As a republican, I'm in the majority here in Nebraska, but the minority in most big states and Europe. Whee. Ahh, to be the dissenter again!

I think at first I was really supportive of the war. Saddam is not a nice guy at all. He's always been pretty nasty.

I think it's good that we think of the Iraqis and how much they're suffering and we definitely should have gone into Iraq. However, I think we should have gotten the support of the UN first. Because now the Iraqis are just like, "Whatever. You suck. You couldn't even get the UN to help you! Boy, how pathetic!" so it's not really doing anything for our cause.

Saddam definitely needed to be removed, though. I pretty much support Bush through the whole thing.

And it's not like I can see this through the Iraqis point of view to help me form my opinions. The press interviews the Iraqis that say, "Americans! Get out! It's our country! Leave!" but they also show the Iraqis that are like, "Oh, thank God the Americans came. Saddam was just getting outrageous!"

Lets discuss a very pertinent issue, the war- is it Bush's determination to have a war for his own political agenda, or a necessary evil to restore much needed balance in the Middle East?

Bush stated it was to rid Saddam of "Weapons of Mass Destruction" Yet, as of current...none have been found.

Bush stated it was a retaliation against the evils of Sept. 11th...but, when did the focus shift from Bin Laden to Saddam?

Who is Bush really at war with? Is a new political system really being put into place? Have there been any significant accomplishments as of yet?

Also, as an American, I'm really interested to hear what the opinion is surrounding this war from people in other countries.

happy debating ^_^
Kimi

Those are really good questions..!

I think Rachel is right on one point: Saddam was a dictator and he needed to leave the "government". That is true. Also, the US should've waited for the support of the UN to do anything.

However, I don't think war was the best solution to all of this. Specially because the US didn't attack Saddam. They attaqued Iraq. Iraq is a country, and like any other one, it has people. People that whether they support Saddam or not, are innocent.

One thing is people who came to face the armies to stop them, but the bombs they throwed also destroyed the people's houses, the people's lives. Isn't that a bit more important?? I think there were other ways of taking Saddam down, without the need of a war.

Some might say the US shouldn't have come in the way, that it was an internal affair of Iraq. I'm not so sure what to think about that though...

You might "justify" this with the 9-11 events. But looking back in History, when has revenge - because that is what it is, if you use 9-11 to justify it - been of any help?? Don't our parents always tell us not to punch the kid who punched us, but to talk to him - as impossible as it sometimes is?

I don't think Bush should've gone to war. But of course, what could a 15 year old Argentine girl do to stop him?
Yeah, but what about the millions of people all over the world who manifestated against the war, to which the US government paid no mind?
If you don't know about that, you might want to check System Of A Down's video of the song Boom.

I think in general in wars, the damage is bigger than the reward, the latter being always given to the political leaders, who stay sitting on their chairs ordering others to risk their lives.

My opinion anyway...

It may not have been a work of genius, but let's face it. This Iraq mess up looks like a beautiful victory compared to the disaster of Vietnam. So I'd like to thank Bush for not getting involved with Korea like many people wanted him to. At least Iraq could have posed a threat, and Korea is just having a civil war. That was our mistake with Vietnam: interfering with a civil war.

I know I'm broadening the topic a tad bit, but I just wanted to let you know that it could be worse!

I can't say I fully agree with what Bush did with the Iraq issue. I've never liked war, no matter what the course was... True about Saddam being dictatorial and all, but are the Iraq people happier now? It's more a temporary relief from the dictatorship there, and now that he is not in power anymore, I think the U.S. team should just withdraw fully and let the people or other countries in the region handle the other sensitive issues.

They are of different culture and it's difficult to help them build up the country again. Remaining there and trying to salvage things are not part of their duties!


Bush is not getting involved with the issue in Korea? He's too busy probably [/sarcasm] I don't think any country has any right to poke their noses into what another country does. The U.S. (no offence to its citizens) has been trying too hard to get itself involved in every big issue around and I'm quite sick of it. The crime rate and stuff in the U.S. itself is not an impressive rate so why can't they just work on trying to sort that kind of things out before bugging into others' business?


Remember WWII? Not going to say more but I don't like the way they handled that problem with Japan too.


What U.S. did created two different groups of people outside of the U.S. One are the supporters while the other group is of the anti-war ones. Personally, I belong to the second group because of the fact that I don't think another country should tell another what to and what not to do.

My sentiments were further rooted after the speeches Bush gave after 9-11. No offence once more but I think it borders extremely high up on the obnoxious scale.

I dont see how Bush managed to change the war with the Taliban to a war with Iraq. I actually feel sorry for the Iraqi's. My friend, who is from Iraq, told me at the start of this that they would be able to find Saddam without bombing anything. And they did. They surrounded the place and captured him without firing a shot.

That saddens me more than anything.

:eek: That just lowered my opinion of the dude.

Ditto!!

I mean, I thought that would be true, but it's kind of a confirmation...

Good point, PP! It's interesting to think that Bush would like to poke his nose into every other countries affairs...and let them know who hold all the power...but within our own country, it's appalling what is happening with violence in our schools, and medicare for seniors. Did yall know, that they anticipate there will be NO social secruity in 20 years??? ALL the funds that we deposit into social security won't even be there to support us in our senior years becasue of gross mis-management. :no: very sad.... Bush needs to direct some of his attnention, and his 'war' funds right here in America.

I support some aspects of the war, but like most...not all. But I adamantly dislike Bush. I know, I know....I should support my president, but I find that hard to do when most 6th graders are more adept at articulating themselves. I feel he makes the rest of the worl view America as either 1. a joke or 2. arrogant ass holes, bully's....

I totally enjoy everyone else's thoughts here...

Nah, it's a free world (or as Bush [and the other presidents and the citizens] likes to emphasize 'democratic') out there so you can like or dislike anyone you want, for whatever reasons.

That actually includes me :blush: Please don't be offended, Americans. Of course, I don't mean all, but do remember that there are people out there who particular look out for any small trouble an American makes to condemn the rest of the population. I think it's an insane world out there, and Americans have it hard.

It's hard to believe that what you paid for is going into matters you have no say in. Bush should seriously rethink what he is doing...

But that's democracy! ^_^ You shouldn't feel pressured to support him wholeheartedly if you don't believe in what he is doing just because he is the President. So if you don't like what he's doing, then don't support him...it's not a dictatorship, no one is going to haul you off to some jail for disagreeing with the leaders (unless of course you do something illegal...in that case...you're on your own).

I'm not a fan of Bush..if I was an American, I would not have voted for him. I am Canadian (and I believe in our social democracy), and no, generally he does not portray America at its best (IMO and most people I know). I am from a border town, and I have lots of contact with Americans (including some that I know that live in my town, but work over the border). I think as Canadians, one of the reasons that we may not be in love with Bush is because he seems to not know much about us (or most of the world) :huh:

I have no problem with Americans. People are people, wherever they are from. But what I don't like are the stereotypes (on both sides of the border) - they are so tiresome after awhile. Like people coming over the border in JULY with skiis on their car roofs and asking where the SNOW IS...I mean, COME ON! :blink:

Anyway...sorry, this was a little off topic. :blush:

Here's an Australian P.O.V.

No war for me, no Bush for me, no Howard for me. I don't think Bush deserves respect from anyone. I don't think he deserves to be called president, with the election stealing and all that. Hail to the thief etc etc. But that's just me you know. I don't want death. I don't want war. I think Bush rushed into the war, completely ignoring the millions that opposed it.

i've got lots more to say but i really must be off. I'll post some more later if i remember....australian POV's i saw etc.

:love: heart, radio