Replies to post #21261 on North West Oil Group, Inc. (NWOL)

[jhhyatt]

OT: So why don't you tell us all when you are going to enlist?

[wishmd]

Thought I’d add my two cents on this OT discussion.

The WMD argument notwithstanding, it seems to me that the invasion of Iraq was primarily intended to drive a democratic wedge into an otherwise undemocratic region, in the hopes that when people in that area get a taste of the benefits of a democracy and the accompanying freedoms, they will fight extremism and extend democracy’s reach.

In principle I believe this was a great idea. In practice, as the morass in Iraq proves, it is much more difficult than it at first appeared. The concept, though altruistic, is not as likely to work in reality. The religious/political complexities are daunting. There are no think-tank models that can anticipate all the scenarios that could play out.

So now, with President Bush weakened by the results of the election, we have a situation where governments which might have been concerned about the US’s hegemony, are now much more likely to embark on “risky” initiatives without fear of a US response. That includes Iran, NPRK, Syria, Russia, factions within Iraq, Afghanistan, Venezuela, Bolivia, Guatemala, Mexico, to name a few.

Our failures in Iraq, for whatever reasons (over simplification, inability to predict, over-extension of the military, insufficient troops to do the job, etc.), have made our standing as an influential world power much weaker. And on top of all that we are now saddled with an enormous debt that our grandchildren will be saddled with, for a number of generations.

I predicted the Republican defeat in the recent elections. No brag… the facts are plain, they are there for everyone to see very clearly. I was a bit surprised that the bloodbath was not even worse.

Support the Commander-in-Chief? Sure, up to a point. Fresh ideas on how to come out of this quagmire with at least some of the original intent salvaged are needed. Just “staying the course” just doesn’t cut it. I have no idea what might work, this is way too complex for me… as it is for most experts even.

No, I don’t think Bush lied about WMD. However there is a difference between outright lying and using tenuous evidence as leverage for getting support for this foreign policy… and I think that’s what happened here.

[an old investor]

GREAT POST RUSH !!!!!

[jstick2000]

Rush,

Please man. You are way off. There was no evidence of WMD and thats a fact. They were also telling us that they thought Saddam was involved with Al-Quaida. LIE. Sanctions were working. We had Saddam pinned down just fine with sanctions and constant pressure from UN. The whole world was against us going in. Except of course England. We believed the white house as they were drooling to go in there start their war. You see Rush, we DID believe. Now we know we were lead to the slaughter house. I am glad Saddam is out. But are you telling me that the richest most powerful country in the world can't control or dispose of an unwanted leader in a myraid of ways. We INVADED A COUNTRY. Unprovoked. Leaving the real, known and actual culprits of 9/11 going relatively unchecked because our eye was somewhere else. I don't know about you but I am not a war mongering blood thirsty sicko. I don't want a withdrawl now. Never said that. And please don't bring up irrelevant arguements like Normandy? What???

This quote tells me something: "to gain a sphere of influence in the region [to promote democracy and create a bulwark against radical Islam] that seems a pretty good reason in-and-of itself."

No Rush, it doesn't. You don't just throw your weight and use force to promote your way of thinking. You do it in other ways. you set examples. You cannot foist your belief systems on people. It will NOT work.

I'm sorry Rush, but I think your arguement is flat out terrible here. Makes no sense at all.

Rush, do you think we have helped the situation on terror? Really? It seems we have made it worse. We have created a cultivation field for more and more terror. Giving them the anarchy and motivation that they need to continue. And to think we had world sympathy and everone was on our side after 9/11. Our LEADER turned that completely around in no time flat.

And the absolute stupidest arguement I have heard many times from people is this: Well we havent had any more terror strikes on our country. If we battle them over there they wont come over here....

Wow. Stupidity. So what are these people going to say when the next strike comes? OOPs?? Are they saying nothing else will happen here? Are they that naive? Oh yeah,I forgot, they are. What about the terror that is being felt by our troops and the Iraqi citizens? We have lost more troops than civilians at the towers. They have lost probably 50 times more people than we did at the towers. And this is okay? Because they are less than we are? Think beyond your own nose for a moment. There are others in this world too.

One last thing, we went into Iraq because we were PRETTY sure they had some WMD's and would use or sell them to others, right? Well there is a certain leader in SE asia who we KNOW has WMD's and we KNOW has a history of selling to others including in the mideast. Why don't we go rushing in there? Is it just because we are stretched too thin in Iraq? I don't think so. That guy is one of the biggest terror threats on the planet. Even if we weren't in Iraq, I'd be willing to bet we would not be going into NK.

BTW Rush, I thought you weren't going to get into this.