Farren

...gurdur, on the other hand, doesn't say "Yahahaha" or "Yay!". There's nothing in his post to imply that he wants a theocracy. I think the smiley was just cos he enjoys hilighting Loren's false premise. Honestly fatherphil, from your posts you seem exceptionally eager to tar and fether anti-war posters at any opportunity, rather than argue the case.

Nataraja

Nah, I'm not pleased. I'm just amused by the irony. All this is pure slapstick to me. If there is a single group that is more militantly anti-semitic than the Shia, just let me know. At this rate, the only way there will be peace in the Middle East will be to give up on Israel, and the US is so Zionist that there is less than a snowball's chance in Hell of that being considered. What a bunch of froot loops we have living in the White House. Sheesh.

fatherphil

farren:

is he then saying that 60% of the population agree with these protesters?

what i post are questions i have with certain statements made or opinions about certain statements made. thats it. surely the majority of "anti war" posts here (and lord knows there are enough of them) go without any comment by myself.

the things that interest me, i post about.

hinduwoman

Iraq simply does not have any secular tradition. Baath party's repression have made the Shiites only more intense and determined to have an Islamic state. I doubt if very many people in Iraq would mind an Islamic republic, contrary to US propaganda. If there is an election I am betting they would sweep the polls as in PaKistan.

fatherphil

make them the 51st state and then it will not matter so much if they sweep the polls. we could sick the aclu on them any time they attempt to mix church and state.

Nataraja

Phil, are you one of those people who are unable to see any version of what is going on beyond what the White House wants you to believe?

Soyin Milka

When is a sample big enough to be representative of the whole population?

When a few hundred irakis take down a statue of Saddam Hussein? When a few dozen irakis smile at US troops or thank them?

They were tens of thousands in these anti-US manifestations last friday. It was probably an organised demonstrations, but it's still impressive numbers. These people were having their first free street protest in years and years.

How many irakis will have to demonstrate in the street before their sentiments are no longer summarily dismissed as those of the minority?
25 millions?

I think we better take notice of the voices of discontent long before it gets to that point.

Soyin

fatherphil

i guarantee you the white house does not want statehood of iraq, at least not until a democrat occupies the oval office.

but sure i can see other versions, just like i'm assuming that you can consider their version without rejecting it out of hand.

Nikolai

Even if that were to happen, it would be nearly impossible to enforce the laws of the US that far away. If the local authorities have no respect for the Constitution, then its not worth the paper its written on. And I doubt that would go down well with the world community and the Iraqi's would definetly not vote for that, but of course you were just joking about the whole 51's state business.

Nataraja

Phil, it's been known from the beginning that the Iraqi people don't really trust the US. It's actually been getting a little coverage lately, but you still have to watch insomniac/early morning news to see it at all. They are rightly concerned with keeping their oil out of the hands of foreign vultures.

The White House wants us to believe that this was a bloodless war. The Pentagon has refused to reveal the actual cost in civilian lives they have incurred. Have you visited www.iraqbodycount.net lately? Those numbers are each the lost life of an innocent human being, and don't even account for those who will be crippled for life by their injuries, conscripted Iraqi soldiers who died fighting, those who die in the chaos, or those who are unaccounted for. Does that mean anything to you at all? How many people have to die for you to stop supporting the madman who is living in the White House?

I don't think that you are likely to give a number. You support him blindly. You don't care how many people die because of him, do you? I dare you to give a number at which you would cease to support him. Be careful, though because, if you pick too low, you might actually have to change your opinion; if you pick to high, you will condone a cost in lives that no sane person would tolerate.