sure we can kick iraq's ass, but what about a big country?

[mopaul]

like china, or even little n. korea, they have a mad dictator, AND nukes, or russia theoretically? or half of the muslim world all at once? kicking iraq's ass is made out to be some great and glorious military victory, but look at it objectively, it doesn't pass the stink test.

[xray s]

1. If we kicked Iraq's ass...

...why can't we go home?

[marmar]

2. Seems that Bush, Dick and the Don...

are a little intimidated by N. Korea, kind of like the bully in school who picks on the weak kids whom he knows can't fight back.

[babylonsister]

3. We're not kicking anyone's ass except our own.

We should never have gone there and now no one knows how to get out of Iraq. The DSM were correct; no exit plan was considered, and that's real obvious.

[mopaul]

4. they are kickin' OUR ass bigtime, but who cares?

certainly not rush limpballs

[The Traveler]

5. And even that

cost a lot in terms of blood, treasure, military preparedness and the trust of the rest of the world. This has been a complete botch, a strategic disaster, a blunder of such epic proportions that one can scarce believe it to be unintentional. If it were Bush's intent from the start to bankrupt the treasury, cripple our military, and destroy American influence abroad he could not have done a better job. That, of course, would be the act of a traitor.

Draw your own conclusions.

[Mythsaje]

6. Last time we fought N. Korea

could only be scored as a draw.

The Bushies are crazy, not stupid.

Okay, sometimes that's debatable. But their stupidity is of a whole different order.

[MrScorpio]

7. Power has limits, even ours

Sure, we can bomb anyplace in the world into oblivion, but you need lots and lots of ground troops to hold it.

When the brass brought this pesky fact up before Congress, they were smacked down by the OSD and WH.

Now in Iraq and Afghanistan everyone is paying the steep price for not listening to the voice of an experienced military.

Now they have IRAN on the table.

It's going to get plenty worse from here on out.

[BlueEyedSon]

8. or.... Iran!

[leesa]

9. But Iraq has kicked OUR ass. What you be talking about?

[TwilightZone]

10. That's why we're there.

We knew they weren't a threat.

Bush wouldn't have been able to pull off the macho victory crap if we had attacked a country that could actually defend itself.

[babylonsister]

12. Exactly. They started 'small' w/Iraq, thinking it would be a

cake walk. They were wrong. Now everyone suffers.

[raysr]

11. Big country

like VietNam?

[Lydia Leftcoast]

13. I'm reminded of what George McGovern said about the Mayaguez

incident when 47 U.S. personnel were killed rescuing the 41-member crew of the Mayaguez from the Khmer Rouge in 1975: "Why do we have to prove that we're stronger than Cambodia?"

[radar]

14. Ah - a hypothetical...

Which requires one to look at the variables, or parameters allowed, when making one's decision.

...With the current military & current civilian leadership - we're fucked. Aren't we still buying bullets from other countries because only 1 manufacturer in the States makes 'em? That was the story last year, anyway.
...The lack of volunteers, replacements, worldwide obligations, equipment not performing as expected - or breaking down, and scraping the bottom of the supply barrel.... Not a pretty picture for success.

* On the other hand, if in a hypothetical situation, the entire country was focused on contributing manpower, industry, intelligence & ideas - I believe we'd be kicking ass & taking names.
...Start with a civilian leader that put professionals in charge(and fire fuck-ups) to direct the mission; be honest with the country & ask for personal sacrifice(not just waiting a little while for the tax rebate in the mail like republicans do) - we'd be in pretty good shape.
...Because, bottomline, Americans are a nasty opponent to face with the ability to improvise, adapt, overcome, and create nasty war machines of mass destruction.

That's my opinion, anyway.