Some recent history lessons would reveal that geographics and terrain in these areas were the single greatest obstacles for the US, and for both the US and the Soviet Union in Afghanistan.

In Iraq we had to worry about the innoocents. In Viet Nam it was the jungle. In Afghanistan the caves and mountains.
I know some libs would like to find fault with military force for whatever assinine reasons they can come up with, but no one ever said it was the cure all in Iraq or Afghanistan. It was and is the front line to provide stability so that political stability can begin.
Whether or not the Iraqis can get it together is to be seen.
The surge is working, period. The facts display this.
But I do agree that the Iraqi Parliament is a lame duck. But we cant just leave them. Nor do we ever have any intention of doing so. That is the pill that the public cant swallow. Which why Bush junior had use to another valid case for going in.
After 911 we had to set up camp somewhere in Ithe middle east. And with all of Saddams violations it was the perfect excuse.
Hearts and minds ! My ass !
We went in because we needed to have a watch tower. We are presently building an embassy in Iraq larger than any college campus in the United States. That in itself should explain everything.
The action against Saddam after the Gulf war had to appear to give him the benefit of the doubt and apply a little diplomacy so that when he does screw up really bad we had a just reason for removing him. The world was a different animal in the 80s and 90s before 911. Kuwaut was a diplomatic benfit of the doubt and the Jihadist threat was not what it was today. Gassing the Kurds, shooting at our jets hundreds and hundreds of times, and paying suicide bombers to go to Afghanistan was the three last straws.
But like I said, Clintons a wussy. I will give Bill credit in certain areas, but not defense. Bush is picking up after him and in my opinion his father also and as far back as Carters administration. We should of bitch slapped these gapingholes a long time ago.

Thank you Charly, sometimes we need a break from the kids by letting someone else deal with them. Patience is not one of my best qualities.

You call religion a scourge, but God gives men a choice between good and evil. You can’t complain when terrible things happen after man chooses evil over and over again. You show ignorance in your very choice of words. Scourge means to whip. Actually religion should be a scourge to keep people from choosing evil for fear of hellfire (or losing one’s place at G-d’s side.)

You show ignorance in your very choice of words. Scourge means a (n.)whip or to (v.)whip. Actually religion should be a scourge to keep people from choosing evil for fear of hellfire (or losing one’s place at G-d’s side.) You call religion a scourge, but God gives men a choice between good and evil. You can’t complain when terrible things happen after man chooses evil over and over again.

Your bridge analogy falls of its own weight. All of creation is here and visible and includes and will outlast the bridge you stare at so myopically. Too bad you can’t read the signature.

I admit to being troubled by organized religion. It’s too easy for me to believe that some men would rather live by the sweat of someone else’s brow rather than their own. The Goracle is no exception. I have no idea how rich he’s getting by selling carbon credits, but I have faith he’s not doing his schtick for free, any more than Oral Roberts did.

Hanukkah celebrates the rededication of the second temple after being desecrated (but not destroyed) by the Seleucids, who were as much Syrian as they were Greek in an empire that stretched as far east as modern-day Afghanistan. Many modern scholars now believe that the issue that led to the desecration of the temple, the oppression of Jews, and, ultimately, the revolt was a little more complicated than the Seleucids suddenly deciding to force assimilation. The Jews had been living in substantial autonomy for many years under the Seleucid Empire, which was a common practice throughout the Empire. The actions that led to the revolt were prompted by the Seleucids taking sides in an escalating power struggle among the Jews – between those Jews that wanted assimilation into Seleucid society and those Jews that did not.

The true lesson of Hanukkah is not that force works, but exactly the opposite. The Seleucids were far bigger and more powerful than the Jews in almost every respect, but the revolt prevailed because the two factions within Judaism united against a more direct and common enemy, namely the Seleucids. Even the pro-assimilation Jewish faction that supposedly benefitted from the Seleucids taking their side found their Jewish identity to outweigh political expediency.

The parallels to the modern situation can be found in the United States taking sides in the civil war in Iraq between Sunnis and Shiites, not to mention the Kurds. It’s the reason a small country like Afghanistan caused so much trouble for the Soviet Union, why a small country like Vietnam caused so much trouble for the French and then the United States, and why there is so much trouble in Iraq today. The US can exert massive military force and create some successes here and there, but cannot translate military success into political stability.

Shalom.

Its not for you or your buddies to decide, and yes , we are suffering. I have to come up with an extra 120.00 a month to feed my gang. And its coming out of my sons college funds.

“Why not ” seems to be the reasoning behind most liberal thinking. This attitide failed miserably in the 60s. But you guys never learn.
Maybe we should plan in case we collide with the moon? Why not ?
That would be entirely too many moonbats.

And I would like you to give me an example where I have imposed my beliefs(spiritual) on you.

JMJ wrote;
“Yeah right. “When you believe in the things that you don’t understand then you suffer.

I have done extensive research on organized religion. And it is responsable for alot of terrible things. But the individual like myself who is not a member of any religious organization is of no consequence to the world.
see here > http://micky2.wordpress.com/2007/07/16/my-journy-away-from-religion-and-towards-god/#respond

So telling me I dont understand by quoting Stevie Wonder is of little relevance.

PC is eating away at our free speech.

http://paralleldivergence.com/2006/10/21/will-pc-destroy-the-world/
OK, maybe it’s not a disaster if we can’t tell “Irish” jokes anymore. But when they extend the exact same concept and restrictions to Childcare workers, they are directly targeting the future of society. According to new rules, you can’t say “no” to pre-school children. Yes, that’s right. Childcare workers have been instructed not to use the words “no” and “don’t” because it is feared they will stunt a child’s development and the terms “good boy” and “good girl” are also frowned on as they are considered sexist. The word used to teach children the basic difference between right and wrong is being banned - at the earliest stage of learning.

I arouse my own imagination with my God givin free will and curiosities.

JMJ wrote;
Again, I understand more than you know.’

You think so ? Have read my mind once again Mr. McJones ?