- Medical advice from the web
- How Iranian President was treated
- The Rocky Mountain Collegian editorial
- Illegal immigrant issues
- Iranian President Ahmadinejad
- Bill Johnson & Greeley forum
- J. Jackson & A. Sharpton are “racist agitators”
- Racism alive in America
- Americans should sacrifice for Iraq war
- Regarding a Denver Post editorial
Sacrifices never put in perspective
Following Gen. David Petraeus’ evisceration by the shameless members of the Senate, it would be instructive to reflect upon what we don’t have in Iraq following our invasion.
1. We no longer have (as reported by the U.N. Human Rights Commission) a supposed 5,000 children per month starving to death as a result of our embargo on Iraq following the Gulf War.
2. We no longer have Saddam Hussein paying $25,000 to Palestinian families to encourage and reward suicide bombers in Israel.
3. We no longer have three psychopaths — Saddam, Uday, Qusay — whose level of evil was unquenchable, responsible for the deaths of approximately 300,000 to 1 million people under their rule with the likelihood of many more to follow.
4. We no longer have the Oil for Food scandal, the largest single financial scandal in world history ($21 billion) with all of our “traditional allies” dipping from the pot. So it was no wonder they were less than supportive of our going into Iraq.
Nightly, the news blares the price our nation is paying in blood, treasure and tears with a glee that is at times barely contained. But the other side of the equation is never mentioned, our sacrifices never put in perspective.
Patrick R. Ritchen, Brighton
Do not forget the vastly under reported terrorist trainning camps north east of bahgdad. Or the hidding of terrorist within Iraqs boarders.
Many things the left will scream not true as they ae blind.
Posted by on September 28, 2007 05:50 AMPatrick - WE never had those things. Bush's War hasn't solved any problems in Iraq or elsewhere - it just changed one set of problems for worse ones.
Posted by Liam on September 28, 2007 05:52 AMit is so nice to wake up and see a lib all upset at not being able to face reality. thank you liam for making my day.
nice letter Patrick
6:04 - glad to help. Where is that "lib" you are refering to though?
Posted by Liam on September 28, 2007 06:18 AMAlso, we no longer have any respect. The world hates us.
Posted by on September 28, 2007 07:18 AMPatrick, I'm truly amazed that Americans just don't get it. It is clear to me how Hitler came to power. The only difference I see between Bush and Hitler, Hitler served and fought for his country in WWI.
We get ourselves all worked up over issues like Ward Churchill (Vietnam War hero), CSU Collegian newspaper, etc., and we have felons in our midst. Bush is a UCMJ-felon, 40+ years AWOL, deserter and guilty of illegal separation and discharge. Felon appoints fellow felon. USSC Judge Alito is a US Army ROTC felon, AWOL, deserter, and guilty of illegal separation and discharge.
If I was an Iraqi, I would think Saddam lives on. Saddam used chemcial weapons on unsuspecting Kurds. Bush has used chemical weapons (white phophrous-WILLY PETER) on unsuspecting Shiites and Sunnis. Patrick, I can't speak for your experiences, but the WILLY PETER "we" used during my 3 deployments to Vietnam, burned through Vietnamese skin and bones. FDR unleashed the atom bomb on Japanese. LBJ used WILLY PETER on Vietnamese. "W" used WILLY PETER on Iraqis. Trust me, black and brown skin burns just like that of whites.
Bush and Alito should be sent to a court martial and serve 3 years in federal prison for being AWOL and deserters. When that is completed, we should toss Powell, Blair, Bush, Rice, Cheney, Lott, and Hastert, to an international court of law, convicted, sent to meet their "maker" for war crimes. I think this is the recipe we had planned for Hitler.
Posted by draftdodgingisntafamilyvalue on September 28, 2007 07:20 AMIs the Right outraged that Rush Limbaugh on Thursday called those in our military who do not agree with Iraq 'phoney soldiers' ? Will the same Republican Congressmen be pushing another resolution to condemn and censure Limbaugh for attacking the soldiers who are actually fighting in Iraq for cowards like Rush who never served in the military? Funny, we are fighting in Iraq to give the Iraqis the freedoms we have yet Limbaugh will not allow our own soldiers to voice their opinions ( if they differ with his drug-induced babblings)?
Posted by Rush is pus on September 28, 2007 07:23 AMI am pretty sure that it is--in fact--the Sente's obligation to question people it brings up before it: Bush's War is costing billions and billions (Congress controls the purse strings); has cost thousands of lives; has stretched our military to the breaking point; has divided our country like never before in my life; has been a showcase of incompetence (Rummy saying he doubted the war would last 6 months, L Paul Bremmer, etc. etc. The Senate was in the right to ask difficult questions of the general, who--it should be noted--admitted that he did not know if Bush's War had made us any safer as a nation...3,800 American lives and now 1/2 TRILLION $$ later.
As to your points-
1. We no longer have (as reported by the U.N. Human Rights Commission) a supposed 5,000 children per month starving to death as a result of our embargo on Iraq following the Gulf War.
Instead we have one of the largest human refugee problems ever, which--I assure you--includes many hungry children and human misery.
2. We no longer have Saddam Hussein paying $25,000 to Palestinian families to encourage and reward suicide bombers in Israel.
Now we have the Iraqi Interior Ministry and defense forces running around as death squads; have 'lost' 190,000 weapons into an extremely volatile region (and 12B$ in unmarked cash to boot).
3. We no longer have three psychopaths — Saddam, Uday, Qusay — whose level of evil was unquenchable, responsible for the deaths of approximately 300,000 to 1 million people under their rule with the likelihood of many more to follow.
Instead, we have traded those three in for a handful of militia leaders, warlords, and criminal gangs.
Nightly, the news blares the price our nation is paying in blood, treasure and tears with a glee that is at times barely contained.
I see something different. Sorrow. Shame. Disbelief. Its time to end Bush's War now.
Posted by Oliver on September 28, 2007 07:28 AM"Also, we no longer have any respect. The world hates us. "
Boo hooooooooo, they hate themselves cause they were to chicken to join the cause, how many times has the US saved their rear ends??????
Posted by Heather on September 28, 2007 07:41 AMdraftdodgingisntafamilyvalue, incorrectly rants:
"...has used chemical weapons (white phophrous-WILLY PETER)..."
Hey, numbnuts; how many times has it been pointed out to you that WILLY PETER is an INCENDIARY weapon, not a chemical weapon by universal classification? One would think that an experienced and knowledgeable vet would know that.
While it doesn't make it any more pleasant to use, there is a big difference in weapon classification.
If you're interested in the truth and establishing veracity for your positions, you might want to start using the correct terminology.
Posted by on September 28, 2007 07:42 AM#873--We no longer have billion dollar "oil for food Bribes" lining the pockets of the corrupt thieves who run the U.N.
Posted by Hank on September 28, 2007 07:46 AMAlso, we no longer have any respect. The world hates us. "
Boo hooooooooo, they hate themselves cause they were to chicken to join the cause, how many times has the US saved their rear ends??????
Posted by Heather
Really that is what you think? They are laughing their asses off because we were stupid enough to start the war. I can gurantee you that they don't regret not joining in on this mess.
Posted by curious on September 28, 2007 07:53 AM"If you're interested in the truth and establishing veracity for your positions, you might want to start using the correct terminology."
I agree. We should all use accurate terms. Like "numbnuts".
Posted by Brad on September 28, 2007 07:59 AMBrad:--
You have to know Lt Cmdr JJ Tenant, Ret.; aka 40acres..., draftdodging..., etc., to appreciate that post.
In the case of James J Tenant, "numbnuts" was not only accurate, but rather gentle and generous when one considers all the falsehoods, incorrect statistics and cries of victim hood put forth by the man.
Posted by on September 28, 2007 08:10 AMDear draftdodging.... You said "The only difference I see between Bush and Hitler, Hitler served and fought for his country in WWI." Please look up m-o-r-o-n in the dictionary. Your picture will be there.
Posted by Dan on September 28, 2007 08:11 AMDear draftdodging.... You said "The only difference I see between Bush and Hitler, Hitler served and fought for his country in WWI." Please look up m-o-r-o-n in the dictionary. Your picture will be there.
Posted by Dan on September 28, 2007 08:11 AM
Well, let's be fair...there is another difference...Hitler did kill alot more people than Bush...but Bush still got 13 months left to try to bump up his numbers...and since he started this war...he really should get credit for the final tally...just like Hitler did.
Posted by on September 28, 2007 08:37 AM"1. We no longer have (as reported by the U.N. Human Rights Commission) a supposed 5,000 children per month starving to death as a result of our embargo on Iraq following the Gulf War" Of course, that may change now that we (the US) have destroyed Iraq's infrastructure (including clean water) so that cholera is flourishing not to mention the number killed US bombings, mercenary company shootings & civil war murders. Nobody seems to be keeping track of Iraqis killed (other than Hussein & his sons) - sites vary between 10's to 100's of thousands - more than even Hussein "purged".
"2. We no longer have Saddam Hussein paying $25,000 to Palestinian families to encourage and reward suicide bombers in Israel." No argument there - but bin Laden has the best recruiting poster ever (the US will invade your country if you don't attack them first)
"3. We no longer have three psychopaths — Saddam, Uday, Qusay — whose level of evil was unquenchable, responsible for the deaths of approximately 300,000 to 1 million people under their rule with the likelihood of many more to follow." True, although between the war (with the US) & the civil war, am betting we could hit those numbers. You folks do realize that Bush the first had a reason for not taking out Hussein in 1991 - he (and his staff/advisors, which included Cheney & Rumsfeld) agreed that the civil war we are seeing now is what was going to happen. As bad as Hussein was, it took a despot like that to keep civil war from erupting.
"4. We no longer have the Oil for Food scandal, the largest single financial scandal in world history ($21 billion) with all of our “traditional allies” dipping from the pot. So it was no wonder they were less than supportive of our going into Iraq." True - but the US taught the rest of the world the "greed is good philosophy" - and we whine when they do the same as our corporate world.
"Nightly, the news blares the price our nation is paying in blood, treasure and tears with a glee that is at times barely contained. But the other side of the equation is never mentioned, our sacrifices never put in perspective." WHAT SACRIFICES? The only sacrifices we have in this country are on the part of the rank & file military. Do you honestly think that ANY of the generals doing reporting are anywhere NEAR harm's way? In point of fact, by the time an officer becomes a general, he/she is more of a politician covering his/her ass -and kissing the behind of the CiC who can fire him/her at will than a true member of the military. This is the only time of war in US history that taxes have been cut - and a war has been fought on credit. This is also the only war (forget the skirmishes in eastern Europe that lasted months) which did not involve a draft. I will believe that there are sacrifices for the whole country when the tax cuts (at least on the uber-rich & companies) are rescinded - and the draft is reinstated. Until then, only the rank & file in the military are paying the cost - and their reward is a broken VA hospital system, being told when they come home suffering from PTSD that "they must have had a pre-existing condition" (the hell with the fact it didn't show up until after their 2nd or 3rd tour in the Middle East), being told their sacrifice isn't worth a 3.5% pay raise (but making those tax cuts permanent is worthwhile) - and a debt your children/grandchildren/great-grandchildren will be paying off!
As far as the terrorist camps - they didn't exist in Iraq until the US got rid of the Hussein, precisely because he was despot. Despots don't share their power (heck - Hussein even murdered at least one son-in-law - to keep as much power as possible).
"Also, we no longer have any respect. The world hates us." The interesting thing with that is we had the world on our side (even moderate members of Islam - who do exist) UNTIL we attacked Iraq - and lost even more when the administration back torture. When the "mission" was to hunt down Osama bin Laden & AlQaeda after 9/11, we had both respect & support.
Patrick,You left out that our military is fighting Al Qaeda in Iraq instead of us being blown up here.Thanks to Bush's adm.
Posted by Keith on September 28, 2007 08:50 AMWe're fighting a war far from home, launched under either false representation or due to gross incompetence, outsourcing the war to private mercenaries who open fire on regular unarmed civilians, so those civilains cannot come over here and blow us up?
Posted by Oliver on September 28, 2007 08:57 AMSimilar to Former Fed Chariman Greenspan, Patrick accidentally confesses to a true reason for subjugation of Iraq: Saddam was giving money to enslaved Israelis (aka "Palestinians").
Bush AND Congress sent the US tmilitary to conquer Iraq for 3 main groups: 1- Big Oil (the "Iraqi" Oil law will give Western Oil companies control over majority of Iraqi oil), 2- the New World Order (The Green Zone and a dozen PERMANENT US military bases/unsinkable aircraft carriers) 3- Supremacists/Zionists that run Israel and view the native people of the that place as slaves, or more precisely, goyim (cattle).
Is Patrick's concern for people phony or does his memory of history not include the 1980's when Ronald Reagan's adminstration HELPED Saddam as he poison gassed, tortured and starved groups of people( did Saddam change or did he stop being our errand boy?). Does Patrick think the US government didn't know about the Food for Oil scam as it was happenening? (they also must JUST have discovered the charming, 40 something year old government of the Union of Myanmar).
Of course now that the three Democratic frontrunners have announced they will continue the subjugation Iraq until at least 2013, the agenda of Big Oil, the New World and Zionism will continue to be paid for by US taxpayers (current and future) and our suckered soldiers.
Posted by Dave on September 28, 2007 09:08 AMIf any of your 4 points were valid, they would have been great arguments for us to go to war back in 2002 and 2003. I vividly remember all of these things being argued as justification for the war back then, don't you?
Posted by Repugnants are Liars on September 28, 2007 09:12 AMThank for this kind letter.
My coping mechanism was faltering recently, and I've gone to great lengths to come up with fresh rationalizations about -the- reason we invaded, and now continue to occupy, Iraq, as even the ones offered by our brave, strong and devout president start sounding stale after a while.
But you prove once more that the great thing about the Iraq war is that there are so many rationalizations to choose from, in theory, no American should have to face up to the consequences of our actions.
Posted by on September 28, 2007 09:20 AMNEVER BEFORE HAVE SO MANY ABUSED SO MUCH FREELY GIVEN TO THEM BY A FEW WHO ARE WILLING TO PAY THE ULTIMATE PRICE.
ENJOY YOUR SLANDER, YOU INSULTS, AND YOUR POLITICAL VIEWS. BECAUSE ONE DAY YOU WILL LEGISLATE THAT AWAY IN THE NAME OF POLITICAL CORRECTNESS.
Posted by TheFew,TheProud,MARINES on September 28, 2007 09:28 AMNEVER BEFORE HAVE SO MANY ABUSED SO MUCH FREELY GIVEN TO THEM BY A FEW WHO ARE WILLING TO PAY THE ULTIMATE PRICE.
I agree. I am stunned so many Americans abuse the Caps Lock key, especially the time and effort Bill Gates and Michael Dell have sacrificed in our names. Good point.
Posted by on September 28, 2007 09:40 AMDear The Few... WELL SAID. Thanks to all the guys willing to stand on the wall so all the pathetic "give everything to everyone" bleeding heart liberals can have their free speech. "Taser That" They should all move to Boulder where they can recite the new Pledge of Allegiance together.
Posted by on September 28, 2007 10:04 AMAnon 09:40AM;
"I agree. I am stunned so many Americans abuse the Caps Lock key, especially the time and effort Bill Gates and Michael Dell have sacrificed in our names. Good point."
Demonstrates the important issues of the modern leftist quite adequately.
Posted by on September 28, 2007 11:00 AMyou are correct mary no body respects you in the morning and they probally dont even remember your name only the 25 bucks they gave you.
Posted by on September 28, 2007 11:08 AMThe four points, what WE don`t have is insulting to the people of Iraq .
We had none of these, they did.
Now go ask the wounded and the homeless and the refugees what THEY had and have.
Such Americocentric thinking is another reason the World thinks we are wrong in this.
Posted by Sharon B. on September 28, 2007 11:16 AMWe also don't have $800 Billion dollars that could have been used to lock down our borders and solve that pesky illegal immigration issue. Thanks George for spending all our money to take down some tin pot dictator while the real invasion of our country continues unchecked. Brilliant!
Posted by Wes on September 28, 2007 11:44 AMDems wear brown shirts.
Posted by on September 28, 2007 12:40 PMAnother thing America doesn't have:
Osama bin Laden, either dead or alive, now more than six (6!) years since 9/11/2001.
Sufficient "perspective" in and of itself to make the sacrifices required by invading Iraq appear tragically unnecessary, no matter how nobly individual soldiers have performed.
Posted by on September 28, 2007 01:41 PMNEVER BEFORE HAVE SO MANY ABUSED SO MUCH FREELY GIVEN TO THEM BY A FEW WHO ARE WILLING TO PAY THE ULTIMATE PRICE.
ENJOY YOUR SLANDER, YOU INSULTS, AND YOUR POLITICAL VIEWS. BECAUSE ONE DAY YOU WILL LEGISLATE THAT AWAY IN THE NAME OF POLITICAL CORRECTNESS.
Ah...a vintage 2003 attempt to shout down dissent re: Iraq war policy by quasi-patriot bombast. A modern day Rip van Winkle -- have you been asleep for the past 4 years? To bring you up to speed, most people are immune to this type of bullying anymore, even Republican 2008 presidenial candidates, as the war management and various rationales offered by this president, have been completely discredited, even when wrapped in patriotic bluster such as yours.
Hey, don't forget about Mitt Romney's kids. They are serving their country by driving around Iowa trying to help their dad get the nomination. What a sacrifice. Who knows how well the AC is working.
Posted by just sayin' on September 28, 2007 01:53 PMNone of you libs have any comments concerning the ANON saying "move to Boulder so you can recite the new Pledge of Allegiance"? You seem to pick your petty ridiculous comments carefully so you do not get overly embarrassed by your own actions. You deserve Hillary. Let's just hope we don't really have to endure her.
Posted by Dan on September 28, 2007 02:50 PMWe should all read the Democrat postings on this page.If you were a terrorist and you read these postings would you be encouraged to fight on in the war or would it make you want to stop fighting? If you were a US soldier and you read these postings would it encourage you to fight on or make you less likely to want to fight? The Democrats can say what they want but the facts show they are helping the terrorist win the war and in the process getting or brave soldiers killed and they know it!!
Posted by An American on September 28, 2007 02:55 PMDear An American.... You are mistaken. The Dems don't get it. They are in a fog. They still think Hanoi Jane did the right thing. Too bad Baldwin did not keep his word and move out of the US. As I said, they deserve Hillary. What a great poster child for what they believe in! And so it goes...
Posted by Dan on September 28, 2007 03:08 PMNotice how none of the Bush-apologists can answer a single question? It's all attack, attack, smear, smear, smear.
I am an American, I am a patriot, and I am ashamed to have an idiot like Bush as my (alleged) leader.
Posted by AnObserver on September 28, 2007 04:55 PMAmazingly my point was twisted and not taken for its meaning. Those who have never shed blood or tears will understand.
I was refering to those of you who throw insult, slander, and misinformation out. All the while hidding behind your first admendment right of free speech. You lack the common sense to remember that with free speech comes responsibility, and accountability.
You try to claim it is proBush worshipping at the alter. Once again the liberal elite have no concept of meaning.
Try listening to facts and not opinions before opening your mouths and keyboards. Claim your patiotism is in question all you want. It is not. What is in question is your knowledge of events, meaning facts and the way you assimilate them into your feable arguments.
Posted by TheFew,TheProud,MARINES on September 28, 2007 05:07 PMI was refering to those of you who throw insult, slander, and misinformation out.
Specifics, please?
Those who have never shed blood or tears will understand.
Another vague insinuation that there are only a select few (presumablly combat vets, and presumablly conservative ones at that) who are capable of participating in a dialogue about the Iraq war.
You are wrong.
” 1. We no longer have (as reported by the U.N. Human Rights Commission) a supposed 5,000 children per month starving to death as a result of our embargo on Iraq following the Gulf War.”
This is the most ironic claim I have seen this year.
So by your lights we should be congratulated for stopping our own embargo that as you said, killed 5,000 children a month? What kind of nutcase thinks that a measure of success is when they stop doing something abhorrent by doing something else that is equally abhorrent?
Dan I knew a lot of anti war people in my day and I can tell you most of them hated this country and wanted the enemy to win because of this reason.It was "my enemies,enemy is my friend" that motivated them.These people hate this country for many reasons.
Posted by An American on September 30, 2007 09:41 AM