drex,

I love you man. You're a wonderful guy, but your friend Mr. Kraft's argument has some holes big enough to drive an M1 Abrams tank through them.

1. The saudis are not "rational." They sit on the fence and commit to... nothing. They are our "allies" (though 10 or the 11 9/11 hijackers were Saudi), but they support the jihad movement as well.

2. Japan and Germany had one thing, well a couple of things, the current jihadist movement does not have: Armies, money, organization. To compare the current jihadist movement to the Japanese and German armies of WWII gives the word "reaching" a new meaning. The jihads do not have the means to invade or "take over" ANYONE!


3. Show me ONE ounce of evidence that states that they are "about to" or "close to" being able to deliver a small nuclear, or biological weapon. This takes TONS of money (of which they have very little), and even more knowledge. Even if they DID somehow, against all odds, develop a weapon, they'd need a delivery system -- missile of some sort. Ask Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan, all of whom have tried or are currently trying -- WITH money and knowledge, by the way -- to develope a nuclear and/or biological weapon.


4. Yes, Hussein is/was a bastard bully who has killed thousands. Since when, though, did we become the World's police? If that's the argument we are going to use, then we must go after Iran, Syria -- hell, most of the middle east, North Korea, half of South America... I can go on. Mr. Kraft talks about how this is "Not TV." Well, that means that a GREAT majority of the countries in this world are run by a dictator, a crook, a family of shieks, or all of the above! Stating that getting rid of Hussein was a necessity is a convenient excuse. If that is our reasoning, let's keep going then until we get rid of EVERY madman running a country.

5. Define "good shot" at making Iraq a democracy. How is that measured when, on the eve of the "historical" vote, we (yes, we -- see below) have to shut down the borders, impose a curfew, and prohibit traveling? Mr. Kraft pretends to know history, but he conveniently forgets to mention how them "Brits" tried (earlier this century) exactly what WE are doing now; they failed. Why? This is not, never has been, and never will be, a "democratic" society. Not democracy as we know it. The MINUTE we leave, some other Hussein will take over. This time, with new roads and cell phones.

6. It was never our "intention to govern and provide security" in Iraq? Well, that's what you had better intend to do when INVADE a country.

I am not a "softie." I am not some radical, left-wing, pacifist. I believe in a strong military (served in ours and was in the first Gulf War).

I also believe that we do not attack. We defend ourselves. We are better than that. We should have (and, obviously did) attack Afghanistan. We took action to defend ourselves. America does not, should not, invade -- unless attacked. Hussein, for ALL the fucked up things he did (and he did TONS), never attacked us. Not ONE crappy piece of paper has been found to prove that he had ANY contact with the current jihadi movement or a weapon of mass destruction.


Over and out.



Juan

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Whenever I text "Barack," my phone suggests the word "Capable." I guess my my phone IS pretty smart.