If you were elected this November...

[Erik]

If you managed to become president, what would your goals be in regards to Iraq?

What would a solution look like to you?

And how would you get there?

(I am hoping to get a policy discussion going here as opposed to bashing one side or the other or crying over spillt milk as we're already in Iraq regardless of how we got there).

[John Bennett]

> If you managed to become president, what would your goals be in regards to Iraq?

Bring our troops home ASAP, wilst leaving behind a government friendly to our energy corporations.

> What would a solution look like to you?

Iraq split into three countries along ethnic and religious lines. Basically Sunni, Kurd, and Shiite. Install energy corporation dependant dictators in each country.

> And how would you get there?

First off, we don't waste anymore money and men "rebuilding" Iraq. Democracy and representative government are not part of their culture. Never has been. It's foolish and ignorant to think it will be in our lifetime.

There are two options: 1. Fanatic Islamist Theocracy (ala Khomeini), 2. Totalitarian dictatorship (ala Saddam, Kadafi, Marcos, Shah)

Obviously, option 2 makes the most sense for the USA and Europe.

We draw lines on a new map for Iraq consisting of Shiiteville, Kurdburg, and Sunniland (or whatever names they like).

In turn we pick a leader for each new state, then we use massive and crushing American world-media-be-damned military power to install them in power. Immediately after the third one is in place we bring every single one of our soldiers home.

The energy corporations will give whatever autocrat is in power plenty of money to build schools, train police, fix the electrical grid, etc. just like they have for the last 100 years.

If any one of them gets Saddam-like illusions of granduer during the next 20 years, we crush him quickly and replace him.

[starkjudo]

I'll agree with that so long as we get to hear the lamentations of their women, as well.

[Erik]

Poli-Sci Question for John:
If we split Iraq into 3 countries (I assume we're talking Kurdistan, Sunni-Iraq, and Shi'a-Iraq), what's to keep Kurdistan from consolidating and fighting Turkey (I assume you know about Turkey and the Kurds), and what's to keep Shi'a-Iraq from joining Iran?

If we endanger Turkey we risk loosing the one secular Muslim country and the only Muslim country in NATO.

If we allow Iran to expand, well, that's bad news, too, for obvious reasons.

Just wondering your thoughts.

[Spartan]

....what's to keep Kurdistan from consolidating and fighting Turkey (I assume you know about Turkey and the Kurds), and what's to keep Shi'a-Iraq from joining Iran?



1. FACTS: No one messes with Turkey. Turkey is the regional superpower. The only thing that can slow the Turkish armed forces down is the 3:00 PM afternoon tea. Everybody in Middle east knows this long long time ago.

2. FACTS: No one besides a few loonies, care to join the Iranian Mullahs. Iran is rotting from the inside out. That country is not going to take over any country anytime soon.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/3486779.stm

[Spartan]

Let's don't kid ourselves. The Kurds will not have their own country. The Sunnis will not be allowed to secede. The Shiite dominated military and the Kurdish Peshmerga will wipe out the minority Sunni dead-enders. The rest of the Sunni elders will cut a deal with the central government and get on with their lives.

The sooner the Iraqi army becomes stronger, the sooner the Sunni dead-enders will be liquidated. The more car-bombing of Iraqi police and army recruits, the better it is for the US. That will just cement the blood revenge, the Iraqis are going to extract from the Al Qaeda and the dead-enders. The Iraqis are not as stupid as the American and European lefties. The stupid American lefties and the European lefties foolishly blame the US. (Their blame America first policy). The Iraqis know who to blame for the daily butchering of their mothers, daugthers, sons, fathers, brothers and sisters. They will settle the scores with the right parties. Mark my words. When that day comes, soon enough, the stupid lefties will blame America first.

[SRK85]

I would hurry with the interim government then start a coup in Iran and if that goes well then go attack saudi arabia and uproot terrorism across the globe.

[Dennis Monk]

I would:
1. Open all of the oil wells that have been capped off in the Gulf of Mexico.
2. Move the United States capitol building to Pampa, Tx.
3. Make Willie Nelson's birthday a national holliday.
4. Close borders to all non English speaking person's that wanted to enter.
5. Establish English classes in Mexico, China, Japan, and Canada for those that are willing to work hard and have something to offer.
6. Evacuate all those poor folks trapped in California that really hate it there but can't afford to move.
7. Line the San Andreas fault with nitro and C-4, creating the island of California.
8. Institute a true work-fare system, while doing away with the welfare sysytem.
9. I would make the possession of Cocaine (any type), methamphetamines, and heroin punishable by life in prison on the island of California.
10. Selling of the above substances would be a capitol crime.

[starkjudo]

The only problem, Dennis, is Snake Plisken is too damn old to rescue the Prez when his plane goes down in San Francisco.

[Erik]

4. Close borders to all non English speaking person's that wanted to enter.Plural for person is either people or persons without an apostrophe.

:nono:

Would you let yourself in?

(Wink wink, elbow in the ribs, just teasing you).

But what do any of your 10 points have to do with Iraq?

[robar1]

I would:

9. I would make the possession of Cocaine (any type), methamphetamines, and heroin punishable by life in prison on the island of California.
10. Selling of the above substances would be a capitol crime.


I can go with these, except....... allow any one superstar (athlete, film, TV) or any politician with more than 2 terms under their belt, have a dedicated single individual who could legally sell them any type of medication, drugs, alcohol they want. The seller would have to have been a hard working individual, never in trouble with the law, of good moral character, AND never earned more that 45K per year. They can only work for that one star, and will continue to be licensed unil the time of the "stars" death. At this time, they would either live off the money they most-likely saved while selling to this star, or they can go back to the normal every day existence of life before "sales", knowing that they have indeed improved society.

:wink2:

Robert Barkus

[Ramirez]

Dennis - you make me laugh as usual. What is with the English classes in Canada? - The last time I checked we spoke English - except for the Quebecers - who actually usually do speak English too , just that they speak French as well.

[John Bennett]

> what's to keep Kurdistan from consolidating and fighting Turkey

Turkey is too powerful.

> ...Shi'a-Iraq from joining Iran?

Their greed for western oil money.



----------------------

> The only problem, Dennis, is Snake Plisken is too damn old to rescue the Prez when his plane goes down in San Francisco.

LOL!

[Cliff Hargrave]

I really don't see another course we can take, considering we are already there and the situation is the way it is. We just have to keep churning out Iraqi military and police until they have enough to take care of things on their own. Once that is accomplished then we should bail ASAP.

We have to build our troop strength and military back up for the invasions of Iran and North Korea :)

[Dennis Monk]

Plural for person is either people or persons without an apostrophe.
Yeah that is what I get for trying to type something funny fifteen minutes before I am supposed to be at work. :laugh:


Would you let yourself in?
Of course. Every true blue, southern redneck of German, English, French, and Cherokee Indian descent, such as myself, would be welcome. :D




But what do any of your 10 points have to do with Iraq?
After reading it I really don't know. Who cares? They would never elect me anyway. I used to have long hair, hung out with the wrong crowd, had the wrong social idealogy and did partake of certain substances that I shouldn't have.
Oh, wait. So did Klinton.


What is with the English classes in Canada? - The last time I checked we spoke English - except for the Quebecers - who actually usually do speak English too , just that they speak French as well.
I knew that would get someone's goat. :D

[Spartan]

...After reading it I really don't know. Who cares? They would never elect me anyway. I used to have long hair, hung out with the wrong crowd, had the wrong social idealogy and did partake of certain substances that I shouldn't have.
Oh, wait. So did Klinton......

Question : What makes you qualify to be the President of the United States?
Answer: If Klinton can do it, even my dog would qualify.

[Ramirez]

I knew that would get someone's goat. :D

I keep forgetting what you are like :laugh: You must drive Cliff nuts.

[Chris Hargis]

I would:
7. Line the San Andreas fault with nitro and C-4, creating the island of California.


Man! Can I write you in?

Now, if you propose to do that also in the Connecticut River Valley so we could send Massachusetts back to France where it belongs, too, we'd really be onto something.

[Erik]

Just teasing you, by the way, Dennis. Since we cannot show facial expression or voice inflection via text, I hope I'm writing in such a manner that makes this clear.

:D

Besides, I used to have long hair, too. Army ROTC had something to say about that.

-E

[Dennis Monk]

Besides, I used to have long hair, too. Army ROTC had something to say about that.

-E

Erik's a former hippie!
Erik's a former hippie! :laugh:

[Dennis Monk]

Man! Can I write you in?

Now, if you propose to do that also in the Connecticut River Valley so we could send Massachusetts back to France where it belongs, too, we'd really be onto something.

Jeff might have something to say about that.

[Erik]

Erik's a former hippie!
Erik's a former hippie! :laugh:
Not a hippie. I washed.
:D

[Dennis Monk]

Not a hippie. I washed.
:D
Eric's a former hippie that didn't smell too bad!
Eric's a former hippie that didn't smell too bad! :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

[Erik]

Erik's a former hippie that didn't smell too bad!
Eric's a former hippie that didn't smell too bad! :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
And no drugs, either.

Waaaaay too much school work (and too little natural mental talent!) for that.

-E

PS - You crack me up, Dennis!