Iraq, Iran, etc.. your perspective?

NJI · #1 01-23-2007, 04:42 AM

It's been brought up before but with the US President's new Iraq "plan", increasing violence in Iraq, tensions with Iran and North Korea, unrelenting Al Queda threads, democratic "control" (do they even have it?), and the slew of other things looking downhill I'm curious as to what your perspectives are... ?

I feel that Bush is leading the US down a very dark path due to his arrogance and stubborness to change his ways. With him sitting where he is I can't rationalize a clear way out of the mess that we're in. The hardliner Iranian President scares the hell out of me and I'm worried Isreal may step in like they did towards Iraq's attemped nuclear program in the 80s and push the world towards an even bigger mess. The democrats have majority in the house/senate but to me it often looks as if they're still powerless to cause any significant change.

Just so you can understand where I come from I'm 22 on active duty in the air force and there's a very good chance I'm headed to Iraq or Afghanistan this summer. For the first time since I've been in I'm actually pretty scared... more like terrified.

Zee-German · #2 01-23-2007, 05:25 AM

Well, i plan to enlist soon in the Marine Corps, or Army Airborne, so i'd be guarenteed to be sent to the sandbox.

The problem is were an occupation force. We send out our troops to patrol, but thats how there getting killed. When you sit in a hostile zone long enough, your going to eventually be hit. Thats whats going on in Iraq.

Unlike the Vietnam War, the territory we have isnt being invaded.

But give the war a bit more time, and something very bad might happen, equivilent to the Tet Offensive. Americans wont put up with it any longer and demand the troops come back, via congressional act or impeachment of the president.

If we do war with North Korea, it will probably be a Joint Operation. S. Korea will obviously fight, China will fight. North Korea will be isolated, and China did state when N. Korea was doing nuclear testing that they could cut off N. Koreas food supplies/any supplies.

But if US got involved, i have a feeling it would be a real war. Depending on the intensity, we might have Airborne incursions, WWII status. But i cant see that happening anytime in the future, with all the technology we have. We'd probably first bomb the hell out of N. Koreas infrastructure, starve them to death, then send in the troops to secure it.

NJI · #3 01-23-2007, 11:12 AM

I think it's pretty crazy that even China opposes North Korea. But then again, North Korea is being pretty stupid.

Anyone have any views on the the UN Security Councel? I think the whole setup; the big 5, the temporary seats on the board, is all bs and it shouldn't be run that way.

TForce · #4 01-23-2007, 01:48 PM

It's this whole "axis of evil"/personal "calling from God" thing that I have an issue with, like Bush is trying to exploit End Times philosophy to bring an end to the major differences in world politics. I don't want to pay for his end. I would rather move to New Zealand. You see China being the negotiators that they are. Let lunatics be lunatics, cast-outs. Nuclear futures are a reality. Trying to control it like the FBI is a hopeless dream, unless we can change the entire mindset of every single Iranian and garner a coup under their noses. Now that it has been invented, it is only a matter of time before we either kiss and make up or blow ourselves up, one country at a time. As always, it is fear that drives people, fear of unknown futures.

LayWarrior · #5 01-23-2007, 02:14 PM

At first i thought the downfall of saddam and all would be a positive thing,but how my opinion has changed. I think the whole "war" is a joke.
This is a war that has gone on for centuries the conflict between christian and muslim faiths it dates back to before the crusades etc. and i can imagine it will continue for a long time as well.

In my opinion the best option for the coalition in Iraq is just to pull out, even though there would be embarresment for the leaders and a civil war, i beleive that less people would die and be wounded in doing so.

As for Korea, I cant see the USA crossing the parallel again i reckon at some point in the future there'll be peace talks.

- Matt

rickck48 · #6 01-23-2007, 02:44 PM

NJI one thing we must do for this situation is to pray for all our leaders that they will see the right directions! Amen! [img]/forum/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

rickck48 · #7 01-23-2007, 02:45 PM

ZEE, my advice is to join the 82nd AB reasosing,,I was in it and it's the greatest uniy nbesides
Rangers to me, I wa salso a Ranger! God Bless and good luck! [img]/forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

DrumLaxer · #8 01-23-2007, 05:03 PM

The problem with Iraq is its a sectarian war right now between religious groups and we are trying to get them to be one big happy family. A democractic Iraq is extremely difficult when the US is backing one religious group over another (and both are killing each other). Bringing more troops will bring stability... for now. Al-Sadr has employed his political people to stop their boycott of the government and he has disarmed his military. He knows now if the violence continues he will be shut down. So on that reasoning Bush's increase of military occupation may give through to more peace talks.

As for Iran, anyone else notice how much the Iranian President and Barak Obama dress alike? Little too close for comfort for me to vote for him for President. The biggest problem with Iran is they are supplying religious groups in Iraq, Syria and Lebanon. With that influence they have a strong force if all groups are brought together.

The Middle East in my mind is a cultural area that the US will never be able to figure out. War seems to be our main route right now, but if we need to flex our militar muscle a little to get a strong response to peace talks, than I agree with it. I feel Bush has a reasonable plan, backing out would have been the worse thing we could have done. When we left Germany after WWI it lead the rise of Nazism and WWII, we will never make that mistake again.

As for North Korea, they wont do anything. They are more afraid of China then they are of us. They just want attention.

the alchemist · #9 01-23-2007, 05:09 PM

Post deleted by Old School

Zee-German · #10 01-23-2007, 05:12 PM

[ QUOTE ]
ZEE, my advice is to join the 82nd AB reasosing,,I was in it and it's the greatest uniy nbesides
Rangers to me, I wa salso a Ranger! God Bless and good luck! [img]/forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

Aye, i really want to do the Ranger Indoc Program, but right now, im pretty sure they wouldnt accept me to go to Ranger school. I was reading over some of the stuff. Run 5 miles at an 8 minute mile pace?!

I wonder if Basic/Airborne school would help me with that.