tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16594468.post115041835008420469..comments2023-10-24T04:29:23.693-06:00Comments on Atheist Ethicist: House Resolution 861: Iraq and TerrorismAlonzo Fyfehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05687777216426347054noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16594468.post-1150501746561951292006-06-16T17:49:00.000-06:002006-06-16T17:49:00.000-06:00There is an 800 lb gorilla in the living room. In ...There is an 800 lb gorilla in the living room. In the minds of many Americans (and foreigners) a secret is being kept. A secret that is not openly discussed for fear of revealing the hidden motive for approving military action in Iraq. It is not discussed because it is immoral. Many innocent Iraqi lives were lost as a result. Americans are chasing the American dream and oil is the key ingredient.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16594468.post-1150460558163433112006-06-16T06:22:00.000-06:002006-06-16T06:22:00.000-06:00I do not know about the wisdom of staying versus l...I do not know about the wisdom of staying versus leaving either. I have the same questions you have.<BR/><BR/>However, the point is that these are questions I have, and those who insist on a withdraw are not giving me any answers.<BR/><BR/>(1) Bush's incompetence is not an argument either way -- an incompetent withdraw may be worse than an incompetent continuation.<BR/><BR/>(2) The only people whose opinions I am concerned about as to whether we stay or go are the innocent civilians. If the murderers want us to go, that does not matter.<BR/><BR/>(3) Insurgency fueled by US occupation should only target US forces and not kill civilians. My concern is with the murder of civilians. If US occupation is fueling the murder of Iraqi civilians, then somebody has a very poor aim.<BR/><BR/>(4) Bush should not have started this war without a plan in place to have a substantial Muslim presence among the occupying force by including Muslim countries among the coalition forces. Papa Bush saw the wisdom in this. It would still be wise to find Muslim allies, but Baby Bush seems to lack the wisdom to pursue that option.<BR/><BR/>In short, I am not necessarily opposed to withdrawing our forces. However, I want to see a plan that shows that the planners made a decent effort to secure innocent lives. I'm not seeing much concern in this area among those arguing for a withdraw.Alonzo Fyfehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05687777216426347054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16594468.post-1150433908652471892006-06-15T22:58:00.000-06:002006-06-15T22:58:00.000-06:00I used to be against withdrawing troops because I ...I used to be against withdrawing troops because I felt we had an obligation to fix what we broke. Now I'm not so sure (that we shouldn't withdraw.)<BR/><BR/>The issues I have are:<BR/>1. Lack of confidence in the Bush administration. I doubt they have the competence to "fix" Iraq.<BR/>2. If the people of Iraq don't want us there (and as far as I know polls show they don't) is it right to stay when we are not wanted?<BR/>3. I wonder if charges that the US occupation is fueling the insurgency are correct. That if we were to withdraw it would take the wind out of their sails, so to speak.<BR/>4. I have a hunch that a UN backed force would be better recieved in the region.<BR/><BR/>I still have not made up my mind. What bothers me is when the issue is framed in such away that it is suggested that those who propose withdrawing troops don't care about the fate of Iraq. That is certainly the case for a number of individuals (probably the same kind of individuals who don't approve of Bush not because of principle, but because the war isn't going well), but it is not <I>neccesarily</I> the case that someone in favor of withdrawing troops is unconcerned with the fate of Iraq.Hume's Ghosthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13551684109760430351noreply@blogger.com