Loading ...Is Iraq Worth It?
I find myself raising some more serious questions about the United States’ involvment in Iraq. I have never doubted the American military’s resolve to get the job done, but I seriously question the Iraqis. Two recent news stories make me question how serious the Iraqis are.
First, their own parliament decides it wants to take a two-month vacation this summer. And in the past couple of weeks, it looks like a majority of the Iraqi parliament is backing a measure ordering American troops to withdraw. It really makes me question why do we even bother with these people? And if they’re so hell bent on killing each other, we may as well let them!
May 21st, 2007 at 10:28 am
why do we bother with these people? O-I-L
May 21st, 2007 at 11:28 am
“I have never doubted the American military’s resolve to get the job done”
What, exactly, is “the job” and how will the military know when it is “done?”
I don’t fault the military on this one, but that’s been a critical component of this clusterf*&k — the fact that there was never a clear definition of the scope of the mission or any real criteria for measuring how close the mission was to completion.
May 21st, 2007 at 9:08 pm
I have to agree with Abdul on this one. In fact, I think that even recruiters would agree that it’s difficult to find Iraq war supporters. Here’s a recent story (with video) that the national media “overlooked”. It shows separate incidents of army recruiters telling potential recruits that they could take the “don’t ask, don’t tell” approach with regards to disclosing that they’re on anti-psychotic medication:
http://www.newschannel5.com/Global/story.asp?S=6481334
May 22nd, 2007 at 3:07 am
“Why bother with these people?”
I suspect many of the Iraqis (and many of our partners around the globe) wished more of us would have asked that question four years ago. The Iraqis didn’t ask for this “mission” us to begin with.
1. We invaded their country on unsupported claims that they were a threat to the world.
2. We toppled their government and created the chaos, civil war and instability previously predicted (and avoided) by George Bush Sr. a decade earlier.
3. We have destabilized the entire middle east arena, and have bolstered our enemies in the region beyond their wildest dreams.
Now many of us have the gall to scapegoat the Iraqis for one of the biggest foreign policy blunders in US history. In the meantime, the president continues the path of voicing belief in, and support of, this catastrophe.
Yep. Those damn Iraqis…
May 22nd, 2007 at 7:04 am
Well what is OUTRAGEOUS is that while our men and women are over in Iraq fighting, Monroe Gray can’t even stand up during the Pledge of Allegiance at Monday nights CCC meeting.
I personally say THANK YOU to the men and women who serve our country and die doing it so I cant continue to enjoy my freedom. Since Gray must not think this country is such a great place you can leave any time - in fact I will personally buy you the one way ticket out of the USA.
May 22nd, 2007 at 8:06 am
The IndyU nutterballs and allies dont criticize Monroe Gray for his votes but they pick on his appearance, his speech or his decorum. In America, if you dont like a politician, vote for his opponent. It’s Cuba, Iran and North Korea that exile the opposition with one-way tickets out.
P.S. Republicans in Gray’s District evidently like him — nobody filed against him. He must be doing a great job for his constituents. Outsiders don’t like the way he behaves but won’t talk about his votes…
May 22nd, 2007 at 8:16 am
Wilson, I didn’t say one thing about the way he dresses or speaks, I specifically talked about his total disrespect for the country that has given him the opportunity to even sit in that council seat.
I’ll be happy to buy you a one way ticket out of this country too since you seem to think it is such a HORRIBLE place to live.
May 22nd, 2007 at 8:23 am
The above anonymous nobody disrespects America bigtime. We have a republican democracy - we dont exile folk we disagree with by sending them out of the country with a one-way ticket. That’s a tactic from Cuba, Iran or North Korea: totalitarian regimes that seem to be the model for some of the craven cowards commenting here namelessly…
If you dont like Monroe Gray’s behavior, run against him yourself or contribute somehow to the campaign of his opponent. That’s the way we do it in the U.S.A. — “exile” is for foreign dictatorships!
May 22nd, 2007 at 9:01 am
He offered to buy you a ticket out of the country you big dummy. He didn’t mention anything about forcing or kicking you out of the USA. Spin, spin, and more spin. I call you Spin Wilson 46201.
May 22nd, 2007 at 9:06 am
Look Wilson, you just don’t get it and I suspect you never will. I love the democracy in the US. I think the party system allows for check and balances for the good of all. What I can’t understand is how someone like yourself will defend people who show total disrespect for the system you claim to love?
Beth “incompetent” White disenfranchised voters during the last election. Monroe Gray can’t show simple respect for a sign of our freedom that so many have died for.
Wrong is wrong unless it is done by a democrat and then it is ok? No, wrong is wrong.
May 22nd, 2007 at 11:41 am
IndyStar.com Metro & State
1:28 PM May 22, 2007
Gray sorry for ‘Pledge’ mistake
Indianapolis City-County Council President Monroe Gray said his failure to stand during the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance at last night’s council meeting was an “honest mistake.”
Gray, a veteran of the U.S. Army 82nd Airborne Division, said he meant no disrespect toward the flag or country and didn’t realize his mistake until someone confronted him about it after the meeting.
“I just got caught up in the moment, preparing for the meeting,” Gray said. “I had sat down thinking we were going on to the next thing on the agenda (after the prayer).”
Commentators on several local blogs immediately ripped Gray for failing to follow a basic expectation of respect for the flag. Gray said some critics attend the meetings just to find a reason to attack him. He said he apologized to the man who confronted him and said it would not happen again.
“I wasn’t even conscious of it,” Gray said. “It was an innocent mistake.”
May 22nd, 2007 at 4:05 pm
And there you have it. Mr. Gray was unconscious, which isnt a surprise, given his consistency in acting so while “leading” the Council . But hey, he has the Wilson Allen endorsement, so all is well. I swear if a Republican in District 8 runs, he/she could win even if their name was Daffy or Daisy Duck, by a landslide!!
Shameful!
May 22nd, 2007 at 4:56 pm
No Republican who lives in District #8 filed to run against popular Councilor Monroe Gray. By law, the GOP County Chair still has the option this summer of appointing a Republican candidate to be on the ballot in that district.
Even with such a sacrificial lamb, Monroe Gray will win easily and overwhelmingly. His constituents like him even though a few whiny anonymous nobodies outside his District would prefer somebody else…
May 22nd, 2007 at 7:29 pm
LMAO!!! Do you actually believe what you just posted, Wilson? Explain why Gray would be “overwhelmingly re-elected”. I know Abdul, I and the rest of the anonymous nobodies would LOVE to hear that leap of faith in logic. Surely you can justify your opinion, no?
No.
Abdul best said it when he doubted Gray had the intellectual gravitas to be leader of the Council. He was right!
May 22nd, 2007 at 7:59 pm
Nobody has filed to run against Monroe Gray this year. At this point, he wins re-election automatically by default. Last election, the GOP also didnt put up anybody against him. He’s a very popular City Councilman in his District. If you think Gray is unfit for office, vote for and/or contribute to the campaign of his non-existent opponent on the ballot!
May 22nd, 2007 at 8:02 pm
While I have enjoyed the witty reparte I would like to try something novel and write about the topic Abdul posted.
The fact is you EARN vacation and the Iraqi council has done nothing to EARN two months.
Abdul, I would like to ask you a question since you raised at the end of your post, but do you every think there will be peace in the middle east? Aren’t the Arabs and Israeli’s the happiest when they are killing eachother? This has been going on for centuries and they grow up with this hatred from the day they are born.
May 24th, 2007 at 8:45 pm
Mr. Smith,
Thank you for the most accurate commentary that I have read concerning this abominal war.
The problem is, we broke it, we own it. Leave w/o stability, then what happens? Replace the status quo, a replacement for Sadam. A benevolent dictator? Should we post a, “Position Opening” on Monster.com?
May 24th, 2007 at 10:05 pm
whosear,
Thank you for the compliment. I agree we have placed ourselves in a near “no win” situation. The most likely, painful path to peace will eventually come in the way of punitive, autocratic leadership, perhaps a Muslim cleric, who will rule with an iron fist. Yes, another Sadam, but hopefully not as ruthless. Democracy has little chance in such a fractious, tortuous state. I think the biggest remaining question is how this will be accomplished with the least amount of civil war bloodshed.