"US Occupation", Does anyone really think things can

[G_j]

be 'fixed' in Iraq with Rumsfeld in charge? To say we need to stay there means that he will continue to call the shots. I just don't believe anything good and decent is possible with these nazi like people in charge.
Thats why I say the US must end it's occupation of Iraq.

US out, UN in.

[Robin Hood]

1. It won't matter who is in charge,

Bush should have never done this in the first place. And the whole damn world told him so. Are we gonna bash the world again when they refuse to put their people to death for our stupidity? They don't owe us a thing.

[G_j]

2. I agree but

what else is there to do for the SAKE OF THE PEOPLE of Iraq, but BEG the world to help them?

The Rumsfeld crew are not capable of helping anybody, IMO.

[Robin Hood]

3. The US needs to leave.

And let the Iraqi people work it out themselves, and keep pumping money their way, in exchange for the damage and death caused.

[G_j]

4. I'll buy that

they don't want us, we haven't provided the security to protect them and things are deteriorating by the minute.

I've heard a suggestion to fire Rumsfeld and his buddies and put someone like Jimmy Carter in charge.
But changing the Iraqi perception of the US would not be easy (or probably not even possible) at this point.

[Lexingtonian]

5. Of course not

Just look at the crew in the White House now- what makes anyone think that these people can build up anything other than bodies and debt and entries on rap sheets? They've never gotten anything to run in their lives unless it involved food poisoning.

And if the first tier people are this bad, we're also talking Republicans here- they have no second tier or third tier of people with positive talents at this point.

I'm not sure getting the UN in there will magically solve the essential political problems. What ought to be done first is to set up a governing authority. That means to allow Shia, Sunni, and Kurdish power to form mostly as the various strongmen (who will be running the show anyway) want it to, tempered with a serious democratic component that will emerge as instrument of power when the populations turn against the strongmen. These three pseudo-autonomous groups will have to be cajoled into a confederation based on the threat that any group that attempts to secede will get cut out of oil revenues and international aid and face military force from the other others. That last provision ought to be guaranteed by the UN and the US. Then the UN takes over.

Not that with these bunglers and prevaricators, e.g. Bremer, we'll actually get any of that, even if we were to want it. They learn new stuff only when a strong piece of lumber at high velocity impacts them in the head multiple times.

[G_j]

7. a thoughtful

take on the situation. The light at end of the tunnel is indeed very dim. We have created an impossible situation and the result is suffering and violence that the folks at the wheel have no clue how to stem, and no desire to listen to anyone who might. I classify this war (invasion) as a clear crime against humanity.

They were focused on pumping up their chests and "kicking butt" and too arrogant to think about the consequences, the human toll (to our soldiers as well as the Iraqis). As if kicking butt was the end in itself that would placate the public. All that mattered was to secure the oil interests and gain strategic position in the region, and then to no doubt plan on invading another country. All under the guise of the "war on terror".

If Saddam is the devil himself it can't justify bringing kaos and untold increased suffering upon a people.

Like so many people I know, I poured out every bit of passion and energy I had in trying to prevent this. I lost endless hours of sleep writing letters to our so-called leaders in Congress, to the media and to the countries of the UN. I spent hours travelling in chartered buses to demonstrate for peace. I stood on the local street corner with signs pleading for reason and peace. I visted my Senator's office, made countless phone calls. We withstood accusations of treason, some of us were assaulted and arrested by our local police.

The entire world collectively cried out for the US to listen to reason, to persue peace!

I get ZERO satifaction in saying, we "told you so". I have never been more disgusted in my entire 51 years of being an American.

After * loses the election, I will still cry out for his impeachment as a lame duck. After that I will join with the rest of the world to have these people held accountable for war crimes.




Shame

[leftchick]

8. very sensible approach Lex...

So naturally dumbass and company won't even consider it. :(

[Alex88]

6. Iraq has ever harmed the US

The thing is that the Iraqi's have never done anything to the people of the United States. Not even, something like killing or trying to harm American tourists somewhere in the world.

The US however has screwed them over since 1991 and now it's doing it big time.