usersatch
Posts: 400
Joined: 6/1/2005 Status: offline
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Exactly where in this thread is the "pro-Bush" camp being shut out? I think the majority of people who posted to this thread happen to be VERY "pro military" and patriotic. However, some, maybe a lot, also agree that the reasons for the war in the Middle East are suspect at best. I also think most people on this board are open-minded to discussion/debate with people who do not share their exact views (there are a few exceptions, like with everything). In the case of the Iraq War, my personal feelings are that we, as a country, were whitewashed about the facts. We have no one to blame but ourselves for that. I remember watching Colin Powell in front of the UN arguing his case. I also remeber thinking that Powell was a man of virtue and honor and wouldnt bend or stretch the truth to further an agenda. With that in my mind, I guess I was "pro-war". We all bought it hook, line, and sinker. Of course, everything he said turned out to be a bald-faced lie and Powell has retired with a lot less respect than he started with. No WMD, no mobile labs, no chem weapons ready to slime American troops, no concrete link to al Queda. No where in that speech was human rights mentioned as a motive to invade. It was only after it began looking like all those premises were wrong that the Administration started spinning the human rights issues. Alongside this, back at home, you were literally labelled a "unpatriotic" if you happened to disagree with the motives for the war. I was accused of it several times. It was only until I told them of my military experiences that they were pretty speechless. The press was censored to some degree as well. One Presidential candidate was labelled un-American and a flip-flopper because he saw the light about the real motives of the war. Hello, my name is Usersatch, and I am a flip-flopper as well...I bought the whole song and dance about the war, but as the truth became apparent, I changed my mind. Yes, the Iraqis enjoy some sort of freedom because of our military, but the MAIN point of or military is to ensure OUR freedoms. This war has restricted OUR freedoms. I often have to remind some of my active duty friends of that when they say "I wish those damn hollywood people would just shut the F up". My response is "You and I served to guarantee their right to say what they want." The great thing about a democracy is that we have the freedom to disagree with the "shouting heads" on the Fox news channel. While we squander lives, resources, and money in Iraq, the man who was responsible for the deaths of 3,000 Americans is still running free. AND North Korea and Iran (who I believe are our true enemies) grow stronger and dont seem too worried about the US's ability to wage war against them. I think I would have a better "warm and fuzzy" about Iraq if the entire post-war thing was managed better. But the thing that probably angers me the most about the current administration is their arrogance that they feel no accountability to explain the miserable failures--why did our boys have to buy body armor? why are we still dicking around with un-armored vehicles? why did the NG troops have to use captured weapons? why doesnt the oil flow from Iraq (we were promised that oil profits would help rebuild and finance)? why cant Haliburton account for billions of dollars (when I get in trouble for not reporting a few hundred dollars on my taxes)? why are resources being diverted from our troops to the contractors? why are the seceret police of Iraq back on the streets torturing again (I thought we were there to stop that sort of thing)? When asked about these issues, the administration doesnt feel compelled in the slightest to claim responsiblity. So you must pardon my not-so-pro-Bush stance. I just dont like being lied to, seeing our boys get killed and maimed for non-existent WMDs, and knowing that bin Laden runs free. You are free to voice your opinions and I promise I wont squelch them out. I may not agree with them (or I might) but you will always have an open ear from me.
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