gerryhatrick

No, the analogy was used only in terms of how both processes would inform the public. why would you be opposed to a debate? Why would that hurt anything?

I don't see any purpose to a debate. I grant you that a debate should be held before troops are sent overseas to this sort of mission. But now that they're there, and being shot at, what purpose would a debate serve? It would serve the same purpose as the recent public questioning of a SCC judge served, to inform the public. The Canadian public is unsure what's going on now, which is probably what was reflected in the recent polls. They don't know what the mission is.

So you don't want to support the troops or what? yeah, that's it. Amazing how quickly Karl Rove style political manouvering started after Harper took office.

What about just a debate Peter? Would that be anti-troop? Man, just over a month in and they're already sounding like Bush/Cheney et al. Don't even THINK about even DISCUSSING the Afghan mission or you're not supporting the troops!! How long before political opponents are accused of supporting terrorists or giving aid & comfort to the enemy I wonder.

Gerry, Your sense of humour on these posts are unbelievable. Care to cite a source? But even if you do, I think Monty said it best. Keep the humour coming...it does wonders for me at work. See geoffrey, THIS is why I posted this again here. Not everyone checks out the Canada/US relations area, and this is pretty important stuff. For you tml12 I care very much to cite the source and may I also say I'm cheered to know I bring you some relief from the daily grind. Here ya'r: http://www.zogby.com/iraqwarpoll.cfm How do you think Monty Burns manages to twist this to mean the soldiers just want to get themselves home to a snug bed rather than all soldiers out of Iraq as it plainly says? He must work for the White House press office!

No, 72% of the troops say the US should completely pull out of Iraq within the next 12 months. I'm just sharing the facts of a Zogby poll, that's all. Do you really think the public will fall for your attempt to lie and distort this poll?

Actually, that's not the poll question. Iraqis want the US out by a large majority. Try to be honest with yourself and the rest of us Geoffrey. It's tiresome constantly correcting all your little twistings. 74% of them want a continued American presence in Iraq? Pretty clear to me. I'm not a Sun subscriber, so I don't have access to the full article, so I'm just going by what Monty posted. Unless he's saying those numbers are about the overthrow? Now I'm chasing my tail I'm so confused. If you are genuinely interested in the facts then you could find an accessable link quite easily. The 74% is the number that says removing Saddam was correct. It has nothing to do with keeping troops there. You are aware that almost half of Iraqis say it's OK for insurgents to attack US troops, right?

I think if you were going to characterize the Kirpan as a dangerous weapon - as you are wont to do - it would make you a small minded bigot.

Are you on glue? Have you checked out Sun Media lately? Or CanWest? The media is overwhelmingly rightwing. Geez, George Orwel would be amazed.

Actually, that's not the poll question. Iraqis want the US out by a large majority. Try to be honest with yourself and the rest of us Geoffrey. It's tiresome constantly correcting all your little twistings.

According to Wikipedia: "A civil war is a war in which the parties within the same country or empire struggle for national control of state power. " You're trying (badly) to claim that the term "civil war" does not apply? That is such a pathetic point to try to make...it's nothing but an attempt at message control, something so common to this Orwelian US administration. Your point about China is even sadder. If they wanted the US to stay in Iraq NOW they would have voted for the war...when? Three years ago? Your lack of logic is stunning to say the least. At least you recognize later why the point is made that China wants the US to stay (resource depletion), but you demolished yourself with the previous argument. You just finnished saying it wasn't a civil war....?

Are you suggesting the troops would stop doing thier jobs in a professional manner just because they believe the policy of remaining in Iraq is a bad one? And a 72% result is far and away outside the realm of error. If anything the bias that would creep into such face-to-face interviews would be the other way....troops don't like to speak against the known policy of the CinC. You're just being stubborn in not accepting this reality. Zogby is a legit pollster and the poll is scientific. It's not so amazing to think - given everything that's going on - that the troops don't realize themselves that civil war is in the works and they can't do any good by staying. They were confined to base during the latest sectarian strife for krissake.

In all actuality, I think they were a godsend in that regard simply because they showed an awful lot of people just how violent and barbaric the Muslim world is. I think you just made my point. They weren't innocuous to me, so you're wrong.

Huh? I never said they were limited to anyone. I said they were a godsend to such folk. Huh? Extremism is dictated by Islam? No, don't think so.

What if staying is causing more problems and violence - as John Murtha points out? The is it not immoral to stay? If the US leaving would remove a major cause of violence, then what is moral about staying?

That's ridiculous. The U.S. has 2300 dead troops. The Iraqi dead are between 30,000 (Bush's estimate) to over 100,000 (everybody else's estimate). So even by Bush's skewed numbers, that's 10 times more violence. Maybe I'm not making myself clear. The majority of attacks in Iraq by enemies of the USA are against US troops. Violence by the coalition is not included in the point.

John Murtha has been saying it, and US troops agree. Time to get out and let Iraqis deal with the civil and sectarian strife before them.

The Supreme Court of Canada unanimously disagrees with you. I'll go with them instead, thanks. And all this talk about "Canadian culture" being threatened does sound conspicuously like the KKK. I'm sure they defended (and still do defend) themselves by claiming to be concerned about "American culture".

What stupid, pointless analogies.

Murtha backs up everything he says. You don't respond to what he says because you CAN'T. All you can do is attack him.

Why is that funny? Do you think people who think the US needs to leave Iraq now don't want the US to be militarily ready?

Oh, you do do you? How do you suppose you can just declare a general refutation of random face to face interviews? Do you believe polling has no basis in science? And the methods are available. Just because the full report costs you money, doesn't mean it's not available "publically". John Murtha spells it out for you. Have you seen that video?

It's sad to see that you'd sell out your culture like that and you are asking that Canada act more like Saudi Arabia....really, sad actually. Second that. Very sad to see such anti-Canadian bigotry passed off as a defense of Canadian culture.

Did your brain break? Sorry.

Yeah, wow, huh? I guess that's freedom of speach for ya. I'm doing my part to alleviate some of the ignorance that infects this board regarding Iraq and the realities there. Much of it seems to be the result of the Bush administrations constant spin on the matter, so when some reality is presented I just consider it my duty to shower you with it. Hope it helps!