Obama thinks the front line of the war on terror - Page 3 - cougarguard.com — unofficial BYU Cougars / LDS sports, football, basketball forum and message board

BYU71 · 07-21-2008, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

so you are for pre-emptive wars in which their is no direct threat to America?

[God help us that not even Iraq can change people's minds about this]

How could you come to that conclusion from what I said.

landpoke · 07-21-2008, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adam

OK that is a fair definition. But then wouldn't it be easiest to fix the situation by putting in a US-friendly dictator like we have done so many times before in other places?

Sure, I'm all for a little realpolitik. Heck I'd be up for splitting the place up among the various groups if it were feasible from a regional standpoint. Lord knows we owe the Kurds at least that much after dicking them over repeatedly. Unfortunately we tend to back ourselves into a self-righteous, democracy's best corner making what you suggest a bit tricky in the short term. And there's always the problem of whoever we put in place lacking legitimacy in the eyes of his or her people and getting toppled. But for the short term we've got bigger fish to fry so it would probably be best to have a reliable dictator over the chaos that will more than likely occur if we pull out too early.

MikeWaters · 07-21-2008, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by landpoke

Sure, I'm all for a little realpolitik. Heck I'd be up for splitting the place up among the various groups if it were feasible from a regional standpoint. Lord knows we owe the Kurds at least that much after dicking them over repeatedly. Unfortunately we tend to back ourselves into a self-righteous, democracy's best corner making what you suggest a bit tricky in the short term. And there's always the problem of whoever we put in place lacking legitimacy in the eyes of his or her people and getting toppled. But for the short term we've got bigger fish to fry so it would probably be best to have a reliable dictator over the chaos that will more than likely occur if we pull out too early.

A couple thousand Americans died because of the idiocy of our installed dictator--Paul Bremer.

landpoke · 07-21-2008, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cali Coug

Are you assuming that we have to support an invasion of every country that is broken?

I'm not sure what you're asking me here, but I don't believe Iraq was broken in the first place. Was Saddam a bad guy? Sure, but there are any number of bad guys running countries these days and I don't believe it's our job to right those wrongs.

landpoke · 07-21-2008, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

A couple thousand Americans died because of the idiocy of our installed dictator--Paul Bremer.

So what would you do in Iraq?

MikeWaters · 07-21-2008, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by landpoke

So what would you do in Iraq?

I would put a million desperately poor former soldiers on the streets with no opportunity for $, because their employment by govt. $ is banned.

landpoke · 07-21-2008, 04:17 PM

Poof

landpoke · 07-21-2008, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

I would put a million desperately poor former soldiers on the streets with no opportunity for $, because their employment by govt. $ is banned.

Yup, that was a screw up no doubt. Like I said we're almost genetically incapable of realpolitik in this country and our zeal to de-Baath Iraq reminds me of post WW-II Germany and our efforts there. I suspect we have an unofficial reversal of that policy in effect as we speak.

BYU71 · 07-21-2008, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by landpoke

Yup, that was a screw up no doubt. Like I said we're almost genetically incapable of realpolitik in this country and our zeal to de-Baath Iraq reminds me of post WW-II Germany and our efforts there. I suspect we have an unofficial reversal of that policy in effect as we speak.

Based on all the movies I have watched and what I have read, was WWII the only war where there no mistakes made. Was that because it was overseen by the democrats.

landpoke · 07-21-2008, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BYU71

Based on all the movies I have watched and what I have read, was WWII the only war where there no mistakes made. Was that because it was overseen by the democrats.

No, you're right. The war was flawless, the occupation was effed up. That's why you never see any cool movies about the immediate post-war period.

07-21-2008, 04:17 PM	#27
landpoke Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: North Central God's Country Posts: 1,534	Poof __________________ I see a hobo. And when I see the hobo, I think to myself, "This man is poor. His monetary value is low, and my monetary value is high, and it's a shame that he is himself. What can I do?" Last edited by landpoke; 07-21-2008 at 04:21 PM. Reason: Double post