Proposed new WAR TAX

[sprstpd]

Quote from Mercor:

If we did it your way, then after we fixed Afghanistan we then would deal with Iraq 10 years later, stronger and probably with WMD's. better to deal with Iraq when we did.

Sorry, that is a pretty lame reason to put our soldiers at risk. As has been proven over time, the reasons for entering the war were proven false. You could say the same thing for many other countries and we have not invaded them.

 

[Mercor]

Quote from sprstpd:

Sorry, that is a pretty lame reason to put our soldiers at risk. As has been proven over time, the reasons for entering the war were proven false. You could say the same thing for many other countries and we have not invaded them.

We were in a state of war with Iraq already. Our troops were stuck in Saudi Arabia for 10 years in a siege against Iraq.
Were we just to pull the troops out and let the Saudis and Kuwaitis deal with the mess. Let Iran have its way?

If we did win Afghanistan first would you move our troops back into Saudi Arabia were they were before. What do you do with Iraq?

 

[MGB]

Quote from Angrycat:

idiotic.

Defense of the realm - including war - is the responsibility of the government, as outlined in the constitution. Defense spending is a paltry fraction of all government spending - including the increases resulting from war.

If government stops robbing productive members of society to fund politicians' pet entitlement programs, we could afford to go to war with the whole world.

Or, better yet, we could all live better spending our own money.

+10

 

[MGB]

Quote from Misthos:

Here's the real question:

Do you want to continue your way of life as you know it? Do you understand that cheap and available oil is what makes the world go round, what makes your house worth what it is, allows you to drive a truck that gets 17 mpg, gives you the opportunity to inexpensively see Hawaii, Disneyland, or wherever else you want to go?

Given our way of producing food - which is very petroleum intensive from petrochemicals, diesel trucks, transportation on average of over 1,000 miles to the supermarket... that too would be impacted by an oil shock.

Do you prefer China or Russia to be the "occupiers" of the Middle East?

Our gdp to a large extent, is based on oil being at a certain price. We are less than 5% of the world's population, and we need about 25% of the current global oil production. Historically, when oil cost is 4% of GDP, we typically fall into recession. Needless to say, we are quite vulnerable right now due to this severe recession/depression. We can't handle oil getting too high.

Are you willing to put up with sky high unemployment, more so than now, because China decides it will fight a war on terror in the Middle East and ensure she gets the oil first before anyone else?

Understand what's at stake. It's not just some elites making money... we average folk have skin in the game.

I'm not necessarily saying I'm pro the current Middle East military engagement/policy.... I'm just framing the issue the way I see it. Afghanistan and Iraq are two of the most strategic locations in the world. They border Iran, and lie between the Persian Gulf and Caspian Sea basin. That's some important real estate. He who controls that area, controls the world. Let that area go, and someone else will control it. And you will pay that price accordingly.

You want the truth? That's the truth.

+10

I dislike war but that's the truth.

 

[sprstpd]

Quote from Mercor:

If we did win Afghanistan first would you move our troops back into Saudi Arabia were they were before. What do you do with Iraq?

Why do you have to do anything?

 

[MKTrader]

I continue to believe Obama is either incredibly stupid or he's willingly doing things to wreck this country (and I'm no hard-core conspiracy guy).

Why else would you announce (a) more troops and a surge and then (b) the timetable for a troop withdrawal? That certainly makes planning easy for the enemy. Just lay low, do some limited/random terrorist attacks, build up your forces and manpower and do your own surge as we're leaving.

We've done some dumb things in Vietnam and Iraq, but I'm not sure if we've ever telegraphed our strategy like that...