Iraq's Election Aligns Countries Policies . . .

[kogase]

I believe fear leads to hatred (no reference intended). For example, racists being afraid of blacks "stealing" their women and jobs. So they gang up and beat the black down. Similarly, so long as Americans knew that they wouldn't be the ones fighting (the troops doing this for them), they were quite capable of turning that fear into bloodlust.

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

Originally posted by: kogase
I believe fear leads to hatred (no reference intended). For example, racists being afraid of blacks "stealing" their women and jobs. So they gang up and beat the black down. Similarly, so long as Americans knew that they wouldn't be the ones fighting (the troops doing this for them), they were quite capable of turning that fear into bloodlust.

Or maybe it was the fear that not finally directly confronting the problem would bring more 9/11s down on our heads?

The "bloodlust" claim is one of my pet peeves because it's really nothing more than hyperbole. I'm sure if you took a nationwide poll and asked if we could take care of this problem bloodlessly, the vast majority of America would love to see just that. Unfortunately there is no way to do this bloodlessly. To address this conflict requires killing because those willing to kill us have no interest in negotiation. I regret that's a fact, but it is.

I also think it's a bit myopic and crass to proclaim that most Americans are careless about the "bloodlust" because they aren't the ones doing the fighting and therefore have nothing to lose. There are many proud fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, uncles, cousins, and nephews out their that have lost someone in Iraq who would disagree with you. I'm for this war, apparently for my own determined reasons that a few in here will agree with and others won't discuss with me, and I also have a son in Iraq; a Marine. I personally have a lot to lose, however, my opinion is that we have a LOT more to lose if we didn't go over there. My son is part and parcel of what will maintain the viability and culture of this country in the future. They are helping to save all of us in the long run. If he has to die to save 100,000 others, so be it. I'm sure it would take a huge toll on me. But I'll still have millions of Americans to provide me some support and he will be living on in each and every one of them. If that's your definition of bloodlust, so be it.

 

[kogase]

Originally posted by: TastesLikeChicken

Originally posted by: kogase
I believe fear leads to hatred (no reference intended). For example, racists being afraid of blacks "stealing" their women and jobs. So they gang up and beat the black down. Similarly, so long as Americans knew that they wouldn't be the ones fighting (the troops doing this for them), they were quite capable of turning that fear into bloodlust.

Or maybe it was the fear that not finally directly confronting the problem would bring more 9/11s down on our heads?

The "bloodlust" claim is one of my pet peeves because it's really nothing more than hyperbole. I'm sure if you took a nationwide poll and asked if we could take care of this problem bloodlessly, the vast majority of America would love to see just that. Unfortunately there is no way to do this bloodlessly. To address this conflict requires killing because those willing to kill us have no interest in negotiation. I regret that's a fact, but it is.

I also think it's a bit myopic and crass to proclaim that most Americans are careless about the "bloodlust" because they aren't the ones doing the fighting and therefore have nothing to lose. There are many proud fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, uncles, cousins, and nephews out their that have lost someone in Iraq who would disagree with you. I'm for this war, apparently for my own determined reasons that a few in here will agree with and others won't discuss with me, and I also have a son in Iraq; a Marine. I personally have a lot to lose, however, my opinion is that we have a LOT more to lose if we didn't go over there. My son is part and parcel of what will maintain the viability and culture of this country in the future. They are helping to save all of us in the long run. If he has to die to save 100,000 others, so be it. I'm sure it would take a huge toll on me. But I'll still have millions of Americans to provide me some support and he will be living on in each and every one of them. If that's your definition of bloodlust, so be it.

1. You're back to assuming that the people are savy enough to come to a conclusion such as this.

2. To quote you:

"What I saw was anger, a desire for vengence, and in some cases hate. People wanted to extract their pound of flesh."

3. What percentage of the population has a close relative who is in the military? Without any solid numbers, I would assume that this percentage is relatively small. Most people can sit back and "appreciate" the convenience of a large standing army without any sacrifices (except all the taxes they foolishly think are all going into social programs).

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

Originally posted by: kogase
1. You're back to assuming that the people are savy enough to come to a conclusion such as this.

When ascertaining a situation based on a plethora of facts I can buy the blithering idiot excuse. When someone attacks us, it doesn't take a whole lot of savy to think, "Damn, we need to do sumpin' bout that pronto."

2. To quote you:

"What I saw was anger, a desire for vengence, and in some cases hate. People wanted to extract their pound of flesh."

The will for revenge or "extracting a pound of flesh" is not necessarily "bloodlust."

3. What percentage of the population has a close relative who is in the military? Without any solid numbers, I would assume that this percentage is relatively small. Most people can sit back and "appreciate" the convenience of a large standing army without any sacrifices (except all the taxes they foolishly think are all going into social programs).

How many people in this forum know somebody or have a relative in Iraq? A good number of people do. Not only that, but your statement implies that people are comfortable with potentially sending our soldiers to their death. Ascribing this rather flippant attitude as a generalization to Americans seems a bit rude as well as incorrect, ime. I don't know people like that, personally. If you do, well that sucks.

 

[kogase]

1. It would take alot of analyzing and line-drawing to link 9/11 to Iraq. In fact, it's most likely that it isn't possible at all.

2. You're splitting hairs here. Bloodlust, the desire to exact revenge through overwhelming military action against a people (let's not forget that the average American sees Iraq as Arabs just as much as they see it as Sadam), whatever.

3. So now the state of the population of this forum is proportionately identical to the state of the population of this country? With that said, I don't think I've heard that many people here say they have a close relative/friend in Iraq.

"Ascribing this rather flippant attitude as a generalization to Americans seems a bit rude as well as incorrect, ime."

Personally, I would ascribe this to the human race as a whole.

 

[MisterCornell]

Sistani believes in the seperation of church and state in the sense that he does not believe the chief mullah should also be dictator/president. That's where it ends. He's all in favor of Islamic law forming the basis for the new Iraqi law.

 

[Aimster]

Sistani is a good guy. He is just a religious guy. That's good for him. Don't force religion on others. Freedom of religion !

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

Originally posted by: MisterCornell
Sistani believes in the seperation of church and state in the sense that he does not believe the chief mullah should also be dictator/president. That's where it ends. He's all in favor of Islamic law forming the basis for the new Iraqi law.

More than likely the majority of Iraqis favor using Islamic principles as the basis for their law as well. The issue is not that Islamic principles will be used. That's a no-brainer. The issue, and question, is the depth of the implementation of Islamic principles. To what extreme will Islam be adopted?