current state of the iraqi conflict
 

well after almost a week of quick progress, the coalition forces are getting slowed down by heavier defences and aggressive iraqi troops. the coalition is apparently moving around the dug-in iraqi army, heading for baghdad in an effort to oust the country's leaders and force the military to capitulate. but will it be that simple? baghdad has five million citizens. will the "liberators" easily get to hussein, or will they have to tear down every building in the process? if they do, the battle will rapidly turn into a second stalingrad. back then it was the russian winter that stopped the attackers advance, this time it may well be the iraqi summer. originally a lot of people thought this would be over in a few days or weeks. could we be looking at another vietnam? :question:

I try not to get too political about things as I dont support War in any way, but I dont really belive there is a good guy side to this war in any way. All parties, some more than others, are responsible for some of the most hypocritical bull crap this planet has seen. I know, and dont know, some of the horrible things that go on in Iraq, and I feel horible that some people get treated the way they do, but war mongers are not heroes in my eyes.
on a lighter note:
You know the world is going crazy when ....................

the best rapper is a white guy,
the best golfer is a black guy,
France is accusing the US of arrogance and
Germany doesn't want to go to war."

i also dont support the war

here's some great alerternative streaming news right off the link

http://www.webcamsue.demon.nl/

Rick Mercer's Apology to the Americans



Apology to the Americans


By Rick Mercer, from 'This Hour Has 22 Minutes'



On behalf of Canadians everywhere I'd like to offer an apology to the United
States of America. We haven't been getting along very well recently and for
that, I am truly sorry.

I'm sorry we called George Bush a moron.

He is a moron, but it wasn't nice of us to point it out. If it's any
consolation, the fact that he's a moron shouldn't reflect poorly on the
people of America. After all it's not like you actually elected him.

I'm sorry about our softwood lumber. Just because we have more trees than
you doesn't give us the right to sell you lumber that's cheaper and better
than your own.

I'm sorry we beat you in Olympic hockey. In our defense I guess our excuse
would be that our team was much, much, much, much better than yours.

I'm sorry we burnt down your white house during the war of 1812. I notice
you've rebuilt it! It's very nice.

I'm sorry about your beer. I know we had nothing to do with your beer but,
We Feel Your Pain.

I'm sorry about our waffling on Iraq. I mean, when you're going up against a
crazed dictator, you wanna have your friends by your side. I realize it took
more than two years before you guys pitched in against Hitler, but that was
different. Everyone knew he had weapons.

And finally on behalf of all Canadians, I'm sorry that we're constantly
apologizing for things in a passive-aggressive way which is really a thinly
veiled criticism. I sincerely hope that you're not upset over this. We've
seen what you do to countries you get upset with.

Thank you.

I just love that last paragraph. As funny (and poignant) as I think this is, I fully support the US and their allies in this war. I'm embarrased as a Canadian that our PM has taken the cowards way out.

Here's an analogy :eek:

A number of years the Dutch went to South Africa, and stole the country from the natives. They settled the place, and were called Boers (Dutch for farmers) Then gold and diamonds were discovered. The British liked stuff like that so they went over to steal the country from the Boers. Some Canadians went over too. For some strange reason instead of being called thieves they were called heroes.

Iraq has lots of oil. Need I say more :question: :question:

Bob, that's a completely childish way of looking at the Boer War. The oil is of significant importance but not formost in this particular case. I believe I read somewhere that 3.5% of US oil comes from Iraq. What do you think is going to happen here; the US wins the war and then just pulls her tankers up to the country and starts pumping crude? They may have thumbed their nose at the UN but they do still have to have international acceptance. Other countries may take offense to that.

.

Your OPINION. Do you have a better reason?

i fully support the removal of hussein. i think the US should have waited for the go-ahead from the UN, but since france was planning to veto any such resolution, i think the americans had no choice.

i don't have the quotation, but a CIA official said that this is about oil, bush won't admit it because obviously it will cause some serious hoopla. everyone says the USA doesn't get much oil from iraq. that's fine, but nothing stops them from getting a lot more after they establish an sympathetic government within the country. during the last decade, the USA has been trading iraq oil for food and necessities. the americans have already said that this program will continue after hussein is gone. if that's not utter bull, then i don't know what is.

that said, i still support the coalition in iraq and am not pleased with the stance our federal government has taken on this issue.

bob you must be dutch.

I admit it, and it proves that history is slanted toward the thinking of the person writing it. My oversimplified way of putting my thought was influenced by the way I learned the history. :rolleyes:

I support our PM. How could anyone criticize a decision that most of the world agrees with (Assuming most of world did not favor war)?

On the other hand, I also support the US. Diplomacy and sanctions haven't worked in the last 12 years in Iraq so what makes anyone think it will work in the next 5 or 10 years? All that does is gives them time to acquire the resources to build nuclear weapons and that is why I would rather risk a small war now then a major war later. Does anyone think that Iraq isn't interested in acquiring nuclear weapons? Will they behave responsibly with those weapons?

I don't believe that the US is invading because it wants to occupy a country. It isn't far-fetched for me to believe that National and International Security is their interest. Also, I believe Iraq will benefit economically from international trade that would open up as a result.