tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30648257.post2189291149458862511..comments2024-02-19T04:50:58.170-08:00Comments on Shuck and Jive: What Would You Do with $720 Million?John Shuckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00798753206614838161noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30648257.post-10013745993933237972008-02-11T18:11:00.000-08:002008-02-11T18:11:00.000-08:00Welcome Chris and Dr. Tony. Thanks for the link! ...Welcome Chris and Dr. Tony. Thanks for the link! <BR/><BR/>I guess I am a cynic. But as we approach the fifth anniversary of this illegal and immoral invasion, I ask the same question, "Why exactly are we there?" <BR/><BR/>I simply do not believe it is for humanitarian principles. The U.S. has a presence there because it needs bases to defend the oil supply.John Shuckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00798753206614838161noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30648257.post-40268841297934725292008-02-11T16:55:00.000-08:002008-02-11T16:55:00.000-08:00For Flycandler,Go to http://heartontheleft.wordpre...For Flycandler,<BR/>Go to http://heartontheleft.wordpress.com/2008/02/09/when-are-we-going-to-learn/Dr. Tonyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10239623903089811658noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30648257.post-10482442449429367352008-02-11T16:36:00.000-08:002008-02-11T16:36:00.000-08:00While I agree that American politics concerning Is...While I agree that American politics concerning Israel is meshuggeh (expressing anything other than a hardline Likud POV will get one labelled "anti-Semitic"--there is freer discussion about Israeli-Palestinian issues in Israel than in the US), I think it is probably true that Sharon tried to talk Bush/Cheney/Rice/Wolfowitz & Co. out of the invasion of Iraq because it would be so destabilizing to the region (and not to mention give Iran a huge leg up). The neo-cons sold the "the road to peace in Palestine runs through Baghdad" line to Bush and he bought it. Add to that the fact the money, and you got a causus belli.<BR/><BR/>Chris, what exactly is there left "to finish"? We won the war against Saddam's government, fairly quickly to Bush's credit, and we have been in an increasingly unstable occupation ever since. Dragging this out has caused nearly 1,000,000 Iraqis (by the British medical journal <I>The Lancet</I>'s estimate) to pay the price in blood. We are the irritant. "The Sunni Awakening" happened in al-Anbar province largely because of the surge....in Baghdad. Getting US troops out of al-Anbar convinced the Sunni leaders to stop fighting us and to start fighting the insurgents.<BR/><BR/>We've got to get an international or at least an Arab face on the occupation, give up these ridiculous claims to bases and get the hell out. Now.<BR/><BR/>And start taking care of our wounded warriors. Starting yesterday.Flycandlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08599392875619723740noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30648257.post-51776045986197318062008-02-10T13:01:00.000-08:002008-02-10T13:01:00.000-08:00John,I came across your post the other day and hav...John,<BR/>I came across your post the other day and have a link to it in my post "Where Does The Money Go?" (http://heartontheleft.wordpress.com/2008/02/10/where-does-the-money-go/)<BR/><BR/>I also found some interesting comments from President Eisenhower that I believe also underscore what you wrote.<BR/><BR/>I also read your notes for this Sunday (2/10/2008) and applaud your effort.<BR/><BR/>Peace to you and with Christ,<BR/>Tony MitchellDr. Tonyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10239623903089811658noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30648257.post-42672222099371119352008-02-09T13:57:00.000-08:002008-02-09T13:57:00.000-08:00And of course it is a good question.Unfortunately ...And of course it is a good question.<BR/>Unfortunately wisdom and politics don't seem to mix.<BR/><BR/>This war was about two things, and thought Chris is exactly right to refer to it as foolish in the context of lacking wisdom, but what was done to Iraq and our soldiers was done by design. The mission was indeed "accomplished". No mistake was made.<BR/><BR/>1) Israel's Zionist policies.<BR/>2) Money.<BR/><BR/>Israeli influence in our government wanted an occupied Iraq and revenge against Saddam for launching Scuds at them during the first Gulf War.<BR/><BR/>The oil and the "rebuilding" contracts were a pleasant perq for those that would assist Israel in destabilizing the region.<BR/>but just as Israel has alway underestimated the resolve of Palestinians, so did they underestimate the resolve of their Sunni kinfolk.<BR/><BR/>The moral of this story? America must have leaders that are strong enough to reject Israeli influence and dramatically reassess our political relationship with Israel.<BR/><BR/>Until we do that, there will be no peace. Peace between the Islamic world and the West cannot be achieved while Israel continues to punish civilians for the acts of their military rivals.captainkonahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04011881473365734763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30648257.post-31461397075624801602008-02-09T11:18:00.000-08:002008-02-09T11:18:00.000-08:00I hear you, John, but I also have to ask myself ho...I hear you, John, but I also have to ask myself how many Iraqis will pay the price in blood for our unwillingness to finish what we so foolishly started.Christopher Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09539170598198122642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30648257.post-22561511642407703512008-02-09T10:54:00.000-08:002008-02-09T10:54:00.000-08:00What would I do with that kind of money?Why, run f...What would I do with that kind of money?<BR/><BR/>Why, run for President of course.<BR/><BR/>;)captainkonahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04011881473365734763noreply@blogger.com