We're Not Leaving Iraq
Reader Comments
Nice site
Nice article
Nice site
Nice article
Nice site
Nice article
Nice site
Nice article
Comparing Bush with Truman?
What an excellent idea! Why not turn this into a series of articles: "George W. Bush Compared with the Greats in History!" or “George Bush Kicks Historical Booty!” You could limit it to other presidents, or bring in leaders from other countries as well, such as Churchill or Gandhi. I'd advise leaving it with former presidents, perhaps choosing one randomly each week, or limiting the comparisons to the putative top 10. Starting in reverse order, you could build excitement as we find out why GW was better than Andrew Jackson, better than Madison, more adept than Teddy, and Franklin Roosevelt--and then move on to the final three. Your audience would await with breathless anticipation your explanations why Bush was superior to Jefferson (for example, T.J. spent way too much time reading), why George-III was a greater and more courageous leader than George-I (who wimped out by allowing Congress to retain some power, as opposed to turning them into an emasculated rubber-stamp), and why Lincoln's propensity for telling the truth, his willingness to consider all viewpoints and explain his decisions, his profound intelligence and insight (all in stark contrast to our incumbent), would make him a dud in today's world of sound-bites, partisanship and spin. Yup! I think you’re on to something here, Mr. Barone. I can hardly wait for the first installment. [Oh! And I'd go with my second suggestion for a title--the first is a little stuffy.]
Our military the most humane?
Regarding James Hall’s comments (July 11) about our military being “the finest, both militarily and humanely”--well, certainly we are the most powerful military force on earth, but the most humane? Our military is composed of human beings, just like any other military, and when placed in the ultra stressful position of war, asked to do what we have been taught not to do our whole lives--kill other people, some of these human beings are going to end up with ruined lives, sometimes committing war crimes along the way. Add to this the fact that our men in uniform were given orders from the very top--Rumsfeld, Cheney, Bush--that subverted 230 years of American principle and practice, orders to ignore the field manual and treat prisoners inhumanely; it’s no wonder that the disgraceful horrors of Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo occurred. Most humane? Far from it, but I count this as more of an abject failure of leadership, rather than a reflection on the men and women on the ground. Still, the Nuremberg trials and the Geneva Conventions make abusing prisoners a war crime--both for the perpetrator and the one who ordered it. But there should be a special place in some dark and dank prison for the leaders who set these young soldiers and Marines on this course that has disgraced our nation.
Survival of Western Civilization and Christianity
How fool can be people than do not understand that this is a mad
fundamentalist/totalitarian ideologists' dream, against the Judeo/Christian World,, and it doesn't matter if it is Irak/Iran/Afghanistan/Pakistan, where they are breed. The Osama's followers will have not rest until they accomplish their design of extermination of any kind of democracy, liberty and love for humankind through Christianity.
Go and try to convince the Ayathollas of living with people that
have other religions?
So wake up, and pray the Lord to help our President and our soldiers to win this war, or we'll have it our land soon.
Pollyanna
I thought she had the most optimistic of views until I read this article. Just kidding. One glaring difference I see is how we entered war in Iraq compared to how we entered it in Germany.
Not Leaving Irag?
Typical of some people, to delete 60 years of history from their memories. Does Third World Independence movements, Vietnam, and Soviet occupation of Afghanistan ring a bell?
We're staying and so is my Family
Leadership is not about popularity! Besides Pres. Truman saying "We're not leaving Berlin" there was another fearless man who made it clear "We're staying and so is my family". That man was my father, Brig. General Frank L. Howley, a reservist and the military commandant of Berlin, Germany from 1945 until 1949, when we all returned to the USA and civilain life again. Our home was under the flight path into Templehoff. Later my father was asked if the noise of planes overhead every 90 seconds 24 hours a day didn't keep him from getting a good nights sleep. His answer: "Only when I didn't hear them!" Our life depended on those planes and their brave candy dropping aircrews. Before the blockade started, my father, anticipating it, stored a supply of powdered milk saving the lives of numerious infants and erning him an honerary medical degree from the Free University of Berlin. Leadership is about a lot more than popularity.
