer 7

no but I bet it helps.