war

[low_delta]

If the war goes well... that means IF casualties are kept to a minimum, on both sides, and yes this is relative, IF it is quick, IF the new government is reasonable, Bush will have no opposition in the next election. You can extrapolate other effects.

I do not believe it will be an easy war. This will be no Desert Storm. This will be a bloody, street war. This will be house-to-house, not plane-to-tank.

My biggest fear is that it will not go well, or that American military presence will remain obtrusive there, and will fan the flames of Arab hatred for the U.S. I don't think we are prepared for the potential terrorism. This makes me wonder if the whole idea is to fan the flames and the resultant attacks will give us an excuse to go out and kick more ass.

Comments

[lonita.livejournal.com]

Arab hatred isn't the only thing going to be flamed, from what I hear. Apparently the Iraqi's have been opening oil wells and saturating the ground. One lit match...

I haven't confirmed it yet, though, so don't take it as gosepl.

I hope I say this right...

[nakedsockpuppet.livejournal.com]

I am not a political person...and do my best to avoid understanding what is going on. That may seem silly to some...but it is my way of holding my sanity.

I don't know enough about the history of who stepped on whos ground first. My undertsanding of the September 11th attacks was that is was a form of "payback" for US involvement with politics overseas????????

It was personal for me...yes...my Significant Other was a pilot and was flying in the States that day. He lost a number of friends...and life certainly changed after that. Would I wish vengance? NO.

I feel sort of uncomfortable commenting on something I know so little about...although I am very concerned.

**************

*smile and a wave*...Hello...I am Cyns friend from the Scrabble-aholicness. I will not appologize for stealing her...and refuse to give her back. ;)

best wishes...Amy :)

[ravenfeather.livejournal.com]

My mother is due to fly back west on Wednesday and she is concerned that Bush has now made the airlines targets for suicide bombers. She won't take a train, she wants to go home fast.

That is my concern as well. You know Bin Laden as well as many others tried for years to incite a war with the US for years as a means to start Jihad (spelling?) Bush stepped right into it. Interesting point that long term war might be behind his commitment to action despite not having support.

As far as our presence goes.. have we EVER left anywhere that we stepped in to help? I am honestly asking because I think we still have at least a small manned force every place we have gone. I never understood that if we are just HELPING, why don't we ever leave? No one has been able to explain this adequately without using the term "peacekeeping" which has become our excuse to enforce our point of view I think.

[i.livejournal.com]

daddy bush had a quick easy war and lost the election. "it's the economy, stupid"

[liquidmyst.livejournal.com]

I think that honestly, we will get the attacks regardless...Sept 11 brought that lesson home.

We are not going to leave the middle East for many years. We will have a really big military base there...much like Cuba or hell even Japan(which was ruled by Patton.)

Do I want war? Honestly, no. I don't want my friends to die, I don't want the expense. And, I really don't want people lives that are close to hell now, to get worse.

But, I also realize that man is an isane spoiled shit. Who will not stop picking and attacking until he is removed.

[vlinker.livejournal.com]

war......ick!

However, I do believe that Saddam is a cruel dictator who severely punishes those who's thoughts oppose his. An Iraqi weapons scientist talking to a UN inspector would never speak his mind (in public or private) because he would be erased if he said (or was thought to say) anything that wasn't "correct". I do believe that the Iraqi accounting of their weapons is incorrect. I also believe that Saddam would offer these weapons to any number of terrorist groups. He might do it for free. Or he might charge. If he charges, the payment will be in US dollars. (it's amazing that US dollars can be used almost anywhere in the world to make important purchases)

The US is going to have to rebuild Iraq to the state it was before their Kuwait invasion. Plus, it's going to be very difficult to get the ethnic fractions within the country to agree to a new government.

Unless Saddam leaves (and he won't) it will be the bloodiest conflict since Vietnam. I don't see an easy victory. And of course, I see no real winners.

Some people think this war is being fought for oil. I doubt it. If oil was the reason, the US and others would just buy it. The war will cost money and I believe it to be substantially more money than just cutting a $$ deal with Saddam for it.