Can you conservative types please explain what "victory" in Iraq would be defined as?
920980
No, I don't believe they can. \n\nThey don't have time, they're too busy yelling that the Democrats "have no plan".
861454
Well, it should not be seen in terms of "blue" or "red" -really, if you look at an actual demographic map (such as the one Time magazine recently printed) it's in various shades of purple for the most part.  Essentially, it was a generalization, and, like most (if not all) it is false.\n\nThis is more of a backlash against the GOP for a) taking their base for granted, b) failing to do anything of significance for the past two years, and c) an attempt to register annoyance with how the President's run things since his reelection.\n\nThe Democrats won, no question.  But before the more liberal among us celebrate, I would point out that the way the Democrats won was, by and large, running candidates which appeal to moderates and conservatives, instead of more decidedly left-leaning candidates.  And, going back to demographics for a moment, the overall trend is an increase in the number of people at all levels identifying themselves as conservative (but not necessarily Republican).  What it means is that the Democrats have had to move to the right in order to win, and strike a more moderate tone.\n\nPersonally, I think they've needed to do this for quite some time.  But if they try and promote decidedly left-of-center policies now, I don't think the result will be what some seem to expect.  I think moderation is returning to politics, and hopefully, civility will not be far behind.
1041026
Liberals don't "suck the life of out of everything positive", there isn't much positive in Iraq.  Why do the Bushites make things look rosey when it's not?
698881
Well as a conservative Republican I would like to congratulate you on your win.America has spoken and I was in the minority.I do not believe that it is the end of the world though it will be very interesting the next two years.
367542
While I don't particularly care for conservative ideology, this is one of the mindless criticisms that simply does not hold water. It makes no sense if you look at things realistically.\n\nThis administration, especially when the US first invaded Iraq, was top-heavy with the same people who under President Reagan had convinced us that Saddam Hussein was our best friend in the Middle East. Second, just look at what has happened with Lybia, who was already in the process of settling the monetary claims from the families of the Lockerbee mass murder. Simply by SAYING that Lybia would no longer pursue nuclear weapons, President Khadaffi has been able to have all economic sanctions lifted and US investment is now recommended.\n\nIf the spin doctors of this administration can pretend that Khadaffi (who has murdered Americans while not at war) is a good guy, they could certainly have painted Hussein (who has not murdered Americans while not at war) as the new George Washington and Daniel Boone all rolled into one. The American people would have gladly accepted the idea that Hussein had mended his ways, and that we could stop our sanctions which were hurting everyone except the Baath Party. President Bush's oil friends would have been much happier simply buying discounted oil from Hussein (who would be desperate for cash and still mad at OPEC for stabbing him in the back in 1991) and selling it to the US consumer at full price.\n\nCriticize conservatives all you want, supply side economics is turning the US into a third world country, but try to be realistic about it!
695148
It already has. \n\nBush keeps talking about achieving victory, but the sad fact of life is that there is no way to win in this situation. The best we can hope for is containment of the sectarian violence.\n\nI certainly hope this country treats the Iraq vets better than they did the Vietnam vets....
762170
A stable government that allows it's citizens a voice through the electoral process.\n\nAn adequate and effective national defense force.\n\nSecure borders.\n\nFreedom of speech.\n\nFreedom from persecution.\n\nThe Rule of Law.\n\nThe list is long, but not unobtainable.\n\n\nAnd last but not least, the rest of the middle east gazing upon a free Iraq and saying amongst themselves. WE WANT THAT TOO!
478058
the great victory\nAl Mahdi P.B.U.H. will win and establish Muslim law and give all booty to Muslims
708137
I'd say a Pyyhric victory is still possible, but only if we can muster enough troops and descend on Iraq in sufficient force to close and control the borders,then clean it up from the inside out.  We need to acknowledge to our allies that we really messed up, and ask for help.  They may not give it, but we need to try.  Walking away and leaving such a monumental disaster of our making is utterly dishonorable.  Bush and his supporters made a terrible mistake, and it's much too late to do anything about that, but we should not simply throw up our hands and leave Iraq to its fate.
918780
Well I guess Alex B. set it all straight for us. Winning means establishing a "stable" government and then ditching them to finish what we started for us. Brilliant.
915270
Hanging him is the kind of small victories Bush can hope for now.\nAnother victory was pulling down statues. Was there anything else?Bombed out the whole damn infrastructure making life better for Iraqis . Another victory was making haliburton etc richer in giving them lucrative contracts. But this cannot be claimed in public as around 3000 soldiers & half a million iraqis died for it.
238002
No, we mean that it was a bad decision to go in, and it will go down in history as a political and military humiliation.  It does mean we want to lose the war, but rather that it was obvious from the start that we were going to.  Yes, we did over through the Iraqi government, but now we're stuck there with no indication of any viable way out.  And if you think we lost in Vietnam because people protested you should consider picking up a history book.\n\n_______________\nI believe I did not misspell anything.  Your spelling comment was both ignorant and unnecessary, as is your apparent believe that political ideology is absolute and is the defining characteristic of the individual.  Oh, and it would be "the liberal who," not "the liberal that."
986782
Nobody wins.\n\nThe last time we "won" we had to kill hundreds of thousands of civilians in both Germany and Japan. If our self-styled leadership wants to go big, and basically exterminate one of the Muslim factions in Iraq, we could slow things down for a short while, and bring our kids home.\n\nThen we could send the chairborne rangers (see above) over and let them flap their gums at the Iraqis. Nothing like tough talk from a bunch of wimpy kids to set things straight, you bet!
806040
The initiative I believe was originally to disarm Iraq, since no WMD have been found the nation cannot be disarmed therefore there has been no victory.   Also I believe it is a "war on terror".   Iraq has providing a "meeting ground"  for extremist.   In that respect the problem of terrorism has just been exasperated.\n\nTo say invading Canada would be an easy victory is just asinine.  Canada is a part of the commonwealth which pretty much ensures that you will not just be fighting Canadian forces, yet the forces of a variety of nations.  Also historically, invading Canada doesn't go very well.
1056516
I don't know that conservatives (I'm a moderate by the way) are happy about WMD's existing but I see that you are missing the point.  The fact that these weapons exist in Iraq violate U.N. Security Council Resolution 1441 which required complete disclosure of Iraq's weapons programs and dismantlement of them in a verifiable manner.  It doesn't matter that they were "useless", he wasn't supposed to have them and was unwilling to disclose them.  This was the major reason the U.S. went to war in Iraq.  \n\nWhat I think conservatives are happy about is the backlash the liberal left-wing may suffer before this years elections.  All that "George Bush is a liar" talk may very well have an effect on voters opinions.  Remember, the declassified documents released alluded to finds all over Iraq so more detail may come out in the coming months as information is declassified.  So its not over yet.  Just be happy a guy like Saddam isn't in the WMD drivers seat anymore.
694274
We define "freedom" very differently.  Obviously, since you are a liberal, you cannot conceive of how your rhetoric affects conservatives.\n\nVice versa.\n\nDifference is, I don't care.
843952
The reaction is just as many of us predicted. Al-Queda in Iraq is now claiming they are winning the war because of the democrat victory. Iran will now step up it's own rhetoric. People we are in for a bumpy ride. Are the democrats up for this challenge? Think of Murtha, Kerry, Clinton and Kennedy.....do they inspire trust with you in the realm of National Security?