Defining when our mission is over there is not essential, allowing our government to do whatever it feels like doing, regardless of accountability or our will is imperative to it's perogotive (whatever perogotive that is).

Thanks to everyone for providing the blank check.

I, my children, and your children really appreciate this expensive shit.

I feel safer already!

I feel safer already!

Euphoria in behalf of the hawk's indulgence, though it came with a terrible price and still counting.

all your arguments fail to make sense when you consider that there has NEVER been a war fought to those specifications.

Why should we start now?

If we used the current democrat ideal, we would have pulled out of WWII in the first three years... if we got into it at all!

If we used the current democrat ideal, we would have pulled out of WWII in the first three years... if we got into it at all!

When are you guys going to get off this non sequitur of comparing Iraq with WWII?--which was absolutely essential; Iraq is not. True, it goes without saying that our troops should always be supported. But as I implied there are different ways to support them. I happen to think either we put in more troops and actively engage in bloody civil war or withdraw from the current infighting and let the Iraqis battle it out.  

or withdraw from the current infighting and let the Iraqis battle it out.

Works for me. Since when can you hand freedom over like a sweet, antiseptic package to be unwrapped? Iraqis must assert themselves.

"Since when can you hand freedom over like a sweet, antiseptic package to be unwrapped? Iraqis must assert themselves"

Exactly!

When are you guys going to get off this non sequitur of comparing Iraq with WWII?--

The comparison is to the european theater only, and it is valid.  We did not have to go there.  Germany and Italy were not a threat to us, period.

So the comparison is valid.

And your premise is flawed.  While you accept it as fact, it is not universally accepted as fact that we did not go in with enough troops.

While you accept it as fact, it is not universally accepted as fact that we did not go in with enough troops.

Tell that to the field generals. BTW Germany declared war on us!
Texaii, Yes, there comes a time when even the candy runs out.

When are you guys going to get off this non sequitur of comparing Iraq with WWII?--which was absolutely essential; Iraq is not.

The comparison is to the european theater only, and it is valid. We did not have to go there. Germany and Italy were not a threat to us, period.

Japan attacked us, therefore they were a direct threat to Pacific holdings acquired in the Spanish-American War (Phillippines, Guam, Hawaii, etc.) They, like Taliban-held Afghanistan, intitiated the conflict and needed to be dealt with.

Germany and Italy, while incapable of directly threatening the United States or its possessions, were allied with Japan in the conflict. Germany and Italy also threatened its neighbors, who were our allies and friends. To declare war on Japan was to bring ourselves into the greater war also. This is paralleled with Iraq, who may not have had the technology but definitely the willingness to destroy America.

Comparison? Sure. Oversimplified? Maybe. Valid? Yes.

The comparison is to the european theater only, and it is valid. We did not have to go there. Germany and Italy were not a threat to us, period.

As much as this pains me to say....on this item, this time you'd be wrong. From Wikipedia.org

On August 23, 1939, just before the war broke out, the USSR and Germany signed the non-aggression Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, which, among other things, divided Eastern Europe into regions of influence. But Germany violated the pact when it invaded the USSR in 1941. Similarly, the US had the (much older) unilateral Monroe Doctrine, which stated that Europe should not interfere in the Americas and in turn the U.S. would not interfere in European affairs. But the U.S. entered the war after first Japan and then Germany declared war on it and launched direct attacks on its navy, shipping and other interests.

This is paralleled with Iraq, who may not have had the technology but definitely the willingness to destroy America.

It's far from "valid" to compare a tinhorn dictator nation with the lethal power of the Axis.

drmiler, this has got to be a first!!

This is paralleled with Iraq, who may not have had the technology but definitely the willingness to destroy America. It's far from "valid" to compare a tinhorn dictator nation with the lethal power of the Axis. drmiler, this has got to be a first!!

It more than likely won't be the last either! But I'd be willing to bet they'll be few and far between. So you better mark this on your calander.

Jan 17, '06 drmiler Oct '06 ??

Jan 17, '06 drmiler Oct '06 ??

HA-HA! "You funny guy, ve kill you last"!

What happened to stevendedalus? "Ve let him go"!

BTW Germany declared war on us!

So did Iraq.