User:Woozle/2008-01-03 JLF

Just so we donâ€™t establish an equivalence between â€œanti-warâ€ and â€œAmerica-hatingâ€: I think our invasion of Iraq (and continuing occupation of it) is the worst thing that has happened to America in recent years, possibly the worst thing ever (time will tell how those billions left by the roadside in Iraq, for example, will affect the economy), *and* is hurting Americaâ€™s efforts to spread civilization â€” freedom, justice, whatever ideals you want to package in the word â€œcivilizationâ€ â€” worldwide.

I do not want America to â€œloseâ€ anything â€” but our strategy in the Middle East is like responding to fire ants crawling up your leg by smashing their anthill with the biggest mallet you can find. Yeah, thatâ€™ll show those damn insects whoâ€™s boss. Oh, wait, there are more of themâ€¦ and now theyâ€™re *pissed*â€¦

When our government didnâ€™t like the democratically-elected government of Iran, we staged a coup and installed a monarchy. Whether or not you think thatâ€™s morally acceptable (given the circumstance of replacing a democratic government with royalty), what happened to that know-how â€” why couldnâ€™t we do that with Saddam (replacing a dictator with a democracy)? Why canâ€™t we do it with Ahmadinejad, if Iranâ€™s nuke program is such a threat? Why is it that suddenly all we know how to do is throw massive amounts of (highly skilled and dedicated) military troops at the problem until our country is no longer adequately defended â€” and then a few more, when things arenâ€™t working right?

If Iraq ever does work out *remotely* the way we want it to, it will be entirely to the credit of our armed services, and not one whit of credit to the frat boys and failed businessmen (Georgie B. and His World-Dominating Pals) who gave them a deliberately-impossible job to do.