Never forget 9-11

[MikePA]

WW2 was a "simple war" we knew who the enemy was and were they were at, the "clear plan" was to use all resources available, coordinated with our allies, and kill as many of the enemy as we had to until the political leaders of the governments that declared war on us signed a peace agreement.

There are enemy governments involved now, the terrorists are their surrogates. That's clear to me. How about you?

Now I believe we were lied to as there is no evidence to support the original reasons we went to war (If you have some I would like to see it).

Multiple studies have shown we were NOT lied to. The intelligence was wrong. Our allies all believed the same things.

So now what do we do, continue spending 200 billion or more per year and a few thousand lives keeping two Muslim sects that hate each other apart or let them fought it out like we did during our civil war? Eventually they will get tired of killing each other and form a government.

There already is a formed government.

 

[turbo36]

Here's how the news would have looked back then in the liberal press.....

Oh give me a break! It is so easy to throw out the "liberal" word and get a response nowadays, can't you do any better then this?

The ironic thing about your post is that most of the "anti Liberal" ( notice how I avoided the use of conservative) press at the time was calling for the U.S. to stay out of Europe's business and that the persecution of the Jews was a myth. Roosevelt had to find a way around the existing isolations laws to send aid to England under the lend lease act.

 

[SkyPup]

That's right, I forgot that we went into war in WWII on totally false information......provided by the "anti Liberals".......

 

[livincountry]

One advantage Roosevelt had is that he didn't have to combat the "information Age". Now live coverage and the internet insists on a reaction before the powers to be even have time to comtemplate a response.

Just like our knowledge of that headline today contradicts popular opinion back then, history will judge our decisions right or wrong. One thing for sure is that public opinions change a lot more today than ever before and you cannot govern by opinion polls.

 

[hudr]

I remember my Grandfather telling me about seeing "demostrations" from his train on his way to basic training during WWII.
I just wonder how all this will look in my grandchildren's history books. History is, after all, written by the winner.
Easiest way to start an arguement is to mention religion or politics. I do believe this: Our leaders could not be "stupid" and get where they are today(I don't care if you are talking about Bill Clinton, either Bush, or James Garfield). Also, there is a lot of information that we are not privy to when it comes to who is doing what and where.
My opinion: We were right to go into Iraq (****** had WMD, he used them on the Kurds, but did he use them all up or move them?). But now, I don't know what the correct answer is to this situation. I am with the other poster who stated he(or she?) did not envy any policy maker these days. Something about being "something" if you do or you don't.
Hmmm.... sorry to rant. I started this off thinking it would be a one or two sentence post!

 

[turbo36]

There are enemy governments involved now, the terrorists are their surrogates. That's clear to me. How about you?

So why aren't we fighting those governments? Wouldn't that be the sure way to stop terrorism?

Multiple studies have shown we were NOT lied to. The intelligence was wrong. Our allies all believed the same things.

OK so the intelligence was wrong, then why are we still there? Using that logic shouldn't we release ****** and put the Bath Party back in power?

There already is a formed government.

Again why are we still there with no time table to get out?

 

[livincountry]

Again why are we still there with no time table to get out?

In my humble opinion...why no timetable?

if we set a timetable they will hold back, build up and wait until then. Once we leave they will execute all democratic leaders in place and take over. Right now there is no end in sight so they fight and we kill them. Since they see us floundering internally they keep getting recruits to fight in the hope that we will walk away sooner than later.

 

[MikePA]

So why aren't we fighting those governments? Wouldn't that be the sure way to stop terrorism?

I wish we were.

OK so the intelligence was wrong, then why are we still there?

We were also enforcing the 16 UN resolutons that ****** ignored.

Again why are we still there with no time table to get out?

By 'time table' do you mean dates on a calendar or when certain goals are achieved? Dates on a calendar time table simply sends a message to our enemies that all they have to do it wait us out.

 

[turbo36]

I wish we were.

I agree with you on this first point, unfortunately we are a little tight on resources to fight another war right now so until we get out of Iraq there isn't much we can do.

We were also enforcing the 16 UN resolutons that ****** ignored.

All the more reason to get out and let the U.N. take over!

By 'time table' do you mean dates on a calendar or when certain goals are achieved? Dates on a calendar time table simply sends a message to our enemies that all they have to do it wait us out.

Isn't this exactly how the world works? Set a goal, provide resources and hold the leaders responsible for results?
I think we have two choices here, either admit our mistake and get out, or double the troops and resources like many of our Generals are calling for and get on with fighting a war. We can't win the peace by waiting out the terrorist they are much better at waiting then we are.

 

[RobertN]

I wonder what the 'clear plan' to get out of Europe or the 'clear plan' to get out of the Pacific would have looked like in WWII.

I also wonder what the timetables were to finish up after the V-days in Europe and Japan. Once Allied Forces won in Europe and Japan, all was not finished, just like it is not finished in Iraq. There were still insurgents to deal with, governments to stabilize and/or re-establish etc. But how many and for how long?