Henderson Daily Dispatch opinion piece: "Bush is right; we stay in Iraq"

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

Serving Henderson, Vance County, North Carolina and surrounding areas

http://www.hendersondispatch.com/articles/2005/08/24/news/opinion/opin01.txt

With criticism of the war in Iraq mounting and even some Republicans like Sen. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska likening the conflict to Vietnam - at this point still a somewhat rash and certainly unconstructive statement - President Bush has gone on the defensive. He's spoken at several gatherings the past few days urging Americans to stick with the fight until the fight is done. "The only way to defend our citizens where we live is to go after the terrorists where they live," Bush told veterans at the VFW national convention in Salt Lake City.



On several levels, Bush is right in that statement, though the pursuit of terrorists where they hide and breed can't be an excuse for a carpet-style flea-bombing of the Middle East. But we have a better reason why, much as we might like to have them back home, American troops need to stay in Iraq. It's a rule our parents taught us: If you broke it, you fix it.

Regardless of the reasons for going to war in Iraq - purported weapons of mass destruction that were never found, the desire to topple a brutal dictator and launch a democracy where none has been before - the fact is, we're there. And the country is in some state of disarray because of us. An Iraqi government is forming, though more slowly than anyone who favors peace in Iraq would like. And that process needs to be safeguarded. The oil supply, public buildings and utilities, and the people of Iraq are under attack by insurgents who hope to keep spreading violence, disorder and distrust. They, too, need safeguarded.

Yes, it can be argued that none of this would be the case had the invasion never been launched. But that lament dwells on the past at the expense of the future. We can't "take back" the start of the war. There are no "do-overs" available here. The U.S. must simply keep forging ahead through troubled and violent times in Iraq, trying to do the best it can by both Iraqis and the world, until the situation - unlike that in Vietnam - is resolved by the establishment of a peaceful and democratic nation.

http://www.hendersondispatch.com/articles/2005/08/24/news/opinion/opin01.txt

[shoelace414]

1. Stay the course isn't a policy

but at least they are admitting we broke Iraq.

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

2. They've invoked Colin Powell's "Pottery Barn Rule"...

...even though Pottery Barn later claimed that "you broke it, you bought it" was not their policy...

:evilgrin:

But yeah, instead of "We MUST remain in Iraq to stop the rape rooms and torture chambers," the NEW drum beat is "We screwed up, now we have to fix our mistake."

Freedom is on the MARCH!

:patriot:

:sarcasm:

[Enraged_Ape]

4. OT, but why do you have a pic of Christine McGlade in your sig line?

Just askin'. I loved YCDTOTV.

[shoelace414]

5. because people see it and think "cool"

and it gets me remembered a bit more. :)

[Enraged_Ape]

8. It is cool

:hi:

[trogdor]

3. If you broke it, you fix it....Right.

So the Iraqi government is about to approve a constitution that makes our Articles of Confederation look like the Magna Carta, that screws women up the ass on civil rights, and Balkanizes the nation like Yugoslavia post-Tito. We'll have a semi-independent Iraqi Kurdistan, a Shiite sector aligned with Iran, and a bunch of really pissed off Sunnis with the worthless remainder. Real good. If that's the best we can do, we might as well leave now.

[Toots]

6. No the rule is break it pay for it

We obviously don't know how to fix it anymore than a child could fix an expensive vase they broke in a store. The vase would get paid for though by the parent. We the american people are the parent and we need to pay the Iraqis enough to fix their own country. They were able to fix it in the first place why are they suddenly unable to do so now. Only Haliburton can fix things the US breaks, is that how it is?

[nolabels]

7. Yea, they are correct about one thing, not like Viet Nam

They say unlike that in Vietnam - is resolved by the establishment of a peaceful and democratic nation.

But to be sure, this is a war for rich people to get richer and a lot of other antisocial and undemocratic things. Hope they all keep thinking that way and doing like they are because it's going to come back and bite them in the ass when all is said in done. :mad:

[Cha]

9. ANybody notice

bush is out there on a Fucking boat in his sunglasses waving to the minions while People are DYING and getting MAIMED in Iraq?

As MoDO says.."more worried about body fat than body armor"!

[Dr Fate]

10. Henderson is my boyhood hometown- a great place to grow up.

The kind of town you can ride your bike all over- it used to be pretty crime-free. Great bass fishing at Kerr lake.

I have several Kerry voting relatives who live there, so dont take this as reflective of the whole town.