Mooski

No, he was a singer in a 1960s rock band.

Kallinan

Heh, didn't realize my little comment of "will use other nationalities until the 2008 elections" would create such a firestorm. I only read through half the essays above, so apologies if I missed some important stuff. As an American, I'll elaborate on my point of view.

9/11 happened. I *do* think we provoked it through past foreign policies of intervention, bullying, and occupation (why the hell are we still in Germany & Korea?). But that doesn't justify 9/11. Because of 9/11, I largely support America's efforts in Afghanistan.

The Iraq war is a sham. Bush & his cronies are war hawks, who were looking for an excuse to invade. Hussein - while a destabilizing force, tyrrant, and murderer - was not an imminent threat to other countries. The American government forged a reason (WMD) to go to Iraq - a reason which has been proven to be wrong. And anyone who thinks this was an honest mistake has their head in the sand. It was a deliberate deception by Bush & Co.

That Bush convinced 52% of the American people this was A Good Idea and should re-elect him is a real low point in American history. It's also a testament to the spin doctors of the American government.

We all have biases & have to wade through propaganda. Ignats is obviously living in some American-superpower dream world. But Pangaea is also guilty of subcumming to some anti-American propoganda or biases. The one quote that caught me was that there were no terrorists training in Iraq or any part of that world. That's bullshit. There's probably terrorists training in every country in the world. They may not be all state sponsored, but they're everywhere. If they're managing to covertly train in first-world countries, of course they can easily train in third-world countries.

Sadly, Iran has this crazy fundy President who might turn out to be a real threat. But after Iraq, the US has lost just about any credibility with the rest of the world. This gives Iran leverage - if the US attacks, we're seen as unstoppable bullies, and we further risk the world turning against us. Let Iran go, and they just *might* throw nukes at Israel. Great job, Bush.

In conclusion, Hussein & Hitler aren't that far apart. They both committed genocide, and Hussein probably would have loved to conquer an empire if he had the resources. Sadly, while the US isn't generally into genocide, I do think Bush is also a war criminal. I have to admit I'd love to see him tried for what he's done.

Pangaea

I think it was wrong to attack Afghanistan too, but I understand why it was done. It could have been done in a much better way, but that's a different story. Iraq was a massive mistake and failure on just about every level. Military it's one of the worst defeats in history. 200,000 soldiers from the biggest military suporpower in history can't get control over a country that has been crippled by continued bombing and sanctions for 15 years. This is simply astonishing. This would clearly be the wrong reason to kick Rummy out, but it should be reason enough.

I don't think I said there were no terrorists in the world before 9/11, but there wasn't any terrorists in Iraq at that point. Even if we accept that terrorism is only acts done against Western or Western-friendly countries which is Bush' and Blair's definition, there was terror before 9/11. Not even close to the level we have today, but still some. The biggest result of the "war on terror" is a tremendous increase in the level of terror globally. And that is even if we exclude the terror of states such as the UK and the US. This is something everybody can see. As mentioned before, not even the CIA could find evidence of terrorists in Iraq, or ties to bin Laden or Al Qaida.

I generally agree with you though. The US has done a heap of mistakes lately, and it doesn't look like they'll learn either.

Ignats75

I wasn't going to reply anymore because in my 49 years on this planet I learned a long time ago that its a waste of time to argue with ignorance, but I can't let that comment go.

If you call dealing directly with the people involved in the war effort, and knowing people who are serving over there now, and knowing people who have given the ultimate sacrifice for the civilians of Iraq, then fine call it a dream world. But I base my opinions not upon the bile spewed by hidden agenda commentators or subversive college professors like the idiot in Colorado; but instead upon first person accounts from people that know more about the situation than the sum total of every one on this forum.

What separates the Western Civilized world from the poverty and savagry of places like Somalia, isn't race....its the geopolitical and socioeconomic system that is led by the free democracies of the world----USA, UK, Japan, et al. So sit there at your CPU playing your game, and remember, your life is a whole lot better than a couple billion other prople on this planet because of the leadership of the US.

Hogie

I agree with you completely unfortunately the victor is never charged with war crimes. So Bush will never be held accountable for the ten of thousands of people that have died as a result of his decisions.

Hogie

Ignats71: You know what, America has WMD’s we have a leader whose guilty of war crimes our “democracy” is base on people voting and then one man “A judge” deciding whose votes to count.

Maybe the Canadians should come in and save us from President Bush, hey what the hell if we get him in the end it has got to be worth the 100,000 innocent Americans killed in the meantime.

seamus

Canadians?

Hell, why not the Mexicans, they're already here.

Hogie

I did consider the Mexicans as there are already 12 million of them here but I wanted to demonstrate that it was an invasion from outside not a revolution from within.

Pangaea

I think the population of Iraq may have a slightly different view of the US. The US/UK/etc soldiers aren't in Iraq on behalf of the Iraqi people. 1% wants them there according to the latest poll. You may remember the world didn't quite agree with the US leaders either. I'm sure the soldiers belive they are there on behalf of the Iraqi population. That's what propaganda is for. Make people believe absurd things so they are more willing to commit atrocities.

Africa is a lot worse off because of US and European actions. The war supporting efforts is one thing, which is horrible enough. Then it's the slave-"trade" and colonization of the past. Now the IMF and World Bank are doing their part of the deal, and it's not helping one bit. The US should be a bit cautious about spreading democracy abroad, when they have a huge democratic deficit at home. Remember that Bush lost the election of 2000, and there were problems with the 2004 election as well. He wasn't elected, he was selected.

Giziar

Oi normal thinking yanks.

If you need a bit more balance in your next election you could go for the option that The Netherlands should vote as 51st state. Not that abonormal as we founded your biggest city.

Anyhow, Dubya would have to campaign very hard to come in second then