How is fighting in Iraq saving my freedom??
474530
It's not. It's saving the Iraqi's freedoms. Are you so selfish to think that we are the only country worthy of freedom?\n\nI've been there. I saw women beaten and raped on the streets by Saddam's Death Squads, people disappearing and kidnapped everywhere, women denied very basic rights and privileges like education or respect, the people's money stolen to build palaces with actual rivers rerouted to flow through them, zero social programs but an immense military, etc. \n\nThis country once fought tooth and nail for it's own freedoms many times over but the further we get from those brave generations the more the current generation will be ungrateful for all they did.
594321
Everyone who is answering that the war is going terrible needs to talk one-on-one with a servicemember who has been there. IF you do, you will most likely find:\n\n* The "war" is going very well. Most Iraqis want us there to finish the job of helping them get on their feet and then leave.\n* Most Iraqis have always been and still remain friendly to the American military. Kids still want to touch our hands. People still smile and wave at us. Most have a kind word to us and the United States and make an attempt to communicate their gratitude in broken English.\n* Americans are doing wonderful things in Iraq. We are building schools, roads and infrastructure. We are training Iraqi Police (the IPs) and Iraqi military. These projects allow Iraqis to stand on their own two feet and govern themselves.\n* The democratically elected, constitutionally backed Iraqi government is in charge and running the show. It only took 3 years to accomplish. By contrast, Germany took 4 years and Japan took 7 years to take over governing themselves.\n* The "insurgency" is NOT what the media leads you to believe. I use quotes around "insurgency" because, by definition, an insurgency would be one led by Iraqis. The truth is that 95% of all "insurgents" ARE NOT Iraqi. They are Saudi, Egyptian, Jordanian, Syrian, Somalian, Iranian ... just about anything BUT Iraqis.\n* The "inusrgency" is being orchestrated by the Iranian government. The Iranians have the most to gain by keeping Iraq unstable. As long as Iraq is unstable, no one will seriously look at Iran and its nuclear weapons program. And with almost 200,000 Americans to Iran's east and west, Iran is mighty damn nervous right now.\n* The vast majority of Americans in Iraq - conservatice or liberal, Republican or Democrat - believe in the mission in Iraq and believe it is the right thing to do. Their opinions are based on events they see every day with their own eyes ... NOT what they have seen on CNN.\n\nYou can believe what you want. Believe CNN or believe the words of our servicemen and women who have been there. But have an open mind.\n\nEDIT: Rena - Conservatively, 500,000 American soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines have rotated through Iraq since the end of major hostilities. Approximately 2400 have died there - and about 1/6th of those were non-combat related. Divide 2400 / 500,000 and you get 0.0048 - or less than 1/2 of 1% chance of dying in Iraq. This is - BY FAR - the safest war in terms of KIA's that the United States has ever been involved in. You really should talk to several servicemembers before you dismiss a mission we believe in so easily.\n\nEDIT: Manuel Sarmiento - You said:\n\n"War implies that both parties are at even. USA just went and crushed Iraq."\n\nTell that to the Poles, the Czechs, the Austrians, the French and the Belgians who were crushed by Hitler in the beginning of World War II. Tell that to the Kuwaitis who were crushed by Hussein in 1989. Tell that to the Muslims who were slaughtered by Milosevic in the early 1990s. I doubt any one of them would agree with your absurd statement. War DOES NOT imply both sides are even. War implies two governments are fighting with two militaries - nothing more, nothing less.\n\n"Now, because Hussein is a bad person, does that justify to kill thousands of innocent iraquies?"\n\nNo, but I think it justifies the liberation of 25,000,000 Iraqis. In EVERY war, unfortunately, innocent people are hurt and killed. The main difference between the United States and other countries' militaries is that we do not TARGET innocent non-combatants. In fact, we PROSECUTE and JAIL military members who intentionally do so. 'Nuff said.\n\n"Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11 but now, it's just natural that iraq people enroll to damage USA, the country that, on their perception, crushed Iraq."\n\nSee my statement above on how Iraqis really feel about Americ
1020905
Yes, thank you.  I thank my higher power every night that I live in a country which guarantees my rights and freedoms, and extends them (in theory) to everyone.  We 'fight fair' because it gives us the higher moral ground, and leaves us less open to accusations of butchery.  We punish soldiers who act outside the limititations of 'fighting fair' because we are a country which values civilized behavior.
1039173
I agree with that, but freedom is the ultimate thing to fight for, because without that, u cant do anything.
109316
I also went to Iraq II, and I can proudly say I did it just to take care of my boys for no one else would look out for them in the situation we were in.  I called my dad a few days before I deployed and explained to him what BS it was.  Being the highly educated ex-hippy he was, he really surprised me when he spouted off the official Bush lie about how it was for a good cause with the WMD's and all.\n\nI was both an intel analyst and later a computer guy, and I got the Top Secret emails on the SIPR computer long before 9/11 telling the generals to "prepare for desert combat", as well as prepared briefings years before about Saddam's diminishing weapons programs.  I really knew what BS it was, but when you're a soldier, you have to bite your tongue.  I couldn't claim "consciensus (sp?) objector" because I really didn't have a problem with war or violence in general for the right cause.  \n\nIt was probably one of the hardest things in the world to bite my tongue and do my duty, though I was hit by the "stop-loss" program and spent my last year as a draftee in a war I didn't believe in.  To the mindless soldiers out there that can swallow wholly what is fed to them I salute you, and to the ones with a concious that keep it hidden for a sense of duty, I salute you more...take care of your kids and come home safe.\n\nAnd let no soldier that I proudly served with believe for a single second that the war they are now fighting has ANYTHING to do with defending our constitutional rights.  Though undoubtedly you would do your duty the same if it was truly in defense of our nation, don't delude yourself into thinking this self-serving looting by our non-elected leadership has anything to do with anyone's freedom.\n\nShort answer to your question is "Yes", but it took me two years on the outside to fully understand the implications.  Would I do it again?  Absolutely, its the small victories you win on a personal level that makes all the difference...the soldier you kept from being too trigger happy, the extra blankets or food you handed out, the prisoners you took by talking to them instead of shooting.  I saw the best and worst of psychopaths, cowards, and heroes within our ranks and war brings out people's true nature very fast.  Again, people still on the front lines may hate me for rubbing raw that little doubt in the corner of their conscience, but come home safe so you can ponder it at your leisure later.
1116569
Have the Iraqi's formed a democracy of their own choosing? Yes. Is Saddam removed from power and on trial for his horrible crimes? Yes. Is Iraq forming its own military and police forces to be able to protect itself? Yes. Sounds like we are winning to me.
465803
There is a solution, yes.  We need to stay in until we're done, until the Iraqi government is stable, and the people don't have to worry so much about the insurgents.\nTo the Iraqis I would say, "There is good in all of us, and evil, including our men and women who are in your country now.  MOST of them believe in what we're doing, and feel that you all have a right to be free of tyranny.  As soon as your government and police force are stable, we'll be out of here.  Keep doing what you're doing:  You're hopeful about the future, many of you are turning in the insurgents to the authorities, and you believe that we're trying to do good for you.  Keep your hope alive!  Most of us are, too.  We believe in you.  Please believe in us."
512581
Just save your life and Run . That is a better way of doing this. Serve your country is good but occupying other country is bad. Humanity VS. Quick Money hey?  Please think of your family and don't risk your life. Let the Iraqis and Afghans kill their own terrorists. You save your life for you and your family and if your country is attacked defend it. Don't go for a war which was based on a pure lie " Weapons of Mass Destruction",. Remember? USA had given Saddam and Taliban all those guns to fight USSR and Iran back in 80's. Think. Don't waste your young-hood and energy. You won't be serving your country. You will be attacking others to expand the Oil companies over our lives
539621
Thank ya for this cool q\nfirst there is no such thing as a free country \neveryone in the world has one of his rights taken be sure of that \nI live in Iraq the place where freedom and happiness was is the biggest dream for the people \nWhen the war was first over after a few weeks when it has started we all thought that freedom may just come true but unfourtunatly we were only dreaming , dreams are free !!\nI will tell you what can't we do:\n-we can't take breathe without smelling smoke\n-we can't sleep without hearing an explosion\n-we can't feel safe not even in our homes\n-we can't stop thinking that we will die at any sec\n-we can't feel happy without crying\n-FOR GOD SAKE I can not love for fear that I my lose her!!!\n-I can't marry coz I won't be able to provide a good future for my love\n-I can't go out without hearing my mother's scared good byes\n-We can't live unless we die!!!!!!!!!!!
891547
the government is now democrat and they forgot this....\n\nhow do you think we got our freedom by standing back.\n\nin the public eyes iraq does not deserve freedom like ours.  we need keep fighting the terrorist for the people OF THE WORLD from the terrorist who rule it.  and we are not dictator we are freedom fighters who fight for FREEDOM,  JUSTICE AND LIBERTY.  unfortunitly people lost sight of it  and voted wrong yesterday.  \n\nand morally we are now also headed in the wrong direction.  people need to be responible for their action and not blame it on science or the society.\n\nfinally for the budget there goes the state and national level budget and economy and our taxes.  people what things to be in place for a better country and community.  but who do you think we pay for it in the long run.  we do with our taxes, not with the so called federal and state money people think we have.\n\n country is in a mess thanks to the ungrateful american public who forget how our free
717414
it looks like all we do is to kill for our freedom.. i as a american would like to keep my freedom but my heart goes out to anyone that has died  in war for any reason..i do not know what else to say...
83488
Will the war ever be justified to someone like you? As can be seen from your question, no.  You have already made up your mind.  \n\nSaddam Hussein was a ruthless dictator who killed millions, used WMDs, and numerous intelligence sources stated that he was ready to use them again.\nMillions of Iraqis who are free to now vote for their own futures believe the war was justified.  Millions of children who can go to school and learn, allowing Iraq to move into the 21st century will make the war worth it.\n\nNaysayers like you would have stopped after Gettysburg, saying the loss of life isn't worth it.  You would have pulled troops out in the middle of Normandy, since Germany never attacked us, Japan did.\n\nEach day Iraqi that wakes up with his and her God-given freedom to do as s/he wishes and live a good life is justification.
824381
no has and that is ok\n\nhow do you think we got our freedom by standing back.\n\nin the public eyes iraq does not deserve freedom like ours.  we need keep fighting the terrorist for the people OF THE WORLD from the terrorist who rule it.  and we are not dictator we are freedom fighters who fight for FREEDOM,  JUSTICE AND LIBERTY.  unfortunitly people lost sight of it  and voted wrong yesterday.  \n\nand morally we are now also headed in the wrong direction.  people need to be responible for their action and not blame it on science or the society.\n\n\n\n country is in a mess thanks to the ungrateful american public who forget how our free
657968
I think you should answer your own question...Why can't the US learn from it's past WAR mistakes? In other words, WHY did we get into this war and how do we get out of it?\n\nBut you're truly amazing.....I guess you're not too sure of what it means to be an American citizen...And lest you think I'm just another liberal that is anti-military, think again. I served for 15 years '79 ~ '94 and fought in the first gulf war..a war that incidentally, was pretty well supported by American citizens..\n\nBut what you haven't learned is what we've fought to protect...not just our people and our lives, but OUR RIGHTS under the constitution and our freedoms. Hundreds of thousands have died to protect these rights, including the RIGHT to dissent.\n\nAs a former solider, I can also tell you that we knew that American citizens supported the troops, even if they didn't support the administration's direction. As because of this, they wanted to make sure they let the politicians KNOW they didn't agree in the hopes of changing bad policy decisions...they're HARDLY gutless as it takes a great deal of courage to stand up and make yourself heard, especially when you know that your opinion may be controversial....but as Americans, we HAVE THAT RIGHT! Not only that, but it our DUTY!\n\nBut for you to say that protests are demoralizing our troops, giving aid to the enemy or leading to the deaths of our servicemen is absurd...they know we have their back, and what we're protesting is the incompetent management of this war because of their flawed policies.
719424
You are a fine American!!!\nThis war would have been over long ago, if the frigging' Liberals would let us fight it. Our guys have to be afraid every second, not to stay alive but to not make a mistake. How in the hell can you fight a war and be careful. Gen. Murtha has said over and over we are losing. Well if we are it's because of his mouth. And the journalists have to be protected while they are embedded and causes my son and others the utmost danger.
992203
OK here it is the fight day. Bush vs who? a hand picked man 6`10 kills bush in 2sec. Your so happy. Now get out of your home and on the streets the cops roll in under the new government you no longer own your home. Get in line here and walk into the showers the gas will be on in a sec and you die.\n\nWe are in a fight for our way of life. We fight because we are free and if we let them their boot will be on our kids necks. We have been fighting this same war for over 1000 years. The war to stop Islam. In 1300 up to the late 1600 were they were stopped . The army's of Islam all most over ran Europe. they want to start it up again. We are in WW3 now fighting killing on each point of the earth.
335158
I'm in Iraq right now. Me being on here should give you an idea of what I'M doing...nothing. What's it like? HOT! Alot of people do have it pretty rough over here though, but I wouldn't say the majority have it all that bad. It just sucks being away from home for so long. I don't think it's really getting better. They're gonna fight us as long as we're here.