Doesn't the Iraq war seem to be more about consolidating Republican power at home?
344569
I think metcalf has it half right. This war was intended as payback for the powerful corporations (most notably Halliburton and the oil companies) who backed bush's political campaigns in 2000 and 2004. These companies are making a fortune off the deaths of young American and British soldiers, to say nothing of the staggering Iraqi civilian casualties. It is a disgrace!\n\nAs far as consolidating republican power on the homefront, it's a decidedly mixed bag, I think. The lockstep majority are of course falling in line behind their idiot king, georgie the incompetent, and many will go down with his ship of state (aka ship of fools). But I am seeing increasing signs of dissent in the ranks. Censure and even impeachment (sweet Jesus, let it be so!) could be in the offing if the Democrats can retake control of the House and/or Senate in the 2006 elections. \n\nThat said, the blood money from this illegal and immoral war has filled the GOP coffers to overflowing. So by virtue of that fact, yes, the consolidation of republican power has been achieved. Money is the name of the game in Washington and those bastards have plenty of it now. Still, I am not without hope of something vaguely resembling justice prevailing when all is said and done in this, the worst period in modern US history.
979663
Not much different ... Iraq is a tough call though ...I think that the collection of advisors and administration personnel who were in this Whitehouse in 2002-2003 sent us to war there.  In a Quale administration it would be a safe bet to say that most of those folks would be in his administration as well.  What the outcome would have been is a different story.
947554
Kudos to you for realizing that the war in Iraq should have nothing to do with taking away our liberties here at home.  The Bush administrations justifications for such legislation is nothing but an obfuscation of their real intentions.  How 18 Saudi's armed with box cutters makes politicians think they can cut into our constitutional rights is beyond me.  \nWhen you look at the religions over there and how they all demonize the west and look to an apocalypse where there savior arises (out of a well or whatever) to reclaim the lost lands it has to make you somewhat concerned.  However, bombing and killing and invading their lands is not going to help the situation, it's only sped up the process!!\nIt's all a racket to me--it's the only logical explanation.  Start a war, hire your buddies, use weapons made by your buddies and contract them to make more, steal the oil, create a strong military presence to enable the looting of the oil, and then lie about it till your prosecuted in a court of law where you hand picked the Judges.  It's a beautiful thing!! \nThis sitting around waiting for the Dems to take office and prosecute these bastards is driving me nuts!!
733247
Tough question considering that they war on terror is not technically supposed to be a war against any certain nation yet we focus on the middle east and its extremist religions. The Iraqi forces are having trouble organizing because of the sectarian nature of the population. This seems to me like it would provide a great and easy avenue for the organized entrance into our nation of small coordinated covert extremist terrorist groups. I hate to say it.
334649
If America has another 4-8 years run of Republicans we will have to back up all our warmongering with this Administration. The World is waiting for the American people to step in and take back the Country. If it doesn't happen soon, America will have real problems right here at home with it's own people. This whole thing has weakened America because we are divided with the minority in power. If it doesn't change, look for a Civil war right here. That would make it real easy for another Country like China to just walk in. The Republicans are way out of line with their politics to the World and to Americans at home right now. It's far from over, and I suggest you better save your money.
922388
Of course its a Republican war.  Republicans just don't want to be accountable to their own disastorous policies.  \n\nIt was Bush's decision to go against the UN and "go it alone".  And while Democrats supported the resolution to go into Iraq....and had to in order to support Afghanistan which was tied into the war bill by Republicans....and find the WMDs and get Suddam, they never supported this long, drawn out occupation strategy that Bush inserted after-the-fact.
858903
no, it's just that liberals have so much in their party to deal with, by that i mean sub-divided special interest groups, and have no focus. it is obvious when you ask them about a plan to get out of iraq. while the president says" stay the course" over and over the democrats say " we need to change course". over and over with no clear alternative to bush. multiply this by 1000 and " thar ye gowe". lack of focus.
743287
Just about all wars see major shifts in goals and tactics at some point making the original goals and tactics obsolete.  If we leave Iraq tomorrow the result would be a major power struggle resulting in a winner.  that winner will be the badest of the bunch and most likely hate the west.  We will leave him the 2nd largest oil reserves in the world.  He will spend that oil wealth on exporting terror with the best weapons money can buy.  We are part of this world we better have a force there!!
705875
No, not at all.  It would be more dangerous by far to elect more Republicans who have so far screwed up every possible aspect of the wars.\n\nAnd I'm a conservative.
960364
It is B S.  The terrorists won when the US government went into Iraq (which has never been part of the war on terror as Saddam had no links, in fact hated, extremist organizations) without a plan.  By starting that war the US government lost global respect by botching it ever since the US government lost the respect of the people.\n\nThe simple fact that the GOP has lead a do nothing congress for so long has lead to their own demise. They need to suck it up and admit they themselves lost the support of the people and stop blaming terrorists.
792731
Yes.  The Iraq war and the consequences of it for this country and  the Middle East make it one of the most significant events of our time.  The fact that it was based on lies, and that it was not a response to 9/11 but rather an attempt to capitalize on 9/11 to advance geopolitical and  economic advantage, make it a profound act of deception on this country and the world.  Now that it has turned into the horror that it is, with the loss of so much life, so much destruction for Iraq, so much treasure lost both here and in Iraq, and that it has galvanized the Muslim world agaainst us, all eyes now turn to the Republicans who blindly followed and supported this.  To pretend they did not know what was happening, or they were "just following orders" will not save them from the consequences of their decisions and actions.  They claimed loudly that they were going to be the party of morals and ethics, that we could trust them with the mantle of power and authority, especially in foreign affairs,  in this most pivotal moment in history.  The fact that they so completely fumbled the ball and abdicated their trust at this moment will not be forgotten for some time.  I know the next time a Republican says a Democrat cannot be trusted to handle foreign policy, or that only conservative Republicans can be trusted to handle things like the deficits, or says they are the party that takes the high road in morals and ethics, I know  my response will first be gallows humor, followed shortly by contempt.  It  will be a long time before I ever support a Republican again.  Bush and Cheney, and those that supported them have done more to damage the reputation of the Republican Party than anything I can remember, even more than anything Nixon ever dreamed of doing.
936400
I prefer to think our war is over and we are providing security while Iraq establishes its democratic government.  I think that has become our role.\n\nLiberals prefer to call it "Bush's war in Iraq," which strikes me as pure terrorist propaganda.\n\nEither way, we are likely to be there a while.
984271
Iraq is just practice for the war they plan to start in America. Now that minorities have more combined votes, the neocons are trying to destroy the US Constitution so they can remain in power. Conservative Christians  and republicans only believe in a democratic republic as long as they are in power and they will destroy it to remain in power. For them, the Constitution is just a piece of paper.\n\n-------------------------------------------------\nwallsatla... -\nLincoln was President 150 years ago and is not relevant to the question. Nevertheless, Lincoln would detest Bush and the neocons - just as America's Founding Fathers would - just as Goldwater would. The Republican party of today is the Democratic party of yesterday - you know...the ones wearing sheets and burning crosses.
726905
The situation in Iraq reminds me of trying to hold water in your bare hands.  The present government is like a Mirage in the desert, and will surely fall, maybe as soon as this week if the Shiites threat holds up.  If we leave Iraq will collapse.  If we stay it will collapse slower, but still collapse.  The idea that fundamentalists, no matter of what stripe, will have control of Iraq's oil I'm sure is making people sweat all over the world.  Oil must be reasonably stable.  To accomplish this end,  Bush is going to have to open this up and really include the rest of the world in discussions, military personnel, planning, and execution,  if there is any hope at this point  Let us hope that it is not too late for some form of reasonable solution to be worked out.
80538
I think there's a distinct possibility that the Republicans could lose their majority in the House and Senate.  Iraq stands at the top of a growing list of concerns that Americans have about the leadership of the country.\n\nIraq has become a quagmire with no good solution in sight.  To stay invites more of our young men and women to lose some part of the life they could have had without fighting such a needless battle.  To leave now suggests those who have already lost did so for no good reason.  \n\nThe question many Americans ask is: who got us here?  It's too late to punish President Bush; even if they wanted to, John Kerry never seemed presidential enough to do the job.  With the mid-term elections just ahead, they may likely look to those who have championed Bush's cause again and again and take it out on them.  All the Democrats need are enough candidates who can tell that story and Bush may find his last two years in office a whole lot different than the first six.
843632
I heard all the talk, they try to make you feel that you are a rat jumping from a sinking ship. At least the Democrats want to set a timetable to get out of Iraq. I feel this is a good idea. One it would force the new leader in Iraq to get his police force in line.
951862
Right now the republicans are using scare tactics to try and hold their position.\n" If Democrats take over, they will withdraw from the war and make every American citizen a target or terror!!!"\nGive me a break.\nRegardless the political agenda, Americans will vote by what they want from the government, not what the government wants from them, even though it may not make a difference.\nJust watch what happens, and maybe you will agree it is time to change ALL of government, not just the persons in it.