QUESTION WITHDRAWN

It seems like it doesn't matter what happens with the weapon inspection, what the U.N., or the rest of the world thinks, we are going war. I must say that I am disappointed in our president. We have so much pressing issues at home, especially the economy, and his biggest concern is war with Iraq.

What do you think?

I will not even start with the disappointment I have in Bush. My goodness he is like the worst president and now he is starting in on abortion.

As far as war it does bother me b/c my husband is a marine and we have a lot of friends that are marines as well. War for September 11 did not bother me at all b/c I was ready for them to shut them all down. However this war I think is really over power and oil and that bothers me. Who wants to send their children out to fight for that.

And I seriously hope there is a plan to stop Saddam from burning the oil wells like he did last time b/c boy would we be in trouble.

JMO

Wow! I have wanted to ask this on here for a long time, but I thought it wold turn into a very heated debate and that I would get flamed for my opinions. I totally agree with Natasha. I think Bush made his mind up a long time ago that he was going to go to war with Iraq, regardless of the outcome of the inspections. Maybe it has something to do with some revenge for when his father was in office and we were fighting in the Gulf.

Personally, I am totally against war, I know it's hard to think of, especially for those who have lost loved ones due to terrorism, but I believe in non-violent, peaceful solutions. Why do the same thing that was done to us to innocent civilians in Iraq or Afghanistan or anywhere else?

Also, based on what I hear in the news, our policies are not very popular with the rest of the world. I think many of these countries believe that our only interest is oil

War with Iraq definitely terrifies me ... but how do we get a looney like Saddam, out of power! I'm freaked out about a lot of things lately and this war has sparked that fear.

Sept. 11 was horrible and if Saddam had any part of it ... he deserves to die. And what about the weapons that he has ... I'm convinced that if he could, he would completely destroy us in the US!

I'm not sure if war is the answer ... but what is? I don't want to go to war ... but what else can we do?

The people who want war are fouls, plain and simple. We all know that there were many, many others involved in 9/11. Daddy Bush started this mess when he was in his CIA days when he gave guns to young boys over in the middle east to defend their country against the 'commies' aka Russia. Now that the US taught these people to be as hateful as possible, and they know all we care about it their oil we have to deal with Baby Bush. What a total mess. The US gov't often runs 'interference' in other countries and tries to manipulate how things are done. We have to start learning to mind-our-own-business and take care of our hungry, uneducated, homeless, etc....
I think we should help the World cure diseases, feed babies, give medications etc...but giving guns never helps anyone.
If Bush decides to attack we will have war here in our country. The News acts like this is a video game showing it during Primetime and having theme-music and logos. These are brothers, fathers, cousins, sons, daughters, sisters, mothers we are taking about and let's not forget about the fact that Sadam will be safe someplace while Iraq babies, mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers are in their homes being bombed and murdered by us. 99.9% of these people are just living a regular life, working everyday, cooking meals for their families, taking their children to the supermarket, going to school. They 'hate' America because that is all they know to do, plus we bomb them every few years.
We need to learn to use Peace, not War to solve problems. That is why I know a female president would never make such a mess of these things. Mothers do not send their children to be killed over oil! They just don't.

Yes very worried but powerless to do anything about it. Just like we were powerless when he was 'elected' into office.

Bush is an idiot! From the first day of his 'presidency', he has made the United States a laughing stock. His motives are clearly not the best interest of the general American population.

All I can hope for is that he is a one term president like his father. Unfortunetely, most Americans are too stupid to see through his thin veneer of patriotism and we will probably be stuck with him for a further 4 year. Ugh!

Please I can't take him for another four

Totally agree with Michelle31.

I could go on for hours about this mess - but since I'm at work, I can't!

All I can say is I totally agree with Stef - I've never felt so completely helpless Regardless of whatever the inspectors find, what some will do to avoid a war, if Bush wants it, he'll find a way to get it.

And what's this with North Korea? Can we fight one battle at a time, or are we going to take on the whole world?!

I think discussing politics in a chat forum is even more dangerous than discussing them in your living room with family and friends. Everyone is bound to have such different views.

I am very concerned about war with Iraq, but not for the Bush-hating reasons that were stated above. I certainly don't think that a woman, flexing her sensitive 'Mommy Power' in the office of the President would solve America's troubles. Let's get real. Clinton was a much better foreign policy president, and he didn't shy away from military conflict. And, the sins of one president a decade ago is not the scapegoat for the current one.

Running the country and protecting America's interests - both at home AND abroad - is NOT an easy job. Calling people fools just b/c they believe that military action is the only way to rid the world of a raving loonatic who can wipe us all out with a nuke is short-sighted. We have a military for a reason. We would all like to avoid war and save lives, so if we have a better, more peaceful suggestion for getting rid of Saddam or Osama, by all means...I am sure the President is expecting our call!

But, we cannot just look back at the mistakes we have made in the past...regardless of the fact that we created the problem. We have to look forward and deal with the problem at hand today. This is not just about oil.

Personally, I don't know what the answer to this conflict is. I am not a pro-war extremist, but I am also not calling people fools for their political views. I think that like Bush, many Americans also have a thin 'veneer of patriotism' as Stef so eloquently put it. But, like I said in my post about the Pilgrim State development, American people are also very apathetic about politics until something awful happens. 9/11 is a perfect example. Have you ever seen so many American flags flying in your life? But most people don't even have the basic patriotic respect for their flag to only fly it good weather, and only at night when it's properly lit up.

I feel that even though polls show that most Americans are now opposed to war on Iraq, if we found out that Saddam had his fat finger pushing down on the nuke button, Americans would have nearly 100% support for Bush and his military action.

As for North Korea - they are like the boy who cried wolf! That government has a very long history of making extreme claims against the US. That is typically how they get everyone's attention, and then try to negotiate. I don't think that many political experts are surprised by their actions.

Claud: Who suggested have a women in office would solve our problems? I cant find it.

I certainly dont think any one women is the answer but in general I will add that not all women are mommies or want to be - so saying that a female president would have 'mommy power' is pretty disheartening coming from a women. I think there are many female politicians who have a lot to offer to american leadership and motherhood is not one of them.

As for President Bush, he is just not a very smart man and was elected for all the wrong reasons. Running your family's inherited business and managing a baseball team doesnt qualify someone to be president IMO. He was a smart man's son who happens to have lots of friends in the right places. He has taken full advantage of the 9/11 aftermath and that explotation makes me dislike/disrespect him even more. Even if someone agrees with his foreign policy, doesnt the way he is manipulating the UN seem less than geniune? Doesnt the fact that most of the free world is opposing his agenda is some way bring up the warning flags that something may not be right here? We are now paying the price for getting involved in conflicts we should have never been a part of (not bush's fault) - why are we continuing to make the same mistakes?

Ladies: I didn't raise this issue for us to be fighting with each other. We have all made valid points, and we are entitled to our opinions. Everyone may not agree with everyone, but that is life. Since this may become too heated --


I AM WITHDRAWING THE QUESTION AND REQUESTING THAT THIS BE THE LAST POST ON THIS TOPIC.

IF THIS QUESTION OR MY VIEWS OFFENDS ANYONE, I APOLOGIZE. HOWEVER, THEY ARE MY VIEWS AND I HAVE A RIGHT TO VOICE THEM.

Whoa - wait a minute Natasha! Don't withdraw anything! I am not fighting with anyone here...just stating my viewpoints. I am not offended, nor did I mean to offend anyone either. I'm always up for a good debate. I see no reason to discontinue this discussion.

Stef - I guess you misinterpreted my post b/c you couldn't find the original reference to Mothers and their children.

In Michele's post, she ended with 'We need to learn to use Peace, not War to solve problems. That is why I know a female president would never make such a mess of these things. Mothers do not send their children to be killed over oil! They just don't.'

My comment was not meant to demean women politiciams at ALL...I fully respect and admire a woman who can build a successful political career, especially in male dominated Washington, D.C. In fact, we need strong women in government to represent our interests as women in this country!

I was merely trying to point out how a woman's ability to be a Mom biologically was not going to change or solve the issues that the president is currently dealing with. I think that Michele's viewpoint, while valid just like anyone else's, over-simplified a very complex problem and kinda missed the mark.

DecBride02, I am from former USSR and while don't want to have a huge battle on the issue here, I was slightly offended by your comment.

Each country vies for its land, and US has taken over enough lands and wiped out enough culture in the places that it has taken over that makes Russia pale compared to the US.

I am against the war and feel that US should focus on its internal problems and fixing them rather than external policy.

Alina: Agree - US has done plenty of harm but understand the knowledge of the US' less than admirable actions isnt common knowledge for people who have grown up here. We are feed a lot of propaganda (just as in every country) about the virtues of American gov't throughout our lives. Its hard to sort the real info from the BS sometimes.

Natasha: Dont worry - I think we are all respecting each other while expressing our opinions. What fun would this board be if we all agreed?

Stef - just want to make sure....you don't think we're 'fighting' do you??? I hope not!!
I have to make sure b/c you never know how you're being 'read' on here....

Also wanted to add: if you re-read my post, I am not saying that anyone should [or shouldn't] be in support of Bush. Personally, I have no use for the man either....he did not win my vote for his job, and I do not think that he deserves to hold office (personally, I don't believe he even deserves to manage a baseball team, but that's a whole other issue! LOL). The fact of the matter is, he did not win the popular vote in this country, yet he still gets to sit in that office and call the shots. I was just saying that this conflict is a lot more complex, and there are other factors that have to be considered.

Stef, good point. Sorry, but sometimes I forget...
That's why sometime I like Financial Times for my global news Its published in the UK for a change.

On a funny note, I had and won an arguement with someone at work, who stated that 'Russia is located in Asia, isn't it'. According to the web maps that we found, only about half of the land is in Asia, but the majority of the population lives West of the Ural mountains. We had the whole office take a little break and tackle the issue!