Let me answer your hypothetical scenario posted above first. Under the facts as you pose them, I’d have no problem with US troops packing their bags and coming home. We’d leave an Iraq free of Saddam and free of WMD under that scenario so there would be no reason to stay if we were not wanted. I doubt, however, that such an election or referendum could be achieved in a few months. More likely is some interim representative government is established within a few months with the objective of organizing and holding such a referendum/election later.
I don’t understand why you wouldn’t smile and be happy for the Iraqis if and when they are smiling and being happy. What if they like General Franks? Think he’s cool? What if a free and fair referendum were held and the majority votes to keep US troops in Iraq and the women and kids plaster Tommy Franks portraits all over the walls of the city? Would YOU honor and respect the feelings of the Iraqi people and button up your criticism of a US presence there?
If they they are running after the GI's then obviously they aren't afraid of them. Don't ya think? Doubt they would run after them if they thought the GI's were gona harm them.
It's amazing that this scene hasn't been more widespread. After being bombed back to the stone age in the last gulf war, crippled by 12 years of sanctions and a young population dying from depleted uranium induced cancer, you would expect more of them to be willing things to come to an end. I'm sure that's why everyone predicted a 'cakewalk'. The Iraqi spirit has shown remarkable resistance.
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*Originally posted by Judge^MentuLL: *
It's amazing that this scene hasn't been more widespread. After being bombed back to the stone age in the last gulf war, crippled by 12 years of sanctions and a young population dying from depleted uranium induced cancer, you would expect more of them to be willing things to come to an end. I'm sure that's why everyone predicted a 'cakewalk'. The Iraqi spirit has shown remarkable resistance.
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Whoever said Iraqi people have no spirit? War has nothing to do spirit.
Some people will close their eyes to reality and pretend this never happened.
Iraqis welcome U.S. troops in Najaf
Wednesday, April 2, 2003 Posted: 6:42 PM EST (2342 GMT)
Najaf residents cheer on U.S. forces during a march Wednesday through the Iraqi city’s streets.
NAJAF, Iraq (CNN) – Iraqis greeted U.S. troops as they marched Wednesday through Najaf, according to CNN’s Ryan Chilcote, who is traveling with the Army’s 101st Airborne Division
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*Originally posted by Imdad Ali: *
And this is the exact news that will be hidden, suppressed, and challenged by the Muslim world that cares not for the Iraqis but only for Saddam's regime. I wonder where our priorities lie. Long term suffering of Iraqi people or short term suffering with a war that will bring them eventual freedom?
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Imdad, do you really believe that US is there to bring freedom and liberation to the oppressed Iraqi people? Do yourself a favor, go to a bookstore and pick a copy of "Iraq:In the eye of the storm" from Dilip Hiro. Dilip is an Indian who had spent most of his life studying the middle east. You will be surprised to know the truth behind this and Gulf war I.
I wonder where the priorities of the Muslims lie when they open up their countries to be used by the US and british forces to drop tons of bombs on one of their bretheren country. Saddam is a problem no doubt, however, he had always asked for the Middle Easteren countries (Arab) to unite, so they can control their own destiny. Alas, all of his appeals have fallen on deaf years.
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Where you there to ask Iraqis why they were waving? The Iraqis are the ones giving the soldiers food and water.
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Are they really... when they do not have running water and food eat themselves; they must be some magicians to produce food and water while waiting for the food supplies to arrive from Umm Qasr.
anyone who thinks that US will win the hearts of Iraqi people is either naive or stupid. There have been too many civilian deaths, people will remember. They might cheer them on now, but they will not forget.
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*Originally posted by myvoice: *
.. we just scared the cr*p out ... their hearts will be won.
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beep .. beep ... althoug the above is not in context ... but still ... it underlines the US strategy ... US can only do one of the two .. and I say, its the first one .. so why rattle? why care about winning the hearts? Nobody's threatining US .. go ahead ... scare the cr*p outa dem ... dont wory about the hearts .. the people on your terorrist lists will do that just fine ...
Iraqi ‘hero’ led Marines to injured POW
Man drew maps of hospital where Lynch was being held
Friday, April 4, 2003 Posted: 1023 GMT ( 6:23 PM HKT)
(CNN) – An Iraqi man who helped U.S. Marines plan the rescue of Army Pfc. Jessica Lynch has been granted refugee status and has been described by the Marines as a “hero.”
I have tried for the most part to respond to other people's posts on this board with unemotional logic and reason. But Nadia, chosen1, you infuriate me. It's so easy to preach self-righteously when you haven't seen your people gassed to death by Saddam Hussein. It's so easy to sit there and question USA's intentions when you haven't lost anyone to Saddam Hussein's butchery. He has killed tens, if not hundreds of thousands of his own citizens. And you prate of 500 civilian deaths, inflicted accidentally?
If USA is not in there for right reasons, then they will occupy country for a long time, maybe try to steal its oil. But under them, no one will be gassed. They will not torture and rape women and children of men who fight them. The whole world will make an outcry if they turn out to be there for wrong reasons, and unlike Saddam Hussein, USA will feel compelled to explain and defend its position. It will be possible to sway them; they will not murder those who speak up in disagreement and protest.
You really think you are defending your brothers and sisters in Iraq? They may have something to say about that when the time comes. They might wonder why you feel authorized to reinterpret their cheers and waves, and what gives you the authority to say the USA should be stopped, too bad if it means Saddam stays, USA has no right to be there, so what if people continue dying under Saddam. Your slogan is "no blood for oil." Rightfully it should be, blood for tyranny, because that is all Saddam's tyranny has meant: blood, blood, and more blood.
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*Originally posted by Deewaanagi: *
I have tried for the most part to respond to other people's posts on this board with unemotional logic and reason.
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i may agree with everything else that you have said... :-) .. with just 20 under ur belt ... hang in there new buddy ...
Please do not pretend that you know where my intentions lie. i assure you, you do not know my childhood, my past, my feelings towards dictators, tyrannical rule, civilians, despots and their regimes, etc. So before we both get off on the wrong foot, let’s start with a clean slate towards the other and NOT assume we know anything about the other until we have both given the other some time to get to ‘understand’ the other slightly. Is this fair in your opinion?
You state in your post that the US will not gas/rape/torture anyone. Are you absolutely certain of this? If i am not mistaken, and i hope someone will correct me if i am wrong, but the executive director of Human Rights Watch, Kenneth Roth, issued a set of questions framed in a letter to the US government, asking them to clarify whether or not they are utilizing torture practices against prisoners they are currently holding, and whether or not any of the information the US govt. currently possesses (regarding intelligence, etc.) was obtained through the use of torture practices. From the moment that this letter was published a few months ago, the US govt. still has yet to issue a reply to Human Rights Watch or any other org (such as Amnesty) that has inquired regarding this issue.
Just like yourself, i too want what is best for the people of Iraq. i tend to believe, however, that external interference in another people’s affairs tends to reek - perhaps - of vague tones of imperialism. It is not up to the American government, or the Pakistani govt., or any other government so wholly unconnected with the affairs of the people of Iraq - to determine their fate and that of the future generations of Iraqis to come. That is up to the people of Iraq.
No international law, tenet or principle justifies regime change - regardless of how odious the dictatorship. Period.
