Gideon MacLeish Gideon MacLeish

Iraq War: Yes or No: MY Response

Iraq War: Yes or No: MY Response

I had to write this article because the writer of the article that inspired it made it clear that no debate or elaboration on the responses was allowed, just a simple "yes" or "no" answer.

For one thing, the question wasn't about whether the Iraq war is/was morally justified, but whether we should have troops stationed there right now. ANd, as opposed as I am to the concept of war, I have to say that, FOR THE MOMENT, my answer would have to be a reluctant "yes".

You see, I also believe firmly in the rights of so many Iraqis who had nothing to do with this damn war, who are simply trying to live their lives and raise their children as best they can in a crazy world where a whole lot of people with whom they are firmly disconnected are making decisions about their lives. It is all too easy to forget, from the perspectives of those who live in a nation where guns and ammunition can be purchased at the nearest Wal-Mart, that there are those who do not have the opportunity to procure weapons for the defense of their own home, let alone their nation, against the rogue elements who would control and divide. And, while I remain staunchly Libertarian in almost every way, I believe that our withdrawal from Iraq should be planned, calculated and controlled, and not a sudden massive withdrawal that will destabilize the nation and rapidly lead the same monsters back to the throne as the one we ousted in the first place.

To sum up my beliefs and my feelings with a simple "yes" or "no" would not be responsible, or fair. This is not a "poll" question that can be answered as simply as, say, industrialm hemp legalization. My feelings on the issue are far too complex for that.

You might want to consider that next time you make a poll question a blog subject.

5,746 views 36 replies
Reply #26 Top

Wow gid you are being a prick
You blacklist the guy for having a civilized response to you?
Not like you to be Blacklist happy

Sushi,

I'm still not being blacklist happy. Reread bigrick's post. It was EXTREMELY condescending and self important. The time I have spent on JU has made it clear to me where such people are headed when they "lead in" with posts such as bigrick's...and I really don't want this thread headed that way, points or no points.

This was HARDLY  "cheerleading" article for the Iraq war. I was attempting to communicate that my feelings towards our Iraq war involvement cannot be summed up in a yes or no response (and to do so without polluting your article with my answer). I have no problem with your requirements for a yes/no answer on your article, but I simply can't provide one. Morally, I am opposed to ALL war, so then my answer on one level should be "no". BUT, I also felt the pain after 9/11 and saw the necessity of military involvement in Afghanistan, if not Iraq (whether Iraq was involved in 9/11 in any way or not...is a subject for another article entirely, one that I personally have no wish to write), and the fact that we're already ass deep in this thing and that troop withdrawal without stabilizing the nation cause me to lean towards a "yes" answer. But I am by no means a "hawk" (more like, to paraphrase Johnny Cash, "a dove with claws"), and a "yes" answer without qualification would unreasonably cause certain individuals to characterize me as such.

"Yes" or "no" answers are fine, when making menu choices at your local restaurant. But when moral positions are involved, they're far too glib to suffice, in my own arrogant opinion.

Reply #27 Top

You blacklist the guy for having a civilized response to you?
Not like you to be Blacklist happy

Uh, no.  BRS is Dabe, and it was not a civilized response.  He is funny tho in his ignorance.  Can we call it a he since we know Dabe is a she?

Reply #28 Top
I don't see bricks response any more condescending than others that post here,
his just happened to disagree with you.

Everything can be boiled down to Black and White / Yes NO ultimately.
Name something that can not

Also I am not a power-blogger like you guys, I don't know Dabe nor do I care.
Reply #29 Top
NOT put into power by us!


So your trying to suggest that you didn;t overthrow Saddam Hussain, that Paul Bremmer wasn;t for a time the Governer of Iraq and that the US didn;t decide when the elections would be and who qualified as a political party. What exactly are you a Dr of?

Wrong answer! A poll is a "SMALL" segment of the population! A "vote" is done by an ENTIRE voting population! If your going to spout off at least get your facts straight!


It is you who needs to get his facts before spouting off. Go Google define:poll.
There is no size requirement that defines a poll. A polls size is usually small simple because of the economics of polling.
Why do you think they interchange the terms voting booths for polling booths? Because its a poll. If your going to attempt to correct someone, at least ensure you are correct.

the poll was not even REMOTELY scientific

What has this got to do with anything? It was asked on this forum, is that what you mean by unscientific? Its also highly hypocritical of you to blacklist someone for supposedly being

EXTREMELY condescending and self important


when you yourself carry on like this. Writing an entire article to just to point out how inferior the reasoning behind someelse article was and ending your own article with

You might want to consider that next time you make a poll question a blog subject.


As if to suggest that You, and only you are qualified to decide on what is or is not a poll question and what is a blog subject. It seems to me BRS had a very well thought out response that you couldn;t handle simply because it pointing out the awkwardness of your thinking. Blacklisting him/her makes you seem like a total wimp.


Reply #30 Top
NOT put into power by us!


So your trying to suggest that you didn;t overthrow Saddam Hussain, that Paul Bremmer wasn;t for a time the Governer of Iraq and that the US didn;t decide when the elections would be and who qualified as a political party. What exactly are you a Dr of?

Wrong answer! A poll is a "SMALL" segment of the population! A "vote" is done by an ENTIRE voting population! If your going to spout off at least get your facts straight!


It is you who needs to get his facts before spouting off. Go Google define:poll.
There is no size requirement that defines a poll. A polls size is usually small simple because of the economics of polling.
Why do you think they interchange the terms voting booths for polling booths? Because its a poll. If your going to attempt to correct someone, at least ensure you are correct.


What I'm a doctor of is NONE of your business! PERIOD! And YOU should get YOUR facts straight

Definition of the word "poll" as in the context used, by websters dictionary:


Main Entry: 1poll
Pronunciation: 'pOl
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English pol, polle, from Middle Low German
1 : HEAD
2 a : the top or back of the head b : NAPE
3 : the broad or flat end of a striking tool (as a hammer)
4 a (1) : the casting or recording of the votes of a body of persons (2) : a counting of votes cast b : the place where votes are cast or recorded -- usually used in plural



Use the correct definition for the context the original word was used and my statement stands!!!!
And who are we today? dabe, reikihouse, bigrick or zinkadoodle?
Reply #31 Top
No, again for another reason and that is , from the one and only Mick Jagger's song (will be released in September ):
How come you're so wrong? My sweet neo-con, where's the money gone, in the Pentagon,"
"It's liberty for all, democracy's our style, unless you are against us, then it's prison without trial."
G W B. is so similar to B.laden and both seems to have the same very stupid god
stay tuned

Reply #32 Top

Also I am not a power-blogger like you guys, I don't know Dabe nor do I care.

The Care blog is over on Little Whips site.  You lucky devil!

Reply #33 Top

The Care blog is over on Little Whips site


I couldn't find it
Reply #34 Top

I couldn't find it

Oh well, it is not important.  It is important that you dont care.  LW will find you. hehehehehehehe

Reply #35 Top

when you yourself carry on like this. Writing an entire article to just to point out how inferior the reasoning behind someelse article was and ending your own article with

My blog, my rules.

Reply #36 Top

It seems to me BRS had a very well thought out response that you couldn;t handle simply because it pointing out the awkwardness of your thinking. Blacklisting him/her makes you seem like a total wimp.

Not at all. Think what you want, the fact that you're too much of an intellectual coward to log on with a user name to a FREE site causes me to have, umm, ZERO respect for your opinion (and to think that you're probably "rick" under an anonymous name....REAL good cover there...NOT!)