Submitted by Brandon, Aug 1, 2007 14:46

Anyone who talks of a war in terms of "winning" and "losing" deserves scorn. This is NOT some game. And writing off critics as "liberals" demeans the debate and is irresponsibly lazy.

First of all, if we're going to laud General Petreus, let's do so in his own terms: this entire strategy is by his own admission an attempt to stave off disaster. It's the best he can do. At present, Iraqi casualties are only down when compared with even worse months -- and they're up again in July over June -- which is the same roller coaster we've been treated to time and again. If things really ARE better this time, we're not served by political leaders who should benefit as they would say the same thing, and have, no matter how ugly the situation.

We should stop talking about Al Qaida as if its defeat in Iraq is a progress from the situation we had in 2003. Al Qaida was not in Iraq prior to any more a degree -- in fact, less -- than it was present in any other major Arab nation in the region. Al Qaida in 2003 was no more in Iraq than it was in Pakistan, in Saudi Arabia, in Egypt, in Libya, in Syria. Now after the invasion granted them access in Iraq, the Sunnis are trying to throw them out. Congratulations -- but there's no hinge of logic dictating that this is anything more than a marriage of convenience. When Al Qaida is muzzled, where will those weapons be pointed at next?

And all you people can do is suggest the war is being lost by the ineffectual resistance to it on the home front. That free speech being given to liberals is encouraging your "enemy" who in Iraq hasn't the electricity to even watch the broadcasts you so pillory. You people don't give a damn about Iraq any more than the people who want to leave. You don't really give a damn about the civilians, you don't really care about your own soldiers -- you don't even REALLY care about the United States. Anti-War Frenchmen give more of a damn about the US than you fairweather "patriots":

Beacuse you just give a damn about winning.

You'd justify any policy, ignore any reason, let any amount of blood be spilled just so you'll win. It's not America's or Iraq's future you care about if the US leaves Iraq: it's your OWN rhetorical positions! If America leaves you'll be the first to kick it when it's down saying "oh we've lost the will of our ancestors", "oh the liberals have overrun the country", "oh we don't deserve this or that anymore because we're so ineffectual".

You're a bunch of goddamn cowards. Not to take a bullet, but to face up to what you advocate. All you do is blame. It was the liberals that lost it even though they had no power in Congress most of the time. It was the dumb administration we voted for four times if you count both elections and thier primaries. It was because we weren't tough enough. It was this, it was that.

The problems you experience now are SELF-EVIDENT to the decision making you advocated. Were the war everything you thought it to be, you would not be having these problems. PERIOD. It's not the liberals fault, it's not the doves of peace, it's not the realists who tried to avert it. It's the fault of the Jihadis who attack you so ruthlessly, and your own selves for getting drawn into thier trap.

Just because you took down Saddam doesn't mean you rescued anyone. It doesn't mean you're 'good'. You were better late than never at best on that count, after he'd apparently killed off so many people and nothing was done. And then you go, and end up destroying everything south of Kudistan in order to save it. Your errors and miscalculations have killed more Iraqis (600,000 in 2005 in a study that's much more relaiable than any of the others that have come out) than Saddam ever did INTENTIONALLY! This is what happens when you plan with crayons! If you really cared about Iraq, there would have been better plans. If you really cared about AMERICA, there would have been better plans, because you would have held your leaders to account.

Shame on you. If you're worried about disappointing your ancestors if you pull out, worry not: you already have.

Note: Comments are screened, and in some cases edited, before posting. We reserve the right to reject anything we find objectionable.