War Quiz

ClubMed · February 28th, 2003, 07:25 AM

http://www.zmag.org/content/print_ar...1&sectionID=15

A thread to oppose the laughable and childish notion that peoples can be 'bombed' into democracy.

February 28th, 2003, 07:42 AM

I agree the answer is none.

You can't force your will on other people just like you wouldn't want them to force their will on you.

No matter how noble/good/altruistic the cause.

Saddam Hussain in his interview plainly says that the Iraqi people will welcome all Americans to Iraq as honored guests but if a soldier comes in uniform they will kill him.

"You can take a Horse to water but you can't make him drink."

ClubMed · February 28th, 2003, 07:50 AM

I don't oppose the spreading of democracy, but I do oppose 'bombing' people into foreign 'installed' democracy. Doesn't work and will be fragile.

Democracy is the result of a long process of political maturity and experience within communities, one cannot simply 'install' it and expect it to work, amd war sure as hell will not make the Iraqis open to foreign ideas when their mothers, fathers and children will die in the thousands. IMO.

osprey4 · February 28th, 2003, 08:18 AM

You're right, Iraq just isn't ready for democracy. They're much better off with a homicidal dictator. In fact, by the time Saddam gets done, there will be a true democracy because anyone who disagrees with Saddam will already be dead.

Epidemic · February 28th, 2003, 09:00 AM

Why exclude pre WWII from the list?
Just because.

Is afghanastan a failure? Not yet but I do feel with out more effort there will be problems there. Our fear of offending the middle easterners in that conflict (by "occupying the country" we do limit the success). At least in Iraq we are actually planning to occupy which is the only way to be a success IMO.

How many of those wars included the full effort of the US
coupled with a martial plan follow up?

Would South Korea exist if it were not for US intervention?

This is why you history buffs need to get a life. Just because an Idea fails once does not mean it will continue to fail. It depends on the situation methods employed and follow up. Just because when you were a baby and you could not walk does not mean you will never walk. Just because you are injured and cant move your legs does not mean you will never walk.

The premis is faulty.

Vietnam was not a war and never involved the no holds bar kinda fighting required to complete the process.

Korea once again not a no holds bar war. The other problem with both vietnam and Nkorea the countries were backed by a country which did not wish our success. A country we refused to fight. When the enemy can run up to a line on a map and regroup and refuel re arm it is not possible to ever get a real foot hold.

Your so called historian is good at remembering historical facts and ignoring situation and possible alternatives which may have changed the course. By omitting those solution he comes to the overly simplistic assumption that war no longer works.

War waged properly and won yields much better results.

RADAR1797 · February 28th, 2003, 09:37 AM

This might be humorous if it were more factually based. I am sure the South Koreans would disagree that they are not a strong, democratic, and economically powerful country. I guess the Panamanians could go back to dictatorship, but I don't think they will. I am sure the Kosovar Albanians are calling for Slobodan Milosevic to return.... But then again the US is the biggest evil in the world to some.

-RADAR

February 28th, 2003, 09:49 AM

Morning Radar. Missed you yesterday.

....not the biggest evil, but certainly there is a lot of things not right here.

Epidemic · February 28th, 2003, 09:57 AM

There are alot of things not right everywhere.

The vatican has things that are "not right" going on in it.

The question is how does America's not right stuff stack up against the right when compared with the places that think we are wrong.

RADAR1797 · February 28th, 2003, 10:01 AM

Shahani,

What nation in the world do you admire more than the US?

-RADAR

February 28th, 2003, 10:02 AM

There is an absolute truth. An absolute Good and an absolute bad. It's Black and White. No grey. (You can't be somewhat pregnant).

What I mean is other places are wrong more than the US. But don't mean the US don't have its share of shameful things they done all over.

While 99% of peeple are good and truthful and decent all over the world, its the politicians all over (particularly in the US) that twist every issue to their liking.

The world is certainly far from perfect and this includes the US.