Will al-Qaeda Follow Us Home?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(dbermanmd @ Nov 2 2006, 09:41 AM) [snapback]342487[/snapback]</div>

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think even the people who are in charge of our War efforts really have a firm idea of what constitutes "win" or "lose" and how that is to be measured.

Further, I don't believe that any realistic assessment of this has yet occurred.

So, for the sake of the enlightenment of not only the loyal followers of PC, but our Government at large...could you tell us please, what in your view would constitute a "victory" in this war, and what, in your view, constitutes a "defeat" ...and how you plan on quantifying it so we can all tell if it really happened or not...?

 

I am sure they will be over here as soon as we leave. Remember 9/11... they were over here before we come over there. We rather fight over there than over here.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TonyPSchaefer @ Nov 2 2006, 01:34 PM) [snapback]342654[/snapback]</div>

Tony - I haven't seen the documentary yet, but there is a streaming version optimized for dial-up available.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ditto @ Nov 2 2006, 01:54 PM) [snapback]342662[/snapback]</div>

If they were over here before we went over there, how will getting rid of them over there get rid of them over here? See ... if we somehow magically get rid of all of them over there, the ones over here are still here.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(dbermanmd @ Nov 2 2006, 10:13 AM) [snapback]342503[/snapback]</div>

Of course they will! It's never appeared to me that al-Qaeda was focussed on Iraq. And, of course, if we leave Iraq or 'lose' the war, I'm sure al-Qaeda will say they were an important part of the 'victory'.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(dbermanmd @ Nov 2 2006, 11:43 AM) [snapback]342572[/snapback]</div>

I DON'T agree that they will 'follow us'. As far as I'm concerned, they're doing what they can already to harm the US on US soil. We've been lucky so far, or Homeland Security has been successful so far, that we haven't had other attacks succeed (I have no clue how many have been foiled).

If we leave Iraq, al-Qaida will use it for publicity, and they may have more resources available to deploy elsewhere.

 

"They" are already here, and "We" are already there. "They" will never go "back there" since their "there" is already "here."

And, since our "here" is wherever we want to go (which is "everywhere") there's really no place left for "them" to "go," since we're already "there" (or plan to be "there" again soon).

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Pinto Girl @ Nov 2 2006, 08:39 PM) [snapback]342944[/snapback]</div>

Of course "they" also consider "us" to be "them" and "them" to be "us".

But that's neither here nor there.

 

Sometimes I have a hard time finding my own way home.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Oxo @ Nov 2 2006, 09:01 AM) [snapback]342585[/snapback]</div>

You hit the nail on the head. This idea of "winning" or "losing" is really way off the mark. We have succeeded in the key objectives (ousting Saddam and assuring there is no WMD threat - not that there ever was). So in that sense we have accomplished our primary objectives.

To that end, I think we are nearing the time (if not already past it) at which we let the Iraqi people know that since we have acheived our objectives we are now done baby sitting them. Either they can get along and stop the sectarian violence or they are on their own.

Once we leave, I'm having a hard time seeing how al qaeda will have much of any indigenous support or relevance there, so I'm not sure how they will have "won" or more specifically, WHAT they will have won.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(dbermanmd @ Nov 3 2006, 07:54 AM) [snapback]343111[/snapback]</div>

You realize Iraq never had anything to do with al-Qaida before Bush & Co invaded. Now it does.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(dbermanmd @ Nov 2 2006, 11:35 AM) [snapback]342528[/snapback]</div>

Follow? are you kidding, you've never been to Irvine CA, or many other U.S. cities.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(PA @ Nov 2 2006, 12:13 PM) [snapback]342594[/snapback]</div>

So "they" go where we lead them. So if we withdraw from Iraq and go home, where will "they" go?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Alric @ Nov 3 2006, 08:25 AM) [snapback]343117[/snapback]</div>

Didn't the Dem leadership vote to send the troops and fund the war, too? That's what makes up a government, 3 branches, checks and balances.

 

If we had put our money into securing our borders, improving airline safety, and disaster response instead of a dead-end war, we could have gone a lot further in protecting our homeland. Instead, we have further inflamed our enemies and squandered our riches.

What we should do is what we should have done as soon as the 9/11 Commission Report came out, and implemented their recommendations. And bring our troops home where they belong.

If we put our energy into securing our homeland, they will not follow us home, because we will be protected. If this is something you really care about, you should vote Democrat on Tuesday; it's in their platform.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Dragonfly @ Nov 4 2006, 12:00 AM) [snapback]343641[/snapback]</div>

Follow us home? Someone's either not reading prior posts, or they are of the opinion violent psycho "honor to be a myrter by killing as many people as you can" nuts aren't here already. Remeber? We didn't go the county of the 911 killers, they WERE / ARE already here ... worshiping at their local mosque. Follow us home? Oh, Please. Most folks don't realize how close the local mosque is to their own home. Don't get me wrong, some muslims are pacifists / non-violent / wonderful folks. I work with a great guy, named Shafi. He, a practicing muslim acknowledges that his peaceful view, withing the muslim teaching, is the minority. This aint no, "all we gota do" sort of problem. This aint no fear and weed out the commies philosopy either. Sorry, so solution forth comming. That's why the Dem's are having a field day. Neither side has a solution. If / when Dem's gain political control again ... I wish them best of luck, but I don't hear EITHER side articulating a silver bullet. And to those who'd continue to say "Well THEIR political party started it". Oh, THAT really helps. Sorry for rambling. Think I'll go ride my bike which uses NO middle east crack cocain that funds the other side :^)

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(prez1 @ Nov 3 2006, 10:39 PM) [snapback]343630[/snapback]</div>

Not that its relevant to this thread, but congress authorized the President to go to war if necessary. The office of the President has ultimate responsability for authorizing the war and its outcome. Obviously in this case the rational to go to war and its handling were handled most incompetently.