Gooneybird wrote:

John Ahlstrom wrote:
Michael Wise wrote:

How about:
The constant loss of U.S. soldiers in Iraq -- after the war is
"won" -- is a tragedy. However, if this is what it takes to
bring a free and democratic government to Iraq, the sacrifice
is justified.

Just out of curiosity, which of the following nations, all of whom have a
desperate need for a free and democratic government, is on our list of
sacrifices to be made?

Saudi Arabia
Iran
Syria
Lebanon
Pakistan
North Korea
China
Cuba
Egypt
Libya
plus half or more of the African continent

Is it really our national function in life to sacrifice American lives in order
to dish up free and democratic governments all over the world, sometimes to
people who don't even want it or wouldn't know what to do with it if they had
it?

It could be a very positive national interest item to have one of the most
important of Arab Muslim nations a democracy. It could dramatically effect
the entire region for the better as far as our national interests go.

If that's what Iraq was really about, we'd be wise to invest our money in
mortuary stocks because there's going to be an endless and ongoing supply of
business for them from our sacrificial lambs.

Possibly, but I don't think necessarily so. Jury is still out as to whether
resistance to anything American (let alone "Western") is stronger than the
benefits of democratic and free market government that takes some patience to
implement in the region.

I still think the whole exercise was worth a try.


SMH