If the Iraqi citizens could have a fair and free referendum today on the coalition presence in their country, would they send us packing?
Without the smallest shadow of a doubt.
Should there ever be elections, candidates will compete primarily on the basis of who will expel the Americans first.
Almost certainly.
These admittedly cherry-picked but nevertheless disturbing letters from US soldiers leave little doubt that whatever initial welcome there was has been long, long outstayed.
“Without the smallest shadow of a doubt” huh?!
Bah… Only fanatics and the terminal stupid think anything is without the smallest shadow of a doubt.
I wouldn’t be so sure.
heh heh Good one!
Like this guy, you mean?
jjimm, I don’t think that I had reread that speech since it was given. It is chilling. Thanks for posting the link.
So what happens if they do have a referendum? Or will the new government be just a puppet government that won’t allow that to happen?
You could also ask if the Baathist party can enter the elections. :eek:
And when you say ‘send us packing’, do you mean US troops or US oil companies? :rolleyes:
I forgot to add this from Bush’s speech:
"And all Iraqi military and civilian personnel should listen carefully to this warning. In any conflict, your fate will depend on your action. Do not destroy oil wells, a source of wealth that belongs to the Iraqi people. Do not obey any command to use weapons of mass destruction against anyone, including the Iraqi people. "
Note how demanding the iraqis not destroy oil wells comes before them not using weapons of mass destruction.
Why, it’s almost as if the oil was more important to Bush than Iraqi lives…
I don’t think you’d find many oil companies sticking around if the troops were told to leave…
You would be surprised how well oil companies get along with dictatorships and thugs… they have too in many places. They just have to finance whatever strongman takes over Iraq.
Well yeah sure, if you can find a strongman to take over and terrify the country into submission. I’m not sure that can be done, although one particular possible candidate does come to mind :dubious:
What if, instead of a strongman, the country disintegrates into a mire of civil wars, with regional factions and warlords, in the style of Afghanistan?
Afghanistan wouldn’t be a good example… since those warlords do cooperate when duly bribed/paid… but in a nasty civil war without a clear winner to financial back… even the oil companies would have to leave (temporarily of course).
Business is business to these people... profit overcomes a lot of obstacles.
Well back to the topic... I'm not sure the people would boot US troops immediately... but candidates might give a due date for US presence.Rune
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Amusing though the exchange was, do NOT call your fellow posters “terminal [sic] stupid”.
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