GScholz, you say you try not to rush to judgement, but that is exactly what you are guilty of. The story about American troops shooting the protestors isnt even a few hours old and already you are passing judgement.
You seem to think that the US troops should not have returned fire, but you havent said what exactly you think they should have done. If you were in the Army, in a hostile area, and someone is shooting at you and your fellow troops, what would you do? Hide behind a rock so they dont get the idea you are a mean person?
Do you or anyone else really believe that the US should have immediatly pulled out of Iraq and left them to their own devices? With no government, with widespread looting, no water being pumped to the citizens, no electricity on, no schools operating, desperatly short of hospital facilities and hospital supplies, and every swinging Abdul, Muhammed and Ahmed carrying an automatic weapon, do you really think we should just walk away????
If you think that, then you are the moron.
Its easy to pretend everything will just be okay. Its easy to point to the US and say "bad, bad, bad", its quite another to actually consider all the consequences of actions you might at first thought think correct. Are the demonstrations actually expressing the feelings of all the Iraqi people? Of course you couldn't know that. Have ****e Muslim Clerics or plants moved over from Iran to enflame the masses and push to have the USA leave Iraq so they can set up a ****e Islamic government identical to the one in Iran? Would this bring prosperity and peace for all in Iraq?
Those of you asking why we are there must have the answers. I am anxioux to hear from you scholars of international affairs, and oh btw, please include a brief sig with your degrees and experience in these areas, I am sure they must exceed those of the British and US personel who are actually working to restore services and help establish the opportunity for all the Iraqi people to have some sort of say in their own futures.
Whether you stupid shxts realize it or not, the world, including your little corner of it, is probably much safer today than it was 2 months ago, and much safer than 18 months ago because of the actions of the USA. You seem to want to make the assumption that nothing bad will ever happen if we leave things alone. Surely you must feel that all the leaders of all the countries of the world would not ever do anything, allow anything, or even support anything bad to happen. Surely there are no evil intentions, no hatred, no jealousy, corruption or greed that will cause evil to happen.
GScholz, I do not know if you were in the Army, I do not know if you saw any combat. I may have insulted you, I may have not shown you the credit you may deserve. I can live with that, and I can do so because I honestly do not think you speak as a person who has seen and experienced combat. That is my opinion, right or wrong.
Your rush to judgement, your finding fault with the US military for situations you are not in, and truthfully do not have alot of knowledge about, other than that reported by typically slanted press do not speak of a person who understands the confusion, fear and camraderie of combat.
This will be my last post in this thread, enough bad feelings and anger have resulted both from me reading the things said, and from the things I have said. Nothing has been accomplished.
dago
