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Progress in Iraq (pg. 2)
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| NYCTrancefan |
| quote: | Originally posted by Nadi
I'm pretty sick of the media never ever reporting the good stuff that happens in Iraq. As far as no weapons of mass destruction, can anyone really say that the countrys worse of than it was when Sadamm was raping the wives of people he didn't like? I know people are going to blab about how it's not up to the U.S to decide how the world runs, and if they're going to go after Iraq for being a dictatorship than they should go after all dictatorships. But thats really not practical. |
It is easy for those who didn't live under Saddam Hussein to formulate an opinion on what society was like, I have maintained the only voices that matter are those of the Iraqis on this subject because they felt his wrath first hand, be it through the loss of relatives or being tortured themselves. Iraqis by in large are willing to give the U.S. a chance but then want their nation back ASAP that is the impression I get. When protestors are willing to stand up for North Koreans in prison camps, speak up loudly against the carnage in Africa, and let dictators the world over know that they are not going to be tolerated then they can comment on Saddams rule with validity. The ultimate moment will be the return of Iraq to the Iraqis themselves and the investments that will hopefully payoff in a brighter future. Until then there will be those who continue to focus soley on the negative aspects for their own numerous reasons. |
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| smokeape |
Watch out for those BioHazards!!
Lol!
{{{smoke}}} |
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| fuct4less |
nice to see some positive things happening in iraq.
| quote: | | ... Saddam is gone. |
out of the frying pan and into the freezer
i guess that all depends on the individual's definition of free. freedom for us to capitalize off of their oil and freedom to thouroughly saturize their market after our (and our allies') corporations infest that land, then yes. however, freedom to speak out against your occupiers will result in being fired upon, losing your job, ect...
| quote: | | ... President Bush has not faltered or failed. |
:haha: maybe in iraq hes a savior, but most certainly not domestically. yes, he has done quite a bit to improve our economy, but he has cut funding on other crucial aspects (such as environmental conservation, education, etc). oh well, too late. changing focus now would just do more damage than help, as nic said earlier, we should first finnish what we started overseas. |
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| rizen |
| quote: | Originally posted by NYCTrancefan
Well Rizen on the issue of WMDs you are right, I would wonder where they are too, as for the nation building there are many elements in Iraq that don't want to see that succeed. Be it understandable or not, if you consider that I wouldn't appreciate seeing foreign troops walking through the streets of America, with that said Iraq should take advantage of the opportunities available for a brighter future. The U.S has invested a lot of $$$$ in Iraq, be it for whatever good or not so good motives, they have gotten a lot of nations to verbally agree to significantly cut Iraqi foreign debt, and they have gotten rid of a self serving dictator, one less of those in the World. Iraq has to move forward because that is where their future lies, not backwards. I hope that the U.S. troops can soon return home from there with life and limb. |
no doubt we have and are going to invest more in iraq now that we are there. its great the we are helping them, but there could of been better ways to help like lifting the sanctions a bit. now we'll probably be there until i die, wtf do we need a 3000 person embassy there for? talk about huge government. however, keep this mind, everytime you hear "we are building more and more schools in iraq everyday", remember that schools in the states, especially in california and oregan are closing or getting even worse (a district here is getting some of its elective classes reduced/removed, something i always looked forwad to when i went to jr high and HS). :( |
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| occrider |
| quote: | Originally posted by rizen
its great the we are helping them, but there could of been better ways to help like lifting the sanctions a bit. |
In all practicallity how would that have helped them? There was clearly a strategy for a means to a goal. Nothing stood in the way in the past so how would your recommended strategy have benefited any party? |
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| josh4 |
| quote: | Iraqi shoe thrower: Bush's 'soulless smile' set me off
BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- Muntadher al-Zaidi, the Iraqi journalist on trial for throwing his shoes last year at then-President George W. Bush, said the former American leader's "bloodless and soulless smile" and his joking banter provoked him.
Al-Zaidi threw both of his shoes at Bush during a December news conference with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki in Baghdad. Neither shoe hit the president, and other people in the room quickly knocked al-Zaidi to the ground before security officials arrested him.
He explained his actions in an hour-long appearance on Thursday at the Central Criminal Court of Iraq. Asked if anyone pushed or motivated him to do this, al-Zaidi said he was spurred on by the "violations that are committed against the Iraqi people."
"I could only see Bush and feel the blood of the innocents flow under his feet, as he was smiling that smile -- as if he had come to bid farewell to Iraq and with the last support and more than 1 million martyrs," al-Zaidi said. "At that moment, I felt this is the man who killed our nation ... the main murderer and the main person responsible for killing our nation." VideoWatch more on the trial »
Speaking in his first public appearance since his arrest two months ago, al-Zaidi told the court he "got emotional and threw the shoe at him" and "the second one was involuntary."
"I had no intention to kill the commander of the occupying forces ... even if I had a weapon ... I was expressing my inner feelings and those of all the Iraqi people from east to west and north to south and the feelings of hatred they hold for him," he said.
Al-Zaidi told the judge that he had intended to humiliate Bush in the past. As Bush listed the gains made in Iraq during the mid-December news conference, al-Zaidi said he was thinking about the millions of civilians who had been killed, widowed or displaced. He talked about the sanctity of mosques being violated, the rape of women and daily humiliations.
"I don't know what accomplishments he was talking about. The accomplishments I could see were the more than 1 million martyrs and a sea of blood," al-Zaidi said. "There are more than 5 million Iraqi orphans because of the occupation. ... More than a million widows and more than 3 million displaced because of the occupation."
Al-Zaidi also said he was beaten up in front of the prime minister and the world when he was taken from the room where the press conference was held.
The trial will resume March 12 while the court asks the Cabinet to clarify whether Bush's visit was official or not. Al-Zaidi is charged with "assaulting a foreign head of state on an official visit to Iraq."
In December, al-Zaidi's defense team filed an appeal requesting the charge be changed from "assaulting" to "insulting." According to the Iraqi penal code, anyone who assaults a foreign head of state is punished by "imprisonment for a term of years," with the court deciding the sentence.
Lawyer Dhiyaa al-Saadi told CNN in December that his client could face 15 years in jail if convicted. VideoWatch more on the incident »
On the other hand, insulting a foreign head of state is punishable by a two-year prison sentence and a fine.
Dressed in an olive-green suit and black shoes, al-Zaidi entered the courthouse to loud applause and cheers.
Some family members and supporters, who were waiting outside, draped an Iraqi flag around his neck.
A woman in the crowd shouted, "You hero!" His 6-year-old nephew, Haidar, stood outside the courtroom reciting the poem "Throw the shoe ... at the vampire."
As he left, the crowd pressed forward to get close to al-Zaidi, who waved as he was led away.
Earlier, lawyer al-Saadi told the al-Baghdadia television network that his client's "morale is high." Al-Baghdadia is the journalist's employer and has been calling for his release.
By tradition, throwing a shoe is the most insulting act in the Arab world.
His angry gesture touched a defiant nerve throughout the Arab and Muslim world. He is regarded by many people as a hero, and demonstrators have taken to the streets in the Arab world demanding that he be set free.
Find this article at:
http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast...ower/index.html |
Hearts and minds? |
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| Krypton |
| Bush deserves what Saddam got. |
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| Shakka |
| quote: | Originally posted by Krypton
Bush deserves what Saddam got. |
Yeah! |
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| Krypton |
| quote: | Originally posted by Shakka
Yeah! |
Treat others the way you'd like to be treated. Am I right? AM I?!?! |
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| Shakka |
| quote: | Originally posted by Krypton
Treat others the way you'd like to be treated. Am I right? AM I?!?! |
So what about how Saddam treated his people? |
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| Krypton |
| quote: | Originally posted by Shakka
So what about how Saddam treated his people? |
Off the top of my head, there were several uprisings after the First Gulf War, none of which were helped by the West. It is not America's responsibility to police the world. |
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