Iraq or New Orleans?

[Laisrean]

The sniper fire, looting, assaults, rapes, etc. in New Orleans all remind me of Iraq from the time of the invasion to the present. Has anyone else seen this? I guess it proves that we're all human and have the same weaknesses, whether we are American or Iraqi.

Anyway, now that that has been said, what do you guys think of Iraq lately? Do you now see the logic in pulling out of Iraq and using the resources to rebuild our OWN country? If all our resources weren't tied up in 700+ foreign military bases and two wars perhaps our government could have responded quicker and more efficiently...

You might argue that Iraq will fall apart without our assistance, and you may be right, but I just don't care anymore. I haven't cared for a long time in fact, but this tragedy on our own soil makes me care even less. Our priorities need to be at home.

Thoughts?

[Shanti]

I care but I also see realistic sides. We can 'afford' it...especially now!!
Its sad to leave those people, but they have a start. They too need to fend for themselves.
We can not fix the world and I believe Iraq will fall whether or not we stay...it will just take longer if we stay...but it will fall. These people really have no concept of our way of life. The constitution is a mess that they wrote. They are not us.
They will change when they are ready, not when we say they should.

Hey a year from now, just like in past hurricanes..you will here about people who still havent been helped. Didnt get that promised money to rebuild and so on.

We dont do it over time here, we sure dont need to do it any longer over there.

They got a gov. They are trying to have a constitution. They have police and military. Time to cut the cord.

[SilverMaiden]

Iraq will never be what America wants to create there. It was a group of fools who thought that they could play god and create a nation in their own image that took almost 300 hundred years to create to begin with in less than that.

America has death on it's hands and in it's nostrils no matter which choice they make. If only our fools were not such fools.

[9-2-2]

Iraq will never be what America wants to create there. It was a group of fools who thought that they could play god and create a nation in their own image that took almost 300 hundred years to create to begin with in less than that.

America has death on it's hands and in it's nostrils no matter which choice they make. If only our fools were not such fools.

Holy crap... you know, I see a lot of b.s. everywhere without a single person who has the guts to be honest about how they really feel, out of fear for being moderated or yelled at.

I'm adding you to my Friends list!!! :nonono:

[Faery-Wings]

Laisrean, ITA. The money and resources- human, financial, and otherwise- needs to be *here* in the US. If we can't take care of our own, then this is not as great a country as we believe. Americans must come first in the eyes of the American govt.

If for no other reasn, the money to pay for Iraq and NO is just staggering. Where is all going to come from? The middle class is struggling? Gas prices are up, utilities are up enormously, this will cause rising costs for just about everything- food, clothes- etc.
So will I be taxed more? Can't get blood from a stone. :(

[Darkdale]

Definetly a good time to leave Iraq. We have our own looters and rapists and murderers we need to hunt down and kill now.

[Trithemius]

If the Iraqis truly want a free society, it's time they take over and make it happen themselves. Bring our troops and money home and take care of New Orleans and our people.

[PaganLibrarian]

Bring our troops and money home and take care of New Orleans and our people.

The money dedicated to Iraq has already been spent, so bringing the troops home wouldn't give us more money for New orleans. By the time the troops got back, New Orleans would be stabilized, and there would be nothing for the troops to do in New Orleans. However, we would leave Iraq in total anarchy. So nothing is gained by pulling out of Iraq.

[Laisrean]

The money dedicated to Iraq has already been spent, so bringing the troops home wouldn't give us more money for New orleans. By the time the troops got back, New Orleans would be stabilized, and there would be nothing for the troops to do in New Orleans. However, we would leave Iraq in total anarchy. So nothing is gained by pulling out of Iraq.


It is estimated that if we linger in Iraq for another 5 years the cost will balloon to 1.4 trillion dollars. We can use that money at home instead. I know you can't do anything with the money already spent, but you can stop spending more.

[PaganLibrarian]

If you want to get the US out of Iraq, that's fine. But don't try and use New Orleans as a reason to get out of Iraq. Withdrawing from Iraq will do nothing to help the situation in New Orleans.

[xstarE_nitex]

If you want to get the US out of Iraq, that's fine. But don't try and use New Orleans as a reason to get out of Iraq. Withdrawing from Iraq will do nothing to help the situation in New Orleans.


I agree...

I say we do need to bring the war in iraq to a halt pretty soon though...finish it up and bring it to a smooth stop....... and we'll have to find another way to solve the terrorisum... don't ask me how... cuz im not to sure and very comfused on that subject.... but im worried about our men and the cause and our economy.....

[Danustouch]

We could start withdrawing troops from Iraq, and some of the surrounding countries where we have military stationed, little by little. I don't like the war in Iraq, one bit. I want it over. But I do understand, somewhat the logic that "withdrawing completely from the region will not help the situation on New Orleans" to some extent, but, we're talking YEARS before New Orleans is back to itsself. Those levees alone, are going to take ALOT of man power. If we got some of our boys back, we'd have more of the manpower, and money to do it. Complete withdrawal, perhaps not the solution. But a slow withdrawal. Yes. Remember, many of those boys over there are FROM some of the hardest hit areas, Biloxi itsself has MANY men and women in the armed forces, serving in Iraq. How about bringing THEM home, so they could begin to assist THEIR families to rebuild. Give them what the government promised them in return for their service in the war?

And as someone said..we can't do anything about the dollars already spent, but we CAN stop spending more.

One of my sisters friends, aged 17, is being deployed two weeks from now (has his guardians signature, and will be turning 18 two days after his deployment). And even he says "I wish to hell they'd send me to Louisiana to help out, instead of Iraq. I'm not scared of mortar fire, or gunfire, that's not the issue" (and believe me, if you met this kid, you'd know that. He's a danger ADDICT). "But," he said.. "I am scared of getting my ass wasted over there, on people I couldn't give a shit less about" (meaning the iraqi citizens), "When there are people from my own country, right here, living in situations that make it look like a third world country. I want to do something for THEM, and once I get sent over there, that's it. I can't do anything to help them, when I'm busy avoiding bullets in some country where we're not making any progress at all...".

It breaks my heart that someone so young is being sent over to fight in a war which MOST Americans now say is pointless, and which history will probably record as a "mistake". (yes, I know that will ruffle feathers, but even many vets of battle of the bulge i've spoken with recently who are staying at one of my hotels, have said that much). But what broke it even more than normally hearing such news, was hearing his internal struggle on this...he's going over to fight in a war, that he really can't see the logic of, when there are people over here, down there, who he can tangibly see the logic, and humanity of helping.

It's just sad.