So, did we WIN the war in Iraq? Can we use the word victory?

[Philosoraptor]

So is the war over now? Are we even for nine eleven now? I have not heard anyone use the word 'victory' so far. Did we accomplish what we went there for? Is Iraq a democracy now like bush promised? Is the mission finally accomplished?

I'm so confused.

[liberal N proud]

1. Not according to this crusader...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8976013


Onward Christan Soldiers...

[Bigmack]

2. In the sense that King Pyrrhus...

"won" against the Romans.

$3 Trillion down the shitter, a shattered military, dead Iraqis, dead Americans, US image at all-time low, Iraq on the verge of a bloody civil war...

Yup... we "won".

We can't afford any more of these victories.

[nc4bo]

3. Didn't Halliburton just receive a letter regarding Iraqi oil production?

VICTORY.

[G_j]

8. yep

[Taverner]

4. Victoriness!

Like victory, without all the same expectations

[mmonk]

5. Were the oil reserves sold off to non Iraqi sources?

[Selatius]

15. Actually, that was done pretty early, under the Coalition Provisional Authority government.

They handed out the contracts for Iraq's National Oil Company to several private companies to take over several different fields across Iraq pretty soon after all of Iraq's cities became occupied. It was only after this was done that power was then handed back over to the Iraqi Parliament, whose members were pre-selected by the CPA to run in elections that the CPA monitored. Of course, technically, selling off the oil fields may be illegal under international laws regarding the responsibilities of occupying powers, but nobody is in a position to charge the US government of wrongdoing.

It's sort of like housesitting for somebody else. You can eat some of the food out of the fridge, but you have no right to sell off the TV and the furniture and keep the cash for yourself.

[mmonk]

16. Then it was a victory. I remember the Bremer orders.

Oil to Muliti-national oil interests-check!

[earthside]

6. There is no way of "winning" ...

... an unjust, immoral and illegal war.

And, the U.S. is not 'out' of Iraq now -- 50,000 troops remain.

And, despite the agreements Bush made with the Iraqi government, I won't believe it till I see that all the rest of the troops will be out in December next year.

[customerserviceguy]

7. Sure just like we did

in 1973, when the Paris Peace Accords were signed...

[The Straight Story]

9. We 'won' years ago when we defeated their armies. "Winning" has a new definition in this age

and I am not sure what it is.

[Motown_Johnny]

10. you can't win a war that was waged based on falsehoods

there were no WMD to find

there was no threat to U.S. security


it was a failure from the outset

[Gold Metal Flake]

11. For an economy based on perpetual war, I guess it's a victory.

Just one more war after another until all the wealth is wrung out of the people. The establish a totalitarian government and sell off all of the natural resources.

[rug]

12. Condisering it hasn't been a war, you can't very well claim a victory.

[Philosoraptor]

13. and the occupation goes on forever

[unhappycamper]

14. unhappycamper declares VICTORY!

Can we bring them home now? Please?