Prez Bush talks about Iraq

[ebbtide176]

It might just be me, but as soon as President Bush finished, Dan Rather got on, and the 1st thing he mentioned was that it seemed the Prez "hurried through the domestic issues part"...<br />That just pissed me off.<br />I thought our Prez gave a good speech in general, and was surprised that he even went into detail about our stance on hussein. i know "public polls" aren't looking good, but then, they've never polled me! it seems polls miss conservatives, but i'm not bothered much by that, since all you people here seem to be more of a good cut from the pie on world issues... <br /><br />what do you guys think of the speech? <br /><br />(if you don't like it, just feel free to flame me) as if you wouldn't anyway- LOL

 

[dmessy]

Re: Prez Bush talks about Iraq

From the look on the presidents face... we'er going to war. God help us all!

 

[ebbtide176]

Re: Prez Bush talks about Iraq

thanx for the reply. i still think its all about a stance. would you give up all your treasures if you had your own country- just from diplomatic threats? or would it worry you more, if there were military buildups around you? <br /><br />yes, God help us all... like our coins, In God We Trust. war sux. but sometimes you gotta deliver the boot, instead of the pen...

 

[crab bait]

Re: Prez Bush talks about Iraq

i think he hurried thru the domestic issues an longenated on war..

 

[dhammann]

Re: Prez Bush talks about Iraq

It is refreshing and re-assuring to hear a president who talks like a leader and not a two-faced politician. He may not be correct on every issue, but he has the strength to stay focused on his beliefs. What a contrast from slick willy.

 

[ebbtide176]

Re: Prez Bush talks about Iraq

yo crabbie! i guess i couldn't really argue, since i didn't time him, but it seems the news networks did. lol<br />from watching SoTU speeches since Carter, i'd hafta say- it seems he was talking deliberately & slowly on everything as usual.<br />i kept wondering why he didn't break out and start getting irate on how the country (senate/house) didn't like his views(white house). but then you know they've got to be politicians...<br />but i still think it went same/same - up until he got to the iraq issue. THEN he seemed to start talking faster, and with more emotion. <br />i guess i was relieved, so i didn't notice the time... <br />- but me thinks you are more of a democrat than i

 

[petryshyn]

Re: Prez Bush talks about Iraq

I think for someone in his predicament, he did a darn fine job. I sure as heck wouldn't want to be making his decisions. How can anyone argue with the facts as they were presented.<br /><br />As was said above.....God help us all.....

 

[muzzy]

Re: Prez Bush talks about Iraq

you say the chief spent little time on domestic issues maybe.. BUT read the papers all the public wants to know about is iraq and if we are going to war.I think his time spent on these issues were for the american public and there perception that our president is a cowboy and rushing into war for his own reasons in my opinion we have waited too long ......what ever happened to the element of surprise and our trust and faith in our elected officials...just my opinion

 

[62_Kiwi]

Re: Prez Bush talks about Iraq

You have to hand it to him, he'd be the gutsiest, most straight-shooting president we've seen for a long time. He doesn't duck and dive for cover like most politicians do - he sticks to the hard decisions and does what's right, despite all the pressure against him.

 

[sloopy]

Re: Prez Bush talks about Iraq

I think he did a great job. I listened to it on NPR. (I love NPR I sent them a $20.00 donation and they send me A car talk guys coffee cup!) We are going to war he (pres) sent so much men over there.... I just wonder when it will happen? next week, today, next month? next YEAR? <br /><br />The sad thing is that we have not gone to war sooner, what about the time he didn't allow the UN people in for a fortnight? In two weeks I could hide a lot of stuff, more then the UN has found so far? and he has men and machines to help hide them under ground, in buildings or ship them to some terrorist group? <br /><br />sorry it is just what I think...

 

[ebbtide176]

Re: Prez Bush talks about Iraq

well said, 00boaty

 

[plywoody]

Re: Prez Bush talks about Iraq

I think for those out of a job, or worried about how they are going to pay for prescriptions, or concerned about the falling value of their 401(k), some plan that made some sense about dealing with the economy might have been nice to hear.<br /><br />The stock market has voted this morning, however. Why is it that every time this president speaks, the stock market dives?<br /><br />Re Iraq and foreign policy generally, we yet again make new, different, and unsubstantiated charges and allegations against Saddam. This president clearly wants to go to war, specifically against Iraq, and will find some excuse to go. Are the ties to Iraq and Al-qaida real? If they are, why have we waited this long? Is Iraq a real threat? I am not convinced. <br />I am convinced that North Korea is far more of a threat than Saddam ever thought of being, and have a history of selling every weapon system that they develop to anyone that has the money. the president engages in name calling of NK in the speach, but so far has not engaged them diplomatically, and leaves NK to seek out the governor of New Mexico for someone to talk to.<br /><br />Like someone said, God help us all with this "straight talking" president. Frankly I would appreciate some professional sounding plan for diplomacy rather than all this "straight talk" that does little but inflame the world.<br /><br />John

 

[JB]

Re: Prez Bush talks about Iraq

I think you will get answers to a lot of your questions on 2/5, Plywoody.<br /><br />Many of those who have never been involved in the gathering and analysis of information don't seem to recognize that our President KNOWS FACTS that cannot be disclosed without risking the usefulness of the Top Secret information gathering methods and even the lives of some of our own people and friends.<br /><br />It seems to me that he is going to do it anyway when Sec. Powell addresses the UN Security Council. I think that is a risky move, but I think it will satisfy those who so far will accept any excuse to avoid war. I just hope it doesn't destroy our methods and get a bunch people who gathered and supplied the info killed.

 

[SCO]

Re: Prez Bush talks about Iraq

I wasn't real happy about the domestic side of the speech, but we've got bigger fish to fry. All the hoopla about the domestics is purely divisive by the democrats who will stop at nothing in an attempt to discredit Bush even to the detriment of the country. There is no nice way for any President to take a stand in the political environment that has evolved here. Seems the left will always be against the Republican President regardless of whether right or wrong. Gotta question the objectivity of those that backed our last President at every juncture. That lack of objectivity nullifys the validity of average left skewed opinion in my observation. To those that will not stand with our President...how would you protect the American people from where this world is headed? We have already seen what inspections and doing nothing does. It has gotten us to this point. Do you not see that if we act now we may be able to avoid nukes, and that if we wait till they kill millions of us that a desperate all out war will occur?

 

[plywoody]

Re: Prez Bush talks about Iraq

I doubt it, JB. If there was real evidence of ties between Al-qaida and Iraq, we should have taken them on long before now. It's been a year and a half since 9-11.<br />But I will wait and keep an open mind.<br />It is hard to imagine Saddam as this terrible urgent threat, however. He has no airplanes, he is under a severe no fly zone where he cannot amass any serious threat against his neighbors without getting blown out of the sky and he knows it..He is under constant aerial and satellite surveilance-his military is arguably at 10 % the strength that is was 10 years ago..He has not made any motion of any agressive action toward any of his neighbors in the last 10 years...And the proof so far of these WMD is that we have not found them.<br />However, and I say again, he sits on huge reserves of oil. This alone explains the need for the immediate action.<br /><br />As you say, I will listen with an open mind, but I really doubt we will hear anything substantive. The neo conservatives that are in this administration have been planning this action since the early 90's and nothing is going to stop them now. I think that was reasonably clear last nite.<br /><br />But it fundamentally diverges from foreign policy objectives this country has held since the founding fathers, and is going to be a huge mistake.<br /><br />And SCO, I love that conservative rhetoric: You either fully support this president or are Anti-American!<br />How anti -American can a statement get?<br />If it wasn't so dangerous, and believed by so many, it would make me laugh.

 

[mattttt25]

Re: Prez Bush talks about Iraq

i think the president did a great job.<br /><br />my problem is the party split. i can't believe that this great country we live in can operate on a system that fosters two groups that stop at nothing to argue with each other. as soon as the republicans put out a health care reform plan or a budget plan, the democrats come back with one completely opposite. both sides argue constantly. why can't we put together working groups or committees that include dems and repubs, and FORCE them to come up with a plan both sides agree on?

 

[ob]

Re: Prez Bush talks about Iraq

I think what the problem is ,is that many people have taken what bit of information they are able to gather from whatever source or sources they chose to gather it from and now opine on the fate of the country with incomplete facts.I believe JB touched on this.The fact that Sadam may or may not be affiliated with AlQaeda means nothing.He has his own hate regime.How many Americans even heard of this organization before 911?Be careful with your answer.If you don't believe that Iraq and other radical dictatorships like North Korea don't pose a threat to regional and World security you've got your head in the sand.In this day of nuclear capability owned by countries such as Pakistan and the like ,it is simply not smart play calling to wait for a "first strike."It might just be in 'your'backyard.Who would you hold accountable for that?Bush?The entire middle east IMO needs an enema.Try voicing your opinion on their turf.The middle eastern countries leaders are self serving dictators whose people have little to lose.Left wingers are looking for more proof before we impose our might,however, they offer no logical conclusions to perpetual policing.When I see hundreds of citizens on their knees in Pakistan worshiping a model of the mountain where their first nuclear testing was succesful,and they are supposed allies,it tends to ring a bell of sceptisizm for the ones who are not.Nobody likes war and it's not Americas fault that things are the way they are.Diplomacy only works between reasonable minds.Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor.

 

[SCO]

Re: Prez Bush talks about Iraq

Plywoody,<br />I didn't say anything about anti American. You are recalling prior discussions that were directed primarily toward a poster that shall remain nameless who was not an American and said some outrageous things. Whether or not the current left wing is or is not anti American is another debate. I dont understand how you come to view the situation so differently. Is it because you and I have a different view of the danger that we face? Am I overreacting to the precariousness of our situation in your view. I don't need any motives to attribute to the President other than to get us out of this mess. I am at a loss to why your view requires a conspiracy theory of imperialism, revenge, greed, sagging polls...whatever else and anything else except the danger we face to explain the actions of this administration. Let me boil it down to one question for you: Is it reasonable that the President fears for the safety of the American citizens in an environment post 911, and feels a duty to take on what he perceives to be the most immediate and dangerous threat to our safety, that being the thwarted hoarder of WMD who is practically burning for revenge against those that thwarted him?

 

[ebbtide176]

Re: Prez Bush talks about Iraq

its so hard to write an opinion without having to go into a lengthy process to try to prevent someone from taking it out of context. SO, i won't try. and i may/may not reply to a rebuff, since we all know talking democrat vs republican views is like trying to beat someone into believing you're a nice guy.<br /><br />i think someone, anyone who can, should remove from power the leaders like hussein, who've provided adequate evidence that they are maintaining power through inflicting pain & suffering on their own people. that's a simple rule to me. taking action/doing it, is not simple. nobody wants to sacrifice bloodshed doing it. <br /><br />so we sat back, since its nice & cozy over here, and we got it good. too bad for others. we can from time to time give charitable offers to others, when we feel like it, or the cozy people here want to. <br />sure, we're big enough to go slap some evil regimes into playing nice with their people & neighbors. but since we're so big, nobody will mess with us...

 

[plywoody]

Re: Prez Bush talks about Iraq

Here I agree with ob. There are a myriad of real threats to our security out there, as he stated examples from Pakistan, North Korea, some of the former Russian provinces, some in Africa, even places like Venezueala, and Columbia, while not possessing the military strength, still pose a threat to our security.<br /><br />That is precisely why I think war and military action should be the last possible resort, and to use diplomacy and whatever else possible as much as we possibly can. You cannot make this world a peaceful place, or even a more peaceful place, though bombing them. Perhaps when a threat gets so great there is no other choice, but of all the threats in the world, I still see Saddam as the least, and I believe war with Saddam will do nothing to make us safer, will inflame to a larger degree the entire Arab world, and will make all other countries that do not share our success, such as NK, more dangerous, and not less.<br /><br />In short, we cannot lead the world to freedom and democracy by bombing them--we might do it economically and with leadership, but it won't happen with bombs.