Last night I had dinner with a college buddy of mine who is in the army. He gets 1 week break and back to IRaq. He's a captain in MI and it's weird to hear any of these guy's theories.
Some think we are in IRaq for the terror war. When it's shown Saddam had too big of an ego to support someone such as bid laden (a real star among the wackos).
His company that he watches over deals with anything from logistics to how to control cities, and he swears on his life that we are in Iraq not for the terror war for America's sake but for Israel (didn't see that coming? hehe)
Officers around him, not most (actually who knows) have been led to believe this is part of the domino theory applied in the ME. With Iraq out, the only real saber rattler at the time supporting suicide bombers' families taken out; they felt Israel would be able to control the suicide attacks and stop the war going on.
He feels discouraged because he thinks, "why the fuck would a stupid war over religious belief ever stop?"
I mean if we all were uncivilized enough to fight each other dems and reps, it would never end, force isn't going to change peoples' minds just stop your opponent from arguing with you... <img src="/~stretch/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />
Their plans originally one year ago were for annexing (including making more bases in the ME) Iraq until summer of 2008. Now with Bush's plans he said (with heat from the public in US) the new plans are to withdraw "no matter what" a year from this thanksgiving.
So, I think listening to soldier's theories of why they are there should be taken with a grain of salt, that and the fact they need something to continue to give them drive to stay normal over there in that shit hole.
None of my buddies who met up with him think we are doing this for Israel, we laughed and gave him shit...Then again I live in Orange County, am an accountant, and my biggest worry is if I am making enough money for myself..(shrug)
So best wishes for the armed forces, I just don't think people who question why we are over in Iraq are unpatriotic or anti-american(muj or any other doves, they too are concerned over a soldier's well being). One thing that pissed me off with Bush (i voted for him) was 2 things he pushed through, decreased pay inceases in the armed forces, and instead of budgeting money towards armoring transportation vehicles, he put it towards the FX-22 or whatever the fuck plane it is... That is horse shit, and when people say wtf are we over there? They are saying it more or less why are we lettin gour guys die over there? What end goal? To end terror (that won't happen)? To protect our oil (that's cool, but protect our soldiers for christ's sake)?
Just seems to me Bush feels soldiers' lives are expendable, and I ain't down with turning my back on someone who chose to protect our country regardless of the times an follow orders.
I feel anti-americanism is the EU back with the old Franco-german influence (that's now ended) was anti-american, they gave shit to all american companies just to help themselves not the globalization of the markets. I feel individuals can be unpatriotic (Jacques Chirac). Because when a more open minded business director was appointed for EU over Chirac's buddy he threw a fit saying all kinds of shit.
