Re: Who Would You Vote For?
 

[quote=dmek25;272669]i really dont think that is the answer. its something about the mentality of the middle east. kill or be killed. no matter how much we try to interject, the mindset remains the same[/quote]

You're right, the Sunnis and Shiites are going to kill each other no matter what. The only way it can work is if Iraq gets economically and militarily strong enough to suppress its own uprisings. That will take a lot of economic and a lot of military strength because the opposition is tough.

There are also other dynamics though. Al Sadr is willing to come to the political table and work with the Iraqi government, but he won't do it unless the US is out of the picture. He's showing signs he can be reasonable. But then, there are still too many Iranian and Syrian militants in there, not loyal to Sadr, with different agendas, and we can't leave because they're still there. So Sadr's political agenda will have to wait for us to jet.

Re: Who Would You Vote For?
 

Speaking of Sunnis and Shiites, the reason they kill each other is so INSANE. I looked up the difference and I cannot believe people hate each other over something like that. It's almost like Baptists fighting Methodists.

Re: Who Would You Vote For?
 

[quote=TheMalcolmConnection;272674]Speaking of Sunnis and Shiites, the reason they kill each other is so INSANE. I looked up the difference and I cannot believe people hate each other over something like that. It's almost like Baptists fighting Methodists.[/quote]

Yeah it's nothing short of bigotry. It's completely retarded.

Re: Who Would You Vote For?
 

i don't think its as easy as suppressing the uprisings. these people are taught, from a very young age, who they are to hate, and how to take care of it( by killing) until you can change an entire philosophy of life's beliefs, the cycle will never end

Re: Who Would You Vote For?
 

[quote=TheMalcolmConnection;272671]I'm not. I pay my taxes like everyone else, and I'll be damned if someone is going to tell me whether I have to serve or not. It's a beautiful thing having a voluntary military.

I don't agree with this war, so therefore I wouldn't go.

If this was Afghanistan where we are defending ourselves from a regime that attacked us, I'd be glad to be drafted, even though war isn't exactly my favorite thing to be doing with my life.[/quote]

I'm with you, there's no way I'm putting my life on the line for someone else's pointless cause. I'd gladly move out of the country if it came down to that.

Re: Who Would You Vote For?
 

Yup, because if that were to happen, it wouldn't be my country anymore anyway. At least not the country I grew up loving.

Re: Who Would You Vote For?
 

See you in Canada TMC, maybe we could open up one of those "coffee shops", wink-wink. ;)

Re: Who Would You Vote For?
 

Canada?! I'm heading to Mehico!

Coffee shop sounds good as long as I'm in charge of the "massage parlor" in the back.

Re: Who Would You Vote For?
 

[quote=Mattyk72;272681]I'm with you, there's no way I'm putting my life on the line for someone else's pointless cause. I'd gladly move out of the country if it came down to that.[/quote]

You'd be safe, you're 34. They'd deem you too old. But I know what you're getting at, with the principle of it and whatnot.

Again, I definitely realize I'm in the minority on the draft thing. I don't bother trying to argue for it because I know the majority is too overwhelmingly against it.

Re: Who Would You Vote For?
 

I remember back in 1991 with the Gulf war my friends and I were seriously talking of packing up and moving up north if they put a draft in place. We were just 18 at the time so we had no idea of how unlikely a draft really was, but either way we were pretty freaked out initially when the war started and there were some whispers of a draft.

Re: Who Would You Vote For?
 

[QUOTE=TheMalcolmConnection;272683]Yup, because if that were to happen, it wouldn't be my country anymore anyway. At least not the country I grew up loving.[/QUOTE]

I already feel that way. :(

Re: Who Would You Vote For?
 

Anyway, on voting as a topic in general, Iraq is an issue for me, but I'd say that 75% of my vote is based on one issue: the economy. I'm a numbers guy, what'd you expect!

Taxes, the deficit, jobs/unemployment, wage growth, inflation, minimum wage, these are all the things I care most about. Then comes Iraq. Then comes education.

On the social issues, which rank low in my priority list, I'm pretty much a lefty. But I'm a righty on the economy. So overall, when it all averages out, I end up liking moderate republicans.

Re: Who Would You Vote For?
 

PS Nice going on 12,000, TMC.

Re: Who Would You Vote For?
 

if we keep this thread going, i might catch up to malcolm. and congrats

Re: Who Would You Vote For?
 

[quote=Mattyk72;272687]See you in Canada TMC, maybe we could open up one of those "coffee shops", wink-wink. ;)[/quote]
now im just curious here, but are you saying you wouldnt fight for your country because:
(a) you dont agree with [I]this[/I] war?
(b) you dont agree with this war and you dont like Bush?
(c) you cant justify risking your life for your country, no matter what the circumstances?