Afghanistan

[bush_cheney2004]

....I am disappointed with the results in Afghanistan and I am not crowing about saying no to Iraq. I am dissappointed with the complete breakdown and failure of the occupation. The Bush doctrine is twice proven to be a failure.

The "Bush doctrine" is completely unrelated to your expectations. The Americans have achieved several objectives that may or may not be consistent with Canada's public window dressing with the usual "peacekeeping" and "human rights" illusions. This is consistent with past interventions as well.

I shall not hold my breath waiting for the grand formation and "successful" execution of any "doctrine" from Ottawa.

[bush_cheney2004]

Bush Sr, possibly the wisest the decision, able to create a large contingent in the New World Order.

Clinton, low risk, bomb for political points, win elections look tough, keep Iraqis in poverty and the public looking at whats going on in his head not his trousers. Morally bankrupt air assaults, popular at home. Policy loses effectiveness as Iraq wishes to become accepted in the Global community again.

Bush JR. Wreckless. W not up to the job. Bush SRs boy retires to the exclusive restaurant where he dons a smoking jacket and a bib, and maintains he is the war president.

Actually, the "wreckless" Bush had to deal with the unfinished business of the former two...such is the lot of any new American administration. Ottawa sometimes follows....sometimes not....and sometimes it doesn't matter either way.

Like most things...higher risk = higher gains/losses.

[myata]

I have really enjoyed our debates Myata, and all the members of this board. I know deep down that i will not change your opinions, but will continue to try, the Army has changed thier plans for me and i'll be leaving for Afganistan this Sunday, so i won't be able to post for a while....i have secured a new laptop and will try to post from afgan when time permits....once again thank you all, for putting up with an old Army guy....

Good luck and stay safe. We'll continue our discussions when you're back home. Hopefully, with no further missions (of this particular kind) in the plans.

[madmax]

The "Bush doctrine" is completely unrelated to your expectations.

That is correct. I am not a yes man towards incompetence.

[madmax]

Actually, the "wreckless" Bush had to deal with the unfinished business of the former two...such is the lot of any new American administration.

No time for apologists for incompetence. The new administration will have to clean up the disasters of the "War President".

[bush_cheney2004]

Sure. Feel free to explain?

Conceptually, OBL in Afghanistan is just the personification of WMDs in Iraq. Neither have been found. Why does the Osama Bin Hidin' story (in A-stan) have more veracity than WMDs. Must be the videos!

Accordingly, one must come to grips with the reality of OBL not being the main focus at all. No, when it comes to geopolitics and economics, it is rare that one person's capture/death is the key to nirvana.

[normanchateau]

The Americans have achieved several objectives that may or may not be consistent with Canada's public window dressing with the usual "peacekeeping" and "human rights" illusions.

Was one of those objectives replacing a secular dictatorship with an Islamic theocracy? Today the constitution of Iraq, like the constitution of Afghanistan, is one where the Koran takes precedence over all other legislation.

Thanks to the US, here's a portion of the new Iraqi constitution:

Article (2):

1st — Islam is the official religion of the state and is a basic source of legislation:

(a) No law can be passed that contradicts the undisputed rules of Islam.

[capricorn]

i'll be leaving for Afganistan this Sunday, so i won't be able to post for a while....i have secured a new laptop and will try to post from afgan when time permits....once again thank you all, for putting up with an old Army guy....

Stay safe and God speed, Army Guy. And thank you.

[bush_cheney2004]

Was one of those objectives replacing a secular dictatorship with an Islamic theocracy? Today the constitution of Iraq, like the constitution of Afghanistan, is one where the Koran takes precedence over all other legislation.

Yes, replacing the secular dictatorship was as the top of the list. The US works with several "theocracies" every day. Saudi Arabia comes to mind. As does the Vatican. There are others as well...bless them all.

Thanks to the US, here's a portion of the new Iraqi constitution:

Article (2):

1st — Islam is the official religion of the state and is a basic source of legislation:

(a) No law can be passed that contradicts the undisputed rules of Islam.

Hmmmm...sounds like another place I know.....Norway....oh my!

[bush_cheney2004]

That is correct. I am not a yes man towards incompetence.

Even if you were, it would be irrelevant. The office of US president is like the Pope when it comes to such things....infallible by definition. He even gets to launch thermonuclear weapons when the spirit moves him!

[bush_cheney2004]

No time for apologists for incompetence. The new administration will have to clean up the disasters of the "War President".

By George, I think you've got it man.....out with the old...in with the new. No balls...no blue chips.

[Oleg Bach]

By George, I think you've got it man.....out with the old...in with the new. No balls...no blue chips.

So what's this whole thing based on? Is there really a moral cause? AND what's this I hear about the inforced policy of "turning a blind eye" to the thrusday night frolic of debased and debauched solomozation of young boys by the sporting elite set of jerks that we are there to help? Why do we help such evil that generates a mentally ill suicide bomber? AND What's this crap about the parade of corpses coming down the 401 north of Toronto stupidly and named the illusionary "Highway Of Heros" - more like high way of ordinary road kill to me....AND what's this about dead soldiers "believing in the mission"? Is this more liberalistic tripe about "so a little girl can go to school"? - MEANWHILE THEY ARE DEMASCULATING THE UNDER PRIVLEDGED MALE CHILDREN BY DESTROYING THEIR MANHOOD THOUGH SODOMY - WHILE WE TURN A BLIND EYE? We are most certainly liars and hypocrites to say the least.

[Topaz]

Indeed Topaz has the uncanny ability to get moist things ass end backwards.....Harper does have the power to enable conscription like every other PM.

Must be hard to function with the kind of disability that not even heavy duty tin foil will alleviate.

Just for you Dancer. Question, the Canadian military need 7000 NEW people just to maintain its numbers. If they aren't getting them and we have lost 93 soldiers, so far in this war and I believe this isn't going to stop, how will the military function??? We can't even come up with enough soldiers now and have to beg NATO! Sooner or later the answer is to either withdraw or to force people into the military!

[eyeball]

I have really enjoyed our debates Myata, and all the members of this board. I know deep down that i will not change your opinions, but will continue to try, the Army has changed thier plans for me and i'll be leaving for Afganistan this Sunday, so i won't be able to post for a while....i have secured a new laptop and will try to post from afgan when time permits....once again thank you all, for putting up with an old Army guy....

You're right, you haven't changed my mind but you have made me think. Thanks and good luck.

[normanchateau]

The US works with several "theocracies" every day. Saudi Arabia comes to mind. There are others as well...bless them all.

Yes, the US can always count on working in concert with Islamic theocracies. Iran...

But of course there's no possibility that eventually the Islamic nation of Iraq will follow the anti-American Iran model...

After all, the majority of Iraqis are Shiite whereas the majority of Iranians are...Shiite.

[bush_cheney2004]

Yes, the US can always count on working in concert with Islamic theocracies. Iran...

Yep...just like Canada...only with extra mustard.

But of course there's no possibility that eventually the Islamic nation of Iraq will follow the anti-American Iran model...

After all, the majority of Iraqis are Shiite whereas the majority of Iranians are...Shiite.

And the majority of Nazis were Christians, but look at 'em now! The Lord works in mysterious ways.

[normanchateau]

And the majority of Nazis were Christians, but look at 'em now! The Lord works in mysterious ways.

I guess with that insightful revelation, the world can breathe a sigh of relief that Islamic theocracies like Iran are no threat.

[bush_cheney2004]

I guess with that insightful revelation, the world can breathe a sigh of relief that Islamic theocracies like Iran are no threat.

Nope...not after we bomb the crap out of 'em!

[normanchateau]

Nope...not after we bomb the crap out of 'em!

Why not do it now? Iran has already boldly defied all US threats to stop their nuclear development. Why wait until Iran has nuclear weapons?

[bush_cheney2004]

Why not do it now? Iran has already boldly defied all US threats to stop their nuclear development. Why wait until Iran has nuclear weapons?

Because Israel has first dibs.

[normanchateau]

Because Israel has first dibs.

They had first dibs on Hezbollah in Lebanon.

[bush_cheney2004]

They had first dibs on Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Gosh, I sure hope so.

[normanchateau]

Gosh, I sure hope so.

I guess bombing the crap out of them didn't work.

[bush_cheney2004]

I guess bombing the crap out of them didn't work.

Sure it did.....the Israelis got a much needed tuneup during the Second Lebanon War.

[jdobbin]

Marine general says more troops needed on the ground.

http://www.newsweek.com/id/154894

But the Marines' hands are tied in sending more troops unless there is a reduction of the 24,000 Marines currently deployed in Iraq. The service is not big enough to handle a protracted war on two fronts, Conway has said. The time is ripe for a drawdown in Iraq's Al Anbar Province, he has long argued, pointing to security improvements logged with each passing week. For the better part of the past year, Conway has attempted to sway Pentagon war planners to shift the focus for Marines from Iraq to the mountains of Afghanistan, where they are better suited to fight as an expeditionary force.

After months of saying a timetable in Iraq was tantamount to surrender, Bush is finally talking about a timetable so that troops can be moved to Afghanistan.

I'm still not convinced that Iraq is ready to drop the partitions or has a government ready or willing to address its problems, however, it is now and will be their problems to solve. The U.S. can't stay forever and the Iraqi government is asking them to leave. It is time to go.

I have no doubt that ever greater troops can put a cap on the violence in Afghanistan...for a time. Not convinced that it will address the problem of neighboring Pakistan not am I convinced the Afghan government can or will show leadership over its territory.