I was wrong...we are failing in Iraq...

[moa]

I do not think we are failing in Iraq. I think the latest surge in violence is a last ditch attempt to turn things around for the Baathists dead-enders, foreign fighters and the el Sadr militia American public opinion and Iraqi public opinion against the occupation and the new Iraqi government.

For a few thousand militia men, whose heaviest weapon is mortars and maybe some rockets, to take on the American military and expect to defeat it, is incomprehensible for even an idiot.

The Iraqi fighters only real advantage is they are conducting urban warfare in populated areas. That reduces the amount of firepower that can be used against them.

Reading the newpapers, it looks like the militias are getting beat up pretty bad. Appears for every American killed, 10 or 11 militant Iraqis and others are killed. There are many wounded and a number captured. Pretty hard to sustain those losses without being annihilated soon unless they get large reinforcements.

 

[fix]

Gee, that was hard.

.

 

[telomerase]

Appears for every American killed, 10 or 11 militant Iraqis and others are killed. There are many wounded and a number captured. Pretty hard to sustain those losses without being annihilated soon unless they get large reinforcements.

It is courteous to give credit when you are quoting, especially when you are quoting a President about body counts.

Oh, wait, the Johnson quote was about a country with a different name, which everyone seems to have forgotten. Obviously a completely different situation. I'm sure the US military will prevail and the Imperial eagles will fly over the Middle East forever, just as our fleets are still based in Cam Ranh.

And why not? After the Chinese take the Solar System, they'll probably lose interest in conquering Earth's deserts. The poor class of America can look forward to marching back and forth in the Mesopotamian sand for the next century. Maybe they'll even have the educational level to realize that the moving lights in the desert sky are other nation's space stations.

 

[moa]

Credit? Just pick up some newspapers or logon to Internet news services. You will spot the various assertations and estimates.

I normally read the Washington Times and Post.

 

[Khornet]

Fix,

SHACK!

 

[w4rma]

That is a photoshopped image. This, imho, is the original (notice that it is larger and that the horizontal cardboard ridges are visible in this picture, but blurred in the photoshopped one):

 

[Khornet]

W4,

THANK YOU.

 

[w4rma]

W4,
THANK YOU.

You're welcome. It is my pleasure.

 

[Michigander]

Nice try. Both of them look pretty good. But...


editted to add: I tried to add an image which shows the obviousness of the faked photos. I do not know how to attach an image from my own computer.

 

[mercedesrules]

For the record, I think that the United States Government (USG) is failing to attain the goals they told american citizens were the reasons for invading Iraq.

That does not mean that the USG, and some members here, will not try to define just about any outcome as a success.

I fully expect to someday hear, "If it weren't for (some soldier/s), you'd be speaking Iraqi now."

MR

 

[Michigander]

One more attempt....
may be too small to see the detail I was pointing out...

 

[fix]

I fully expect to someday hear, "If it weren't for (some soldier/s), you'd be speaking Iraqi now."

Why? You never hear people saying that about Vietnam, or Grenada, or Lebanon, or Panama, or Iraq, or Bosnia, or Kosovo, or Albania, or

 

[Jokerman]

 

[Drjones]

As others have demonstrated how easy it is to obtain very convincing results with a few seconds of time with photoshop, I submit that the photo originally posted was photoshopped by some leftist American hating communist for the purpose of slandering and defaming our troops.

Again, the depravity of the left knows no bounds...

 

[Khornet]

for the record, Mercedes,

fix is right. And some folks look at Iraq, where most of the country is doing fine, thank you very much, but only see the few cities where some of the people who oppose us control some of the area, and declare failure. I cannot help but believe that this is because they opposed the whole thing from the get-go, and while that is their privilege, they now must deny or explain away anything good which comes of the undertaking.

I realize that I'm well to the right of many folks, but I must say that I'm impressed by the instant readiness of many to believe the worst about anything this administration does.

 

[mercedesrules]

(Khornet) fix is right.

About what? I thought he was agreeing with me. I hear those things all the time. Have you ever told some former soldier his efforts were wasted? He'll tell you all about the freedoms he protected. Haha!

And some folks look at Iraq, where most of the country is doing fine, thank you very much,

Who cares?

but only see the few cities where some of the people who oppose us control some of the area, and declare failure. I cannot help but believe that this is because they opposed the whole thing from the get-go,

Guilty and proud of it. People that oppose an occupying military force are called "the resistance". They are usually revered.

and while that is their privilege, they now must deny or explain away anything good which comes of the undertaking.

You mean like that list at the beginning of the thread? Why should I care about, or pay for, any of those things?

I realize that I'm well to the right of many folks, but I must say that I'm impressed by the instant readiness of many to believe the worst about anything this administration does.

And I'm impressed at the creativity of those that still think the Bush administration has any interests in mind but their own.

MR

 

[TaurusCIA]

quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
And some folks look at Iraq, where most of the country is doing fine, thank you very much,
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Who cares?

ME! Thank you very much...

Guilty and proud of it. People that oppose an occupying military force are called "the resistance". They are usually revered.

So you think they should be revered. Hmmm?

A noble "resistance" would not take aid workers hostage and threaten to burn them alive.

Alas "noble" for some is anything that they can spin against the current admin.

 

[Nightcrawler]

The poor class of America can look forward to marching back and forth in the Mesopotamian sand for the next century. Maybe they'll even have the educational level to realize that the moving lights in the desert sky are other nation's space stations.

Yeah, only poor illiterates like me are in the military. Our entire military is just an extension of the American caste system (similar to India's former example, but not as of yet codified into law). Only the poor, the racial minorities, and the downtrodden are in the military, and only then because rich white men and corporations force them into that position.

That what you wanted to hear?

You don't happen to write for my college newspaper, do you? It's editors seem to hold our military in about the same regard you do.

 

[Delmar]

Nightcrawler-it ain't worth gettin thin skinned about. For those of us who serve or have done so there is a knowledge of pride which those who didn't or wouldn't will never in their lives understand.

 

[Khornet]

Condescension

the hallmark of the left. Saw it in the 911 hearings, as they patronized NSA Rice.

But really, is it not a fact that most of Iraq is improved? Is it not a fact that free commerce and free speech are flowering there? Is it not a fact that people are no longer fed into shredders for being related to someone the Big Man doesn't like? The creativity you cite, Mercedes, is your own.

 

[RealGun]

This is one of those "the glass is half empty" threads

Don't be in a rush for us to leave Iraq. If you look closely, we are not welcome to have an air base in Saudi Arabia. Being in Iraq with the UN having only as much say as we allow makes Iraq a prime candidate for a permanent air base and military staging area, not only for supporting the Middle East but in having strategic access to all of Europe and that entire region of the world.

If purposes are for peace keeping, which I believe they are, then I think matters are going rather well. We are opportunistic rather than aggressive. Not only are our own self interests served but we are in a good position to support our allies and promote peace and civil rights. What's good for them is good for us.

Afghanistan is not as good a candidate for permanent US military presence, because the UN is fully involved. An area that is landlocked is not good for naval access, so a route from the sea is going to be secured in the process, which might involve us in neighboring countries.

It's a fair assumption that involvement in Iraq is part of a grander plan, so to say that we should leave based upon how things are going lately ignores the bigger picture.

I'm not necessarily saying that all this is good and that I will defend it in every detail, I am just saying what I believe is really happening.

 

[fallingblock]

Ah, mercedesrules.........

"And I'm impressed at the creativity of those that still think the Bush administration has any interests in mind but their own."
************************************************************


Who cares?

 

[fix]

People that oppose an occupying military force are called "the resistance". They are usually revered.

Then go join 'em hotshot! :banghead:

Joe McCarthy is being vindicated right here on THR every day. Michael Savage is right. The enemy within is very real.

 

[mercedesrules]

(fix) Then go join 'em hotshot!

I told you I didn't care about conditions in Iraq. Even if you (and others) do, It is you who should take individual action, not me.

Guerrilla warfare is messy. The Iraqis are trying to fight off a superior invading force. They're using the only methods available to them. Can't you be objective about this?

McCarthy was wrong then, and would be wrong now, to bring people into hearings because of their beliefs.

MR

 

[mercedesrules]

(Khornet) But really, is it not a fact that most of Iraq is improved? Is it not a fact that free commerce and free speech are flowering there? Is it not a fact that people are no longer fed into shredders for being related to someone the Big Man doesn't like? The creativity you cite, Mercedes, is your own.

I never discussed the verity or falsehood of these statements. All I said is that, as an individual who lives thousands of miles from the area in question, I don't appreciate my money being taken and spent in this way.

MR