End of the war in Iraq

[Gravitymaster 0]

I'm not advocating selling our services or starting a war.

Let's try it a different way. Should countries that we protect such as Canada, S. Korea etc. be required to pay for our presence there?

[jclalor 12]

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Now that we are gone, the Kurd's are fucked.

Again.

[jclalor 12]

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I'm not advocating selling our services or starting a war.

Let's try it a different way. Should countries that we protect such as Canada, S. Korea etc. be required to pay for our presence there?

Canada? Who are we protecting them from?

[kelpdiver 2]

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I'm not advocating selling our services or starting a war.

Let's try it a different way. Should countries that we protect such as Canada, S. Korea etc. be required to pay for our presence there?

can't charge the Canadians for taking advantage of simply geography, the same way we do.

[Marinus 0]

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Canada? Who are we protecting them from?

Alaska?

[BoogeyMan 0]

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You really don't see why we should maintain a presence in Iraq? Seriously??

Nope. As in: Fuck no.

The US went there because G. W. Bush was bamboozled into proving himself to his chicken-hawk staffers, showing-up his dad and assuaging his Oedipus complex.

The result was endless blood, as well as the squandering of so much treasure that, yes, the US is still the only modern, industrialized country in the world without universal national health care coverage. In the meantime, the Halliburtons of the country get richer and fatter, while the ranks of the under-employed and uninsured.... well, that speaks for itself.

It's a shame and a disgrace; but just like Saudis who see nothing wrong with beheading women for sorcery, many average Americans are simply oblivious to the shame and disgrace. And many of them post on blogs, repeat FoxNews sound bytes and loyally go to the polls on Election Day and vote for More Of The Same®. And so it goes.

And some have their heads so far up their ass with hatred for Bush that they can't see beyond their left-wing ideology. They continue to repeat the liberal lie that somehow (although they can't explain it or offer any proof) that GWB "knew" there were no WMD's. Even though the previous administration and the one before that and the CIA thought they did. Some even to this day continue to vomit their hatred on blogs on the internet, parrot left-wing talking points and somehow hope and pray that pulling all troops out of Iraq will suddenly be O.K. Some are even dumb enough to not see the strategic advantage of having a presence to develop intel on Iran. They choose to believe the myth that they either aren't developing nuclear weapons or that once they have them, they won't use them.

Lalalalala... bring all the troops home and pretend the threats in the world aren't real anymore.

+1.... Lets not forget that Diane Feinstein, and Nancy Pelosi were, according to their respective web sites, members of Kongressional Intelligence Committees during the lead up to the war, and were in agreement with the majority.
I agree that Bush mismanaged the war. Not until Gen. Jack Keane and Gen. Petraeus set the strategy right, did the conduct of the war turn around.

[shropshire 0]

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The war is not a right vs. left issue, it is a right from wrong issue.

It was a very bad idea, conducted on suspect reasons, by poorly trained individuals(not the military) that will cost our nation trillions of dollars. That is fact. Spin it however you feel...

The you would agree that Iraq should pay us back some of the money we spent?

Why would ANYONE think that Iraq should pay the US ANYTHING - they owe the US NOTHING. They did not ask to be invaded they did not ask for the oh so special 'help' that it received. Anyone who spent a fortune on that basis deserves to be out of pocket SUICC

(.)Y(.)
Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome

[GQ_jumper 4]

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Now that we are gone, the Kurd's are fucked.

Again.

Personally I am going to have to disagree with that statement. I've worked extensively with the Kurds during my deployments and have spent a decent amount of time up in the Kurdish region(Kurdistan), and for the time being they are very secure behind their lines. They have a fairly significant and well trained security force, and policies in place to protect themselves against intruders. That is the most secure region of Iraq, if not the entire middle east. When I used to go there to meet with the Talibanis we would forego hard plates and rifles and stick with concealed soft armor and pistols once we crossed the green line. We also traveled in unarmored civilian vehicles to have as little of an impact on the local populace as possible.

The Kurds also hold claim to the best Chinese restaurant I've ever eaten at in downtown Sulimaniyah!

History does not long entrust the care of freedom to the weak or the timid.
--Dwight D. Eisenhower

[Andy9o8 2]

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The Kurds also hold claim to the best Chinese restaurant I've ever eaten at in downtown Sulimaniyah

I hear the deep-fried tofu at Panda Palace in Bakrajo is even better. Just sayin'.

[masterblaster72 0]

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We would have been better served to have maintained our allegiance to Ho Chi Minh in 1945, rather than stabbing the Viet Minh in the back after they had fought honorably alongside us against the Empire of Japan. The lessons of that series of blunders have been obscured by decades of misinformation and disinformation, and we would have been in much better shape had we learned them in the first place. Now, our ignorance is continuing to bite us in the ass.

Nice one -- as much as many ignorant Americans say otherwise (and that is not meant as disrespect to Vietnam veterans), Ho Chi Minh was actually one of the great leaders in recent times: among other things, he was one of the few leaders since George Washington to send a colonial power packing. Ho Chi Minh offered his hand in friendship to the USA early on, and we arrogantly shoved it back in his face. History shows it was not to our advantage.

For the open-minded, the documentary on his life here.

Be humble, ask questions, listen, learn, follow the golden rule, talk when necessary, and know when to shut the fuck up.

[aphid 0]

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Should countries that we protect such as Canada be required to pay for our presence there?

With all due respect, that statement is just ignorant.

You do not have significant armed forces based here. Canada is not under any imminent hostile military threat (nor has been, even during the Cold War era). The only foreign power that ever invaded Canada was the United States.

How dare you sir to presume that we owe you a damned thing for the simple fluke of geography of being your neighbor?

ETA: It is representations like this by many uninformed and opinionated Americans, many of whom are policy-makers, that moves many Canadians to harbour a pretty deep-seated resentment.

[Coreece 190]

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How dare you sir to presume that we owe you a damned thing for the simple fluke of geography of being your neighbor?

Ya, except all your trash you guys dump in our backyard...

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=ie7&q=canada+sends+garbage+to+us&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-SearchBox&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&rlz=1I7TSHB#sclient=psy-ab&hl=en&rls=com.microsoft:en-us%3AIE-SearchBox&rlz=1I7TSHB&source=hp&q=The+Stop+Canadian+Trash+Act&pbx=1&oq=The+Stop+Canadian+Trash+Act&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&gs_sm=s&gs_upl=10130l10130l0l10959l1l1l0l0l0l0l214l214l2-1l1l0&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.,cf.osb&fp=dc9072f4d1d34f4c&biw=1366&bih=552

Your secrets are the true reflection of who you really are...

[Gravitymaster 0]

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Should countries that we protect such as Canada be required to pay for our presence there?

With all due respect, that statement is just ignorant.

You do not have significant armed forces based here. Canada is not under any imminent hostile military threat (nor has been, even during the Cold War era). The only foreign power that ever invaded Canada was the United States.

How dare you sir to presume that we owe you a damned thing for the simple fluke of geography of being your neighbor?

Bullshit. You Canucks benefit from the mere existence of the U.S Military because it saves you the expense of having a large military of your own. You know that big brother U.S. will save your ass if China or Russia decides to invade and take your oil. Don't sit there acting all high and mighty when you know we will always save your ass.

Time to start paying up. No more free ride.

Oh, with all due respect.

[aphid 0]

An alternate idea might be to suggest you guys stop accepting it at a discount? Just a thought.

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How dare you sir to presume that we owe you a damned thing for the simple fluke of geography of being your neighbor?

Ya, except all your trash you guys dump in our backyard...

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=ie7&q=canada+sends+garbage+to+us&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-SearchBox&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&rlz=1I7TSHB#sclient=psy-ab&hl=en&rls=com.microsoft:en-us%3AIE-SearchBox&rlz=1I7TSHB&source=hp&q=The+Stop+Canadian+Trash+Act&pbx=1&oq=The+Stop+Canadian+Trash+Act&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&gs_sm=s&gs_upl=10130l10130l0l10959l1l1l0l0l0l0l214l214l2-1l1l0&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.,cf.osb&fp=dc9072f4d1d34f4c&biw=1366&bih=552

[aphid 0]

And it's justifications like that that will continue to encourage many American's to think they are the World Police, whereas many foreigners might liken them to World Bullies.

It's just a matter of perspective and it's obvious we'll not ever agree on the temerity of the statements I took umbrage with, so best regards.

John

[Coreece 190]

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How dare you sir to presume that we owe you a damned thing for the simple fluke of geography of being your neighbor?

Ya, except all your trash you guys dump in our backyard...

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=ie7&q=canada+sends+garbage+to+us&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-SearchBox&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&rlz=1I7TSHB#sclient=psy-ab&hl=en&rls=com.microsoft:en-us%3AIE-SearchBox&rlz=1I7TSHB&source=hp&q=The+Stop+Canadian+Trash+Act&pbx=1&oq=The+Stop+Canadian+Trash+Act&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&gs_sm=s&gs_upl=10130l10130l0l10959l1l1l0l0l0l0l214l214l2-1l1l0&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.,cf.osb&fp=dc9072f4d1d34f4c&biw=1366&bih=552

An alternate idea might be to suggest you guys stop accepting it at a discount? Just a thought.

Good Idea, maybe we should propose a "Stop Canadian Trash Act."

How does $500 a truckload sound?

Your secrets are the true reflection of who you really are...

[nanook 1]

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Canada is not under any imminent hostile military threat (nor has been, even during the Cold War era). The only foreign power that ever invaded Canada was the United States.

Well, during the Cold War, Canada was considered the WWI equivalent of Belgium. Strategically, Canada was the country directly between the U.S. and USSR. The North Pole was a very busy area of Cat and Mouse between us and russia. Look at a globe from the top. You would be surrounded completely by two warring superpowers and would have suffered for it. Canada doesn't owe us anything, but you would have been an unreluctant host of many battles and errant missile trajectories. Canada was a great asset to us during the Cold Wars. I wouldn't consider our contributions a product to be greatful for though . . .

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"The trouble with quotes on the internet is that you can never know if they are genuine" - Abraham Lincoln

[grimmie 186]

Blame Canada, Team America, Fuck Yeah!

I just shake my head John

[aphid 0]

I agree. Seems quite sensible actually. Although I confess the image of Homeland Security types having to root through garbage does tickle me a bit.

John

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How dare you sir to presume that we owe you a damned thing for the simple fluke of geography of being your neighbor?

Ya, except all your trash you guys dump in our backyard...

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=ie7&q=canada+sends+garbage+to+us&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-SearchBox&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&rlz=1I7TSHB#sclient=psy-ab&hl=en&rls=com.microsoft:en-us%3AIE-SearchBox&rlz=1I7TSHB&source=hp&q=The+Stop+Canadian+Trash+Act&pbx=1&oq=The+Stop+Canadian+Trash+Act&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&gs_sm=s&gs_upl=10130l10130l0l10959l1l1l0l0l0l0l214l214l2-1l1l0&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.,cf.osb&fp=dc9072f4d1d34f4c&biw=1366&bih=552

An alternate idea might be to suggest you guys stop accepting it at a discount? Just a thought.

Good Idea, maybe we should propose a "Stop Canadian Trash Act."

How does $500 a truckload sound?

[grimmie 186]

Your lack of historical knowledge is overwhelming. Canada fought with us in WWII, Korea, Gulf War one, Kosovo and in Afghanistan currently. What do they really owe us? Does Mexico owe us?
Who is helping save who's ass???

[Coreece 190]

Sorry...I'm not programmed to respond to agreement.

Notifying tech support - ticket #017695

Your secrets are the true reflection of who you really are...

[Andrewwhyte 1]

Except we have a treaty.

[Coreece 190]

Except now we have Homeland Security.

Your secrets are the true reflection of who you really are...

[Gravitymaster 0]

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Your lack of historical knowledge is overwhelming. Canada fought with us in WWII, Korea, Gulf War one, Kosovo and in Afghanistan currently. What do they really owe us? Does Mexico owe us?

Why don't you tell us since you apparently possess this vast wealth of historical knowledge. While you're at it, explain what your comments have to do with the present day discussion that Canada, S.Korea, and many European countries shouldn't pay for the protection the U.S. provides them. Not just our defensive protections but our military presence that allows them to grow their economies without the huge defense budgets.
Who is helping save who's ass???

[Andrewwhyte 1]

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Except now we have Homeland Security.

Actually a very good comeback. The dept of Homeland Security has pretty much denuded both our economies of the economic benefit of the treaty. There was a time when The US was the champion of capitalism in the world. The Republicans were especially keen on it; intellectual giants like Schultz, Baker, Kirkpatrick. Sigh, seems like such a long time ago.