Agree to disagree on this, as we both know. You make assumptions that it was necessary, I say it wasn't. I'd say my thinking has been proven to be more true since the decision was made to go in, echoed by many former Bush supporters. I haven't heard many people changing their mind the other direction lately, have you?
So, directly to your comments, I would have been happy Bush took same approach Clinton did in regards to Iraq. I don't think we should have gone in there, and I have been consistent on this from day one of posting here.
Billions on the war on terror is defendable and probably justifiable in many situations. Like Afganistan, for instance, against the real terrorists that committed the crimes against us. Billions for the war in Iraq is not justified in my opinion, because it didn't have anything to do with the war on terror. I don't doubt there were terrorists in that country, I'm sure there are terrorists in every country. But that is not the point. Billions for a claimed war on terror in Iraq is just not a true statement.
It was elective, and not justified. The reasons we were given to buy into were untrue. We have lost money, lives, and have weakened our overall preparedness against fighting terror in appropriate places - places known to have terrorists that are motivated and able to strike us. We have lost political capital in the world. We are looked at in contempt in far more places than we are looked at as being strong and putting freedom on some kind of march.
We've lost a lot because of this, and have jack to show for it. My opinion, of course. I guess I could ask what have we gained from this? Might be a better question to ask.
So, directly to your comments, I would have been happy Bush took same approach Clinton did in regards to Iraq. I don't think we should have gone in there, and I have been consistent on this from day one of posting here.
Billions on the war on terror is defendable and probably justifiable in many situations. Like Afganistan, for instance, against the real terrorists that committed the crimes against us. Billions for the war in Iraq is not justified in my opinion, because it didn't have anything to do with the war on terror. I don't doubt there were terrorists in that country, I'm sure there are terrorists in every country. But that is not the point. Billions for a claimed war on terror in Iraq is just not a true statement.
It was elective, and not justified. The reasons we were given to buy into were untrue. We have lost money, lives, and have weakened our overall preparedness against fighting terror in appropriate places - places known to have terrorists that are motivated and able to strike us. We have lost political capital in the world. We are looked at in contempt in far more places than we are looked at as being strong and putting freedom on some kind of march.
We've lost a lot because of this, and have jack to show for it. My opinion, of course. I guess I could ask what have we gained from this? Might be a better question to ask.