Here Goes Nothing ...

JoeRedskin · 03-13-2007, 08:38 AM

Given the recent discussions on religion, global warming, etc. that seemed to be carried out in a civil manner recently, I thought I try one more touchy topic in hopes of getting some actual analysis and insight. I bring it up here mainly b/c I have a respect for the thoughtfulness of most of the regular posters here.

My question is: How do we get out of Iraq (and to a lesser extent Afghanistan). So much American blood and treasure is being poured into the war. I simply do not see an end in sight nor do I see an exit strategy that
does not leave the situation more dangerous to us than when we began the war.

I would like to set a couple of parameters to the discussion, if possible.

- This is not meant to be a thread on "We should never have gotten involved in the first place". Regardless of the correctness of the original decision, we are there now and need to solve the current problem which is, IMO, getting us out of Iraq and leaving it in a way that allows it to survive as a stable democracy.

- This is not meant to be a "Bush is an idiot" thread. Regardless of your support for or opposition to Bush or general regard (or lack thereof) for his intelligence, the question that needs be solved is, again, how do we get out of Iraq.

Just so we are clear. I originally supported the war believing it to be an appropriate pre-emptive strike on a destabilizing force (Saddam) in an important region of the world (not just to America). I believed that a pre-emptive strike was legitimate in much the same way a pre-emptive strike on Hitler in 1938 (when he broke the Versaille treaty and marched an army into the Rhineland) would likely have overthrown the Nazis and pre-empted WWII. I still believe that there was sufficient justification for the strike though am less convinced, in hindsight, as to the need for it.

At this point, however, and as I stated above, the real question in my mind is how we get out w/out leaving a destabalized Iraq that will descend into civil war and, IMO, result in an autocratic regime that harbors considerable ill-will to the US and that will encourage terrorist activities.

Again, it is my hope that we can have real, civil discussion on this matter. I am truly perplexed by the quagmire we have descended into.

03-13-2007, 08:38 AM	#1
JoeRedskin Contains football related knowledge Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Second Star On The Right Age: 62 Posts: 10,401	Here Goes Nothing ... Given the recent discussions on religion, global warming, etc. that seemed to be carried out in a civil manner recently, I thought I try one more touchy topic in hopes of getting some actual analysis and insight. I bring it up here mainly b/c I have a respect for the thoughtfulness of most of the regular posters here. My question is: How do we get out of Iraq (and to a lesser extent Afghanistan). So much American blood and treasure is being poured into the war. I simply do not see an end in sight nor do I see an exit strategy that does not leave the situation more dangerous to us than when we began the war. I would like to set a couple of parameters to the discussion, if possible. - This is not meant to be a thread on "We should never have gotten involved in the first place". Regardless of the correctness of the original decision, we are there now and need to solve the current problem which is, IMO, getting us out of Iraq and leaving it in a way that allows it to survive as a stable democracy. - This is not meant to be a "Bush is an idiot" thread. Regardless of your support for or opposition to Bush or general regard (or lack thereof) for his intelligence, the question that needs be solved is, again, how do we get out of Iraq. Just so we are clear. I originally supported the war believing it to be an appropriate pre-emptive strike on a destabilizing force (Saddam) in an important region of the world (not just to America). I believed that a pre-emptive strike was legitimate in much the same way a pre-emptive strike on Hitler in 1938 (when he broke the Versaille treaty and marched an army into the Rhineland) would likely have overthrown the Nazis and pre-empted WWII. I still believe that there was sufficient justification for the strike though am less convinced, in hindsight, as to the need for it. At this point, however, and as I stated above, the real question in my mind is how we get out w/out leaving a destabalized Iraq that will descend into civil war and, IMO, result in an autocratic regime that harbors considerable ill-will to the US and that will encourage terrorist activities. Again, it is my hope that we can have real, civil discussion on this matter. I am truly perplexed by the quagmire we have descended into. __________________ Strap it up, hold onto the ball, and let’s go.

Here Goes Nothing ...

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