No, I don't have an active imagination, but I am wrong to state that this was a UN mission. Thanks for the correction. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/1175950.stm Let me restate that we flew the missions to protect the Kurds and oppressed Muslims in the South, and Iraq fired upon our planes daily.
Nah, we will never forfeit the right to make the rules. This is just in case a freely elected, democratic Iraqi government becomes anti-USA. Anything less is just plain wimpy.
Worries if a freely elected democratic Iraq becomes unfriendly to the USA, that is their right. We will still be better off without Saddam. DD
It can not be their right, anymore than changing to a theocracy after the US leaves. Remember might makes right. We might as well add that to their constitution as well.
I remember that Time magazine had a cover with a picture of dubya praying with a very large headline that stated "BUSH AND GOD." This along with his axis of evil and god is on our side speeches kind of gave me a slight impression that our dear leader was using his own religious beliefs as the basis for making major decisions that effect our country and others. I don't believe in theocracies, but until we can solve our own separation of church and state hyprocrisies in this country I'm not sure that we can really dictate what part religion plays in the government of Iraq. I think it's possible to give them a democratic government mixed in with a bit of Islam in order to keep them happy. Education defeats religion. Make sure Iraq has a robust public schooling system and the issue will take care of itself. It will take time, but any intelligent person wouldn't expect an entire culture to change overnight. It says a lot about Rumsfield that he thinks differently.
Heretic, really? GWB is a human being with religious freedom. He has an elected job in the Federal Government. He doesn't stop being GWB because he is the President. He yearns to be the best GWB he can be. "Education defeats religion." Really? I've seen it go both ways and more often than not winds back up in the comforting folds of religion. Where do you get the idea that Rumsfeld is expecting overnight conversion to anything. We are setting the pace and the lead. That is all.
I am using sarcasm to critique DD's opinion of Iraq's post war government. BTW, 2 out of 3 Iraqis are Shiite Muslims, who lean toward the conservative, fundamentalist end of the Islam spectrum. It is not unreasonable to expect a Iraq government controlled by the Shiites to be anti-USA. This would not be the full step forward that the neocons want Iraq to take. The Iraqi people will be better off, but the neocons will still keep Iraq along with Iran in the group of ME countries that need fixin'.
1. Bush can't control what Time magazine prints or puts on its cover 2. Bush is entitled to a relationship with God...at least God thinks so. 3. If you're saying the US can't speak on this because we're not a nation that separates church from state I must ask where you're living. 4. Education defeats religion? tell that to St. Augustine, Aquinas, or C.S. Lewis. ridiculous statement. 5. One doesn't have to be religious or spiritual to call Hussein evil 6. I don't recall a "God is on our side" speech. I do remember him asking us for prayers for our troops and prayers for the Iraqi people.
As long as Iraq is an open and free democracy, then they will be peaceful and not an enemy. The Shiites may not love us, but that's ok. We are trying to introduce some stability in the region. When did a democracy last attack us?
Or when did the US last overthrow an anti-USA democracy? The US does not have to wait to be attacked before taking matters into their hands.
To the people stating that it is Iraq's right to become a theocracy... Do you think it is fair to the minority groups in Iraq if it become a government dominated by the majority religious sect? Do you think that creates stability for Iraq further down the road when millions are alienated from government if Iraq is theocracy? Do you think it is good to allow radical Islam to continue to be empowered, even if that is what a majority of the people choose as their government? Do you think it would be better if the U.S. ensured that minority rights would be protected under a new government rather than to listen to how Iraqis want us out now and want to install their own majority dominated theocracy? If we let them create a theocracy that does not allow dissent from the minority then we are hardly better off than we were with Saddam.
They don't want to talk about Iraq or radical Islam. They want to talk about what the US is doing wrong.
Mr. Clutch , BINGO !!!! They fail to look at Germany, Japan, and Italy, and how we installed working democracies after WW2. It will work in the middle east too. I agree with Heretic in that education roots out the radical muslim teachings, however, there has to be a seperation of Church and state. Religion can not be taught in schools over there...leave that at home. This will not be popular with the mullahs, but screw em. DD
What no school prayer for Iraqi children!!! That down right un-American. BTW, prayers in Islam are not optional like in Christianity
Worries, I know...they need to be done at home, not in public schools. Time to change the middle east boys.....get your waders on it's go time. DD
Of course at the start of our democracy certain people weren't were only considered a fraction of a human. What about us proves our way is best? The fact that we beat Iraq in a war proves that we know what's best for governing? When we opposed democratic reform in Iran, and kept supporting the Shah, did that prove we knew what was best? When we were giving billion dollar loans to Saddam even after he gassed his own people, did that prove that we knew what was best for the Iraqis? How much understanding do you think Rumsfeld has of the Iraqis and the cultures that exist there? Do you think he knows how the cultures of the various groups works there so well, that he knows more about what's right, than they do?
