Topic: Was it worth it?

Redneck · August 27th, 2003

To be honest, I wouldn't have cared if the reports were fake (which I must VERY strongly stress I do not believe to be the case), although it would have of course lowered those involved in my esteem, I still would have supported the decision to go to Iraq. I believe that what we have accomplished and will accomplish there has and will further justify the war. The thousands upon thousands who have died under Saddam and would almost certainly have continued to die as a result of his "reign of terror" demanded action. Our position as a super power makes it, in my opinion, our duty to act in the defense of those who do not have the ability to do so themselves (De Oppresso Liber, right?). Obviously there is no way for us to "clean up" the entire world, but when we have the opportunity to clean one corner of it while at the same time increasing international security (a point many would like to argue, but one that I feel must not be declared either way until more time has passed, neither Rome nor peace were built in a day), there is no excuse for NOT doing everything in our power to do so.
I know that it may seem as though I am playing armchair quarterback, and no doubt some will dismiss my opinion as the result of "not having been there," I am not wholly out of it. For myself, I am requesting a station in the middle east with the Armored Cavalry upon completion of my ROTC, and at that point it is in the Army's hands. One of my buddies that I grew up with WAS actually wounded in action during his service with the 3rd ID in Iraq, and many of my friends are still over there. I pray for their safe return, and I stand 100% behind what they are fighting for in Iraq.
(Not to say the war and the post-war situation have been run perfectly, but they are about as good or better than any such situation has ever been throughout history.)

August 27th, 2003
Redneck Buttercup	To be honest, I wouldn't have cared if the reports were fake (which I must VERY strongly stress I do not believe to be the case), although it would have of course lowered those involved in my esteem, I still would have supported the decision to go to Iraq. I believe that what we have accomplished and will accomplish there has and will further justify the war. The thousands upon thousands who have died under Saddam and would almost certainly have continued to die as a result of his "reign of terror" demanded action. Our position as a super power makes it, in my opinion, our duty to act in the defense of those who do not have the ability to do so themselves (De Oppresso Liber, right?). Obviously there is no way for us to "clean up" the entire world, but when we have the opportunity to clean one corner of it while at the same time increasing international security (a point many would like to argue, but one that I feel must not be declared either way until more time has passed, neither Rome nor peace were built in a day), there is no excuse for NOT doing everything in our power to do so. I know that it may seem as though I am playing armchair quarterback, and no doubt some will dismiss my opinion as the result of "not having been there," I am not wholly out of it. For myself, I am requesting a station in the middle east with the Armored Cavalry upon completion of my ROTC, and at that point it is in the Army's hands. One of my buddies that I grew up with WAS actually wounded in action during his service with the 3rd ID in Iraq, and many of my friends are still over there. I pray for their safe return, and I stand 100% behind what they are fighting for in Iraq. (Not to say the war and the post-war situation have been run perfectly, but they are about as good or better than any such situation has ever been throughout history.) __________________ No boom, no boom, no boom, Amen.