Wait....What about Iraq, Again? (No, Not a bashy thread)

**Kyle L** · #1 07-16-2003, 11:30 PM

I was just cruoius about everyone. A recent chat with a certain someone made me realize something important about the war on Iraq. It was kinda dropped out of the whole entire highlight of America's top prorities. I never see it on the news anymore, no one talks about it, etc. Okay, so we want to get over it, but, it is still costing 4 billion a month to keep the peace there.

How long will this continue for? We obviously did our job of chasing out Sidaam, so how long do we have to keep drawing out money for this? I am actually getting a little descusted by this. Instead of that raging for billion a month, couldn't we cut down and spend it on public schools? (Okay, I don't enjoy school, but you know, it could be a whole lot better with some nicer equipment). I am just getting annoyed by how our government manages our money. I'm not trying to start a flame war or anything, I just want to hear your guys' opinions about the war as of now, because it ain't over yet!

Aaron · #2 07-16-2003, 11:36 PM

I share your views. Bush and the military clearly didn't anticipate much resistance once Saddam fell, but it's been three months or so since the regime toppled and there's still no sign that troops are ready to leave. This war is costing us far more then the American people were told initially, and there are MUCH better ways to spend this 4 billion a month. Hopefully we'll consider Iraq as an example when we eventually (whenever this may occur, 5 years, 10 years, 20, 50, etc.) decide to invade another country.

SFGadvKing · #3 07-16-2003, 11:45 PM

actually Bush did anticipate the whole thing to be resolved within 5 years(except if a democrat gets elected next year). thats an aweful long time so dont expect it to end any time soon.

Rebel2000 · #4 07-17-2003, 12:05 AM

Stabilizing Iraq will be a long process and gradually we'll be doing less and less until they can be a nation on their own. It's crazy, people accuse us of pulling out of Afghanistan too early, than claim that we shouldn't be occupying Iraq. It's the classic "we can never win" scenario.

About public schools and spending such as that, that's more of a state issue. It really has nothing to do with national spending. The only tie is the federal government giving money to the states for relief. That is actually part of the $350 billion tax cut, given the shambles of most state's budgets. Once the economies of our nation and states get fully back on their feet, you'll see spending like this increase.

**Kyle L** · #5 07-17-2003, 12:45 AM

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Mike C [/i]
[B]Stabilizing Iraq will be a long process and gradually we'll be doing less and less until they can be a nation on their own. It's crazy, people accuse us of pulling out of Afghanistan too early, than claim that we shouldn't be occupying Iraq. It's the classic "we can never win" scenario.

About public schools and spending such as that, that's more of a state issue. It really has nothing to do with national spending. The only tie is the federal government giving money to the states for relief. That is actually part of the $350 billion tax cut, given the shambles of most state's budgets. Once the economies of our nation and states get fully back on their feet, you'll see spending like this increase. [/B][/QUOTE]

I know it's the states responsibility, but there are just times when the nation could help out. Such as California's HUGE budget defesate, it's gigantic and Davis screwed us all with that. Yes, it is our fault for what we did with our money, but that doesn't mean our leader can help something out as simple as education. I'm not just speaking for California either. If the whole nation had nicer schools, better teachers, then maybe kids might want to learn! Sure it's a state issue, but the government can help out, I mean, it IS our money.

Kraken · #6 07-17-2003, 01:02 AM

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Raptordude [/i]
[B]I mean, it IS our money. [/B][/QUOTE]

No, it's not. It's [b][i]theirs[/b][/i]. They take it from you to pay for weapons programs, so that companies like GE and Westinghouse will continue sending soft money. Didn't you learn anything in Cynical Politics 101?

LoCoSuMo · #7 07-17-2003, 07:57 AM

I think we should just have another country or have the UN set up a government and pull the troops out. They don't need to go through this crap. Anyone but Bush in 2004.

coastercory06 · #8 07-18-2003, 01:21 AM

YEAH, okay.... :rolleyes: Has anyone started TNMAPC yet?

Anyways, maybe it's just because I'm too young, but why the hell did we get involved in other countries business anyways? This goes all the way back to Korea and Vietnam. Yes, some people and countries will get pissed that we have so much money and aren't helping them, but those are the same ones that are complaining about war. I just want to know why the hell we care?

Carowinds 73-03 · #9 07-18-2003, 01:52 AM

I really don't thik we should care anymore. I really don't.

coastercory06 · #10 07-18-2003, 02:21 AM

It's too late to stop caring now. We've already started what we were going to do, we can't just quit now. I just want to know why somebody thought it was bright idea it was to try to settle conflicts that didn't even remotely involve us in the first place, years ago.

Anyways, I want to know who here thinks Saddam is dead. I personally think we've chased him away for a while, but after we're out of Iraq, he'll strike again. Honestly, how many of you think he's dead?

Matt M · #11 07-18-2003, 01:53 PM

Not I. He's definitly alive. Why? Because all of his followers are still going beserk everywhere. The problem with him and Osama is that you have to kill them and wait ten years for it to even start to stop or unintensify itself.

SFGadvKing · #12 07-18-2003, 06:20 PM

coastercory, lets think if we would have gone into afghanistan before the 9-11 attacks. people like you would be saying "we have no buisness in there" and yet we do. if we think that the united states is threatened byh another country, we will do everything we can to stop it. we sent in the weapon inpectors but that didnt help. we gave saddam time to leave before we invaded but that didnt work either. we still felt threatened by saddam so we used force to get him out. who knows, if we didnt have a war, there could have been an attack MUCH worse then 9-11.

Valpengeist · #13 07-18-2003, 06:27 PM

One good thing- we're helping another country.

I don't think any one of us could say that we "need" all of this extra amenities in our lives until we see what pains those people have endured... There's nothing quite like loving and giving, and I think the end result will be worth the "troubles" we're going through now.

Get a grip and be thankful.

coastercory06 · #14 07-19-2003, 01:10 AM

SGAdvking, I don't mind the war. In fact, I support it. I just want to know why we have such a big deal with Saddam and other countries don't. Why are we threatened in the first place? Why did we make him mad? I think we needed to get Saddam and Osama outta there, but why did they attack/threaten/get mad at us in the first place?

I guess I sound mad, but I really am not. I am just curious as to why we are so threatened in the first place. It all started years ago, and we can't go back and change things. We can't quit helping people either. I think what we are doing is for the best, but I wonder why we thought we needed to "police" the world.

In closing, even though I have been complaining, and our country has many faults, I am thankful and proud to be a U.S. citizen.

Rebel2000 · #15 07-22-2003, 11:02 PM

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by coastercory06 [/i]
[B]SGAdvking, I don't mind the war. In fact, I support it. I just want to know why we have such a big deal with Saddam and other countries don't. Why are we threatened in the first place? Why did we make him mad? I think we needed to get Saddam and Osama outta there, but why did they attack/threaten/get mad at us in the first place?

I guess I sound mad, but I really am not. I am just curious as to why we are so threatened in the first place. It all started years ago, and we can't go back and change things. We can't quit helping people either. I think what we are doing is for the best, but I wonder why we thought we needed to "police" the world.

In closing, even though I have been complaining, and our country has many faults, I am thankful and proud to be a U.S. citizen. [/B][/QUOTE] It's our duty as the richest nation in the world to help other countries when needed. Of course, we always have to look out for ourselves, which is what we've done in Iraq. I think the reason why other countries don't want to support us is because they never saw Iraq as a threat to them, so they see no reason to help.

Anyways, things are looking up. Saddam's sons were killed today, for example.

obligatory milestone post remark: 1900TH POST!!!!!!!!! YEA!!!!!!!!!