Schneidts, Thank you, and I'm glad you didn't take any offense. I too am against us going there in the first place (primarily due to timing and false pretenses/unrighteous judgement), even though I feel we had legal justification, according to my understanding, of the treaty that ended the first gulf war. I too am against our soldiers needlessly being killed, when people are being needlessly killed though that is generally due to inept leadership/planning. Don't take that as an endorsement of Kerry or his camp of democrats though. If the definition we use for "wining" is a reduction in American casualties and deployment without loseing face. I think that the goal line is in sight. Remember its only about a month away from our handing over power to the new Iraqi government. With that, playing our cards right on this prison torture ordeal, and not having similar ordeals occur, the integration of the Iraqi military into the spotlight, we should be able to save face and "start" taking a back seat approach. Although almost all new governments born out of warfare have birth bangs for some time after they're formed.
Originally posted by jlem
I agree with you on that one. You don't see the news talking about how recruitment for the U.S armed forces is actually up right now and how there is intellegence that just a few months before the invasion last year Saddam moved weapons into Syria to be buried. The majority of our troops are proud of what they are doing and why they are doing it. I feel that unless you are actively inolved with the fight on terror then your comments have no merit. We are all entitled to are opinion while we are sipping on our Starbucks, but until we get first hand experience of the situation over there then all we have unfounded opinions.
All these troops that people want to pull out our not begging for the protesters to fight their fight. If we really want the troops to come home then we need to get on a plane and relieve them.
Jlem, the major/popular news outlets have been talking about both events you've mentioned. I'm sure that Saddam did move resources and (likely) weapons to Syria before the war broke out. In fact he has been moving resources there for years (documented financial movements) so he had the channels. However the evidence that was presented supporting it was as absurd as the evidence Powell originally gave to the UN.... "see that warehouse... its a chem weapon factory!" 
I'm confused... are you saying that we should give up our constitutionalaly backed republic for a militocracy?
Although I'm not one who believes an immediate withdraw of troops, I think you have those people misjudged. They don't want the American troops there now gone... they want NO American troops there!
Originally posted by jlem
Very good point. Terrorist are cowards and will not fight while looking into your eyes. Just look at the so called brave men who HID BEHIND MASKS as they killed an unarmed man in front of the whole world.
I agree with you completely Have you seen any of the comments regarding those thoughts in the middle east press though? Its interesting, however absurd.
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Originally posted by jlem
If it is so obious then how come little old you and me can see it and the really smart people who actually know what is going on can't.
Dilbert comic strips explain it all! LOL, thats something I never thought I'd say.
Jlem, again I apoligize if anything I said sounds harsh, like an attack, or anything directed at you personally. I do respect your opinions, view points, and you as a person.
Oh, btw, do you happen to know about that author/commentator who talked about Vietnam being a like safety/relief valve for the cold war? I'm very interested in reading up on that. Although something like that could have only been seen in hindsight, so it couldn't be an excuse for the administration's, at that time, actions.
