End of the Iraq war

[parker]

Ronald Reagen actually started this war. He gave iraq the weapons to fend off iran and sadam used what was left over on his own people. Then sadam threatened george jr dad and that in a nutshell is why our soldiers were there. Obama got them out and almost the end of the story. The US Soldiers won the war and get all the credit for doing what they were told! Congrats to men like C-Marshall who came back and a special thanks to the ones who did not! I have my freedom because of all US SOLDIERS! Politicians screw up everything and SOLDIERS have to straighten out the mess.

[Devils Horse]

Of course he's going to take credit for it (already has by the way) just like any politican will take credit for anything good that happens on their watch.

I just don't think it will work to his advantage like you think it will because like I said "a majority of people always thought he should have ended it years ago" and he did campaign on ending it asap if elected so I just don't see this as being something that would change a election in his favor.

If you think about it I would think it might hurt him more than help since he took this long to end it because of what he campaigned on. JMHO

Okay, we'll see how he handles it during his real campaign (not the one he's been running since he took office).

[Devils Horse]

Ronald Reagen actually started this war. He gave iraq the weapons to fend off iran and sadam used what was left over on his own people. Then sadam threatened george jr dad and that in a nutshell is why our soldiers were there. Obama got them out and almost the end of the story. The US Soldiers won the war and get all the credit for doing what they were told! Congrats to men like C-Marshall who came back and a special thanks to the ones who did not! I have my freedom because of all US SOLDIERS! Politicians screw up everything and SOLDIERS have to straighten out the mess.

Let me get this straight. Ronald Reagan started this war because he gave Saddam the mostly Russian weapons and nerve gas he used on his own people? He gave him the MIGs and HINDs that made up their air force? A bit of stretch...but if you insist. What about the training camps and support/sponsorship of terrorists Saddam provided? Did Mr. Reagan give him that too?

I agree 100% with your points about soldiers. I served, and have the utmost gratitude and respect for our armed forces.

President Obama did bring all of them home, and let's hope that's the end of the story. If Iraq collapses and returns to being a terrorist state, will that be Ronald Reagan's fault? George Bush's? It couldn't possibly be Mr. Obama's fault, the poor guy is just stuck cleaning up after those nasty Republicans.

If we just get out of the middle east and mind our own business they'll play nice, and not attack us anymore. Right? After that the war with terrorists is over. Right?

Just speaking rhetorically, because everyone knows once we're out of Irag and Afghanistan they'll leave us alone, but what if some more middle eastern psychopaths kill a few thousand more innocent Americans? What should we do about it?

Have Hillary Clinton apply the always highly effective diplomatic pressure? Kick some ass? Have Ron Paul give them a speech? What?

[demodan]

I was a Jr. at UK, 1988..it was a warm Friday in early March...decided to go fishing at the Dale that weekend.. had a weeekend of my life catching smallies..they must be fattening up for the spawn I assumed?!? Was catching 5 pounders,..4 pounders..and had a few over 22 inches! Catching them on a 300 bandits and red/ craw hot lip CB's, off of most any pee gravel points that evening, close to wolf creek. We got back to the cabin, that Sat. evening..turned on the TV...and began to hear that there had been a chemical attack in Iraq, on a village the day before (bloody Friday it was called)?? And as the news was pooring in..with pictures of dead children, dropping right were they were playing kick ball; families huddled togeather, dead with thier arms around eachother..They were saying most everyone in the village was affected...more than 5,000 people dead (with 10,000 crippled for life, and dying daily). The village was called Halabja....in the next few day..two more villages were hit by these WMDs!..killing more than 20,000 people...the injured were dying for months by the 100's.
I know we can't be the worlds police officers....and I know we can't totally change a county...But when I heard what was going on there, with these chemical attacks...I wanted to go over there myself and deal out some Hoptown whoop-ass. I just don't think the USA can just say it ain't our buisness ...when people get massacured by thier own leaders or military. If we are true leaders of the free world...we have the resposibility to be there for those that are paying with thier lives for such; like these kurdish folks. If we think there is Genocide going on..we can't make the mistake to wait and see...like we did with Germany and turn our heads to the truth;...surly we learned a lesson there! If there in Genocide happening to a group of people, the United States of America needs to show there colors and make those who are doing the killing pay a dear price for thier actions. Much more to say about Iraq..but for starters..this was enough for me!!

[GeoFisher]

we got back to the cabin, that sat. Evening..turned on the tv...and began to hear that there had been a chemical attack in iraq, on a village the day before (bloody friday it was called)?? And as the news was pooring in..with pictures of dead children, dropping right were they were playing kick ball; families huddled togeather, dead with thier arms around eachother..they were saying most everyone in the village was affected...more than 5,000 people dead (with 10,000 crippled for life, and dying daily). The village was called halabja....in the next few day..two more villages were hit by these wmds!..killing more than 20,000 people...the injured were dying for months by the 100's.
I know we can't be the worlds police officers....and i know we can't totally change a county...but when i heard what was going on there, with these chemical attacks...i wanted to go over there myself and deal out some hoptown whoop-ass. I just don't think the usa can just say it ain't our buisness ...when people get massacured by thier own leaders or military. If we are true leaders of the free world...we have the resposibility to be there for those that are paying with thier lives for such; like these kurdish folks. If we think there is genocide going on..we can't make the mistake to wait and see...like we did with germany and turn our heads to the truth;...surly we learned a lesson there! If there in genocide happening to a group of people, the united states of america needs to show there colors and make those who are doing the killing pay a dear price for thier actions. Much more to say about iraq..but for starters..this was enough for me!!

i completely agree..........

[C-Marshall]

Iraq war should have been over the first time there.Instead of doing the job right the first time we slapped them on the hand and left,mission not completed!Saddam was in the cross hairs and no order was given to take him out.Maybe the politicians will learn from that mistake.Get it right the first time and be done.

Aphganistan,should be done,Osama is dead so let's bring our troops home.No reason to be there now.Mission completed!

[Tim_T]

Iraq war should have been over the first time there.Instead of doing the job right the first time we slapped them on the hand and left,mission not completed!Saddam was in the cross hairs and no order was given to take him out.Maybe the politicians will learn from that mistake.Get it right the first time and be done.

Aphganistan,should be done,Osama is dead so let's bring our troops home.No reason to be there now.Mission completed!

C -Marshall, let me first say thank you for your service, because I neglected to say it earlier. I do disagree that we didn't do the job the first time. During Bush sr.'s term, we went to war with Iraq with a stated goal and that was to drive them out of Kuwait and that is exactly what we did. There was a stated mission and when the mission was accomplished we got out. During this second time around it never seemed we actually had a military objective, or if there was one, I don't recall what it was. The whole reason for going there was supposed to be WMD's but none were found.

IMO we lost focus on what the real job should have been, which was getting Bin Laden and taking care of terrorists in Afghanistan.

[C-Marshall]

C -Marshall, let me first say thank you for your service, because I neglected to say it earlier. I do disagree that we didn't do the job the first time. During Bush sr.'s term, we went to war with Iraq with a stated goal and that was to drive them out of Kuwait and that is exactly what we did. There was a stated mission and when the mission was accomplished we got out. During this second time around it never seemed we actually had a military objective, or if there was one, I don't recall what it was. The whole reason for going there was supposed to be WMD's but none were found.

IMO we lost focus on what the real job should have been, which was getting Bin Laden and taking care of terrorists in Afghanistan.

Thanks Tim,I appreciate you and your thoughts.Just glad the war is over,WMD'S or not,in this case none were found.

[HURRICANEBOB]

Iraq war should have been over the first time there.Instead of doing the job right the first time we slapped them on the hand and left,mission not completed!Saddam was in the cross hairs and no order was given to take him out.Maybe the politicians will learn from that mistake.Get it right the first time and be done.

Aphganistan,should be done,Osama is dead so let's bring our troops home.No reason to be there now.Mission completed!

We made that mistake in WWII when Patton was ready to kick the Russians butt and we didn't. Had he come out the first time, I agree we'd not have to have gone after him after he had plenty of time to get his forces strong again, and to continue trying to develop the WMD.

I do think we could have been more decisive in Iraq the second time. Personally, I'd like us to take more of an Isreali way of doing business. ie.e
"I don't care how screwed up your country is, but if you hit me with a twig, I'm going to wail on you with an oak tree". Their defense is based on a promise that attacking them gets you more pain than you can inflict. I like that, decisive, focused, swift, retribution, and equally lethal preemptive strikes when the evidence supports it.

[DJD]

Sorry for the loss of your brother.Im a veteran of the gulf war myself served with the 82nd Airborne,8 years in the Army.All soldiers know what may be asked of them when they join and al know it might put them in harms way serving the country they love and serve.Its sad that it takes bloodshed to be free but that is the way the world is and without our brave soldiers we would be like all the middle east countries.Your brother is a Hero to all and all Americans owe great gratitude for those who have served past to the present.

All Gave Some Some Gave All!!!

Clark,
I didn't realize you served...thank you!!

Bug,
Sorry for your loss. No doubt the wars take a heavier toll on some more than others.

[HURRICANEBOB]

Why is west point still open if they believe you can win a war with a 5000 mile supply line?.

We didn't do to bad in the Pacific in WWII or Korea. Right off, there were conventional wars. Front lines and all that neat and tidey stuff. This is noncoventional warfare. More like a "Nam".

And I do think that when you take teh fight to the bad guys on his turf, he has less time to figure out how to attack you on your turf.

That said, wish we would have more focused, and left sooner.

PS: I'm not a West Pointer....I worked for a living.

[bassin_bug]

The war in Iraq will NEVER be over. They have always fought amongst themselves and always will; the United States temporarily delayed some killings. There were 60 people killed in a bombing in Iraq YESTERDAY. I hope some politicial idiots don't get the idea to turn our troops around and send them back into that mess.

Enough already! jmo