I have friends who have spent years of there lives in Iraq. I was very disappointed and saddened that obama did not call it a victory. I feel he did this for political reasons and on the backs of the men and women who serve/served over there who deserve regardless of political risk to be given that respect. lost a lot of respect for him in that 22min speech.
Anybody else dislike Obamas prepared speech last night?
- Thread starter Chapdog
- Start date
DamnYankee
Loyal to the end
Why did you have any respect for The Obama in the first place?
I have a tremendous amount of respect for President Obama. I disagree with him in many areas of policy but I have a great deal of respect for him.
As to him not using the word "victory" last night, I really don't know what to make of it. I can see him wanting to distance himself from the likes of the "mission accomplished" speech of GW Bush, but I think he needed to find a way to acknowledge the great job the enlisted folks did over there...you know, other than a "pat on the back" sort of wording. He was/is between the veritable rock and hard place.
As to him not using the word "victory" last night, I really don't know what to make of it. I can see him wanting to distance himself from the likes of the "mission accomplished" speech of GW Bush, but I think he needed to find a way to acknowledge the great job the enlisted folks did over there...you know, other than a "pat on the back" sort of wording. He was/is between the veritable rock and hard place.
DamnYankee
Loyal to the end
Since The Obama was originally against the surge, he should have at least acknowledged that Bush was right.
Weeelllllllll....He kind of borderline did, but I do admit that one had to read between the lines to find it. Politicians.
You can respect and thank the men for serving even if the war was not a victory. In fact I belive you dishonor the men if you call it a victory when it was not.
Bush was not right... so why pretend?
10 US objectives met and major fighting over after 21 days, Saddam ousted, his sons KIA, his military decimated .......the war,
A total victory....
and now the occupation and rebuilding of Iraq a success....at least to date....
the surge wroked
an agreement to withdraw the troops sign and sealed in 2008
and thanks to Obama, its provisions are accomplished
VICTORY....
A total victory....
and now the occupation and rebuilding of Iraq a success....at least to date....
the surge wroked
an agreement to withdraw the troops sign and sealed in 2008
and thanks to Obama, its provisions are accomplished
VICTORY....
DamnYankee
Loyal to the end
The Surge didn't work?
FUCK THE POLICE
911 EVERY DAY
There's still 50k troops there. You can put all the lipstick you want on a pig, but it's still a pig.
Thanks Sarah....LOL!!! That was funny. A good way to start my morning.
Yes, Jarod, some people take things way too seriously. I think that often. But then ... I try to remind myself that what is a serious issue to some folks isn't necessarily a serious issue to me ... and vice versa. Kind of keeps me in balance.
Thats true... Its a good thing to remember.
Success of the surge is an open question, and it depends on the goal. Sure you can redefine the goal looking back.... but what was the goal at the outset?
Sure we could have nuked Iraq and the fighting would have been greatly reduced, would that have been considered a success?
christiefan915
Catalyst
Statistics below. Referring to this as a "victory" makes me sick.
U.S. and coalition lives lost: 4700+
U.S. and coalition wounded: 31,902
Journalists killed: 141
Iraqi troops killed: ?
The Pentagon couldn't be bothered to count. Independent estimates can only be extrapolated and run from 30K to 300K.
Documented Iraqi civilian deaths from violence: 97,642 – 106,540.
Internally displaced persons: 2,700,000.
Today most Iraqis have limited access to essential basic services, including electricity, water supply, sanitation, and refuse collection.
Iraq’s power plants operate at less than half of their feasible capacity. This is caused by a number of factors. First, Iraqis have problems operating, maintaining, and sustaining the plants installed by the Americans. Before the U.S. invasion, Iraq relied largely upon foreigners to operate their electrical system. These technicians have mostly left, and Iraq has a shortage of trained personnel because of the war. That means plants are often broken, under repair, or under producing. Another problem is that when the U.S. began its reconstruction effort in Iraq it installed western style turbines, which rely upon natural gas. Iraq has plenty of that resource, but it has never been developed. That means many of these turbines have to run on fuel instead, which burns out the equipment, causing more technical and maintenance difficulties. Iraq has also had severe fuel shortages to run the plants.
Serious environmental and health risks associated with contaminated water supplies, inappropriate handling of solid waste, and disposal of sewage threaten to further burden the already stressed health system.
The education system continues to face considerable challenges in terms of both access and quality due to lack of facilities, learning materials, access to the international community and depletion of highly trained staff.
Unemployment remains high, as does inflation, though it is far below the over 60 percent level seen just a few years ago.
http://icasualties.org/Iraq/Index.aspx
http://www.iraqbodycount.org/graphs/gunexec.php
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,973189,00.html
I still cant see why President Obama did not declare VICTORY?
Because he predicted there was absolutely no possible way to bring a victory. It wouldn't take long before those old tidbits were smoking up the internet. Let's get nostalgic...
Do you remember when he said it was a "failed war" and voted against the strategy that brought that victory?
I just think it was distasteful. The ethos coming out of that speech is one of defeat not victory. I think the commander of the military owes it to those who got the short end of the stick fighting in Iraq to at least be paid there dues and declare victory. If there is a loss/victory category Iraq is certainly in the victory category.
To me its like having a boss who didnt agree with the way you were going to do a project. but then when you hit it out of the ballpark he/she was to much of an asshole to give you credit and pay you complement out of spite.
To me its like having a boss who didnt agree with the way you were going to do a project. but then when you hit it out of the ballpark he/she was to much of an asshole to give you credit and pay you complement out of spite.
Minister of Truth
Practically Perfect
I liked his unprepared speech.