he who must not be named
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Butterfield meets citizens, discusses IraqI know I'm going to get railed for this in some fashion, but I really dislike this kind of thinking. And as you read my responses, I'm sure I'll leave holes large enough to drive a truck through and you'll give me a swift kick in the arse because I deserve it, but I'm braced for the impact. Partly, I think it's just a politician using an unpopular war to boost his public relations and win votes.
| Quote: | | Message: U.S. has won the war; troops should come home |
--The U.S. has NOT won the war. How dare he make such a statement. The Global War on Terrorism is far from over. That's what this war is about. To make our world a safer place for my children and my grandchildren. So I don't have to worry that some lunatic radical group is going to try to destroy my way of life because they don't like my way of life.
The troops should come home. Totally agree, but they know they have a job to do. I did my job as a Soldier, as did my father and my grandfather and my uncle, and my brother in law, and my many friends. THEY understand why they are there, and THEY see the difference THEY make. It's a difficult road our country chose to take, but many times the right path is never the easy path.
| Quote: | | Lance Martin Herald Senior Staff Writer |
--Senior staff writer? Would an experienced writer that joins a paper today not be labeled as a Senior? I digress...
| Quote: | | WELDON - America has won the war in Iraq and now it's time to bring the troops home, U.S. Congressman G.K. Butterfield said Friday. |
--See my comments above.
| Quote: | | Butterfield told constituents at his third annual open house that America has been in Iraq for five years and couldn't find any weapons of mass destruction. |
--Let's think outside the box. Atom bombs, chemical warfare -- weapons of mass destruction, right? They can kill hundreds/thousands of people in a single blow, right? So what do you call weapons that can kill many over the course of a week, a month, or a year? Terrorists overseas are not only killing our Soldiers, but they are killing their own, and possibly more them than our own. The weapons of mass destruction isn't only the single finality of bombs or the invisible killing of deadly chemicals -- it's obsessed terrorists with a hatred of cultures they don't feel is conducive to their radical beliefs. Weapons of mass destruction isn't just a hydrogen bomb instantly killing thousands in a radioactive heat wave, it's well trained terrorists with unobstructed planning flying a plane into the heart of our economic infrastructure -- and killing hundreds of people. Weapons of mass destruction are the satellite terrorist groups heeding the call of evil and planning to kill our troops at Fort Dix. Yes, we can strengthen our homeland security, but they say to have a good defense, you must also have a good offense. Even with the best defense, like Russia's 1980 hockey much favored goal tender, Tretiak. Although he deflected many shots, the shots the came through were very devastating. Even as Myshkin replaced Tretiak, the shots that did come through disabled Russia definitively.
| Quote: | | He said the war on terrorism is in Afghanistan and not Iraq. It is a war, he told constituents, that has cost the lives of 3,300 Americans, injured 25,000 and left 100,000 needing long-term mental health care. |
--The war is everywhere. It's possible heart is in the middle east. The last time we were attacked, we responded in WWII in a combined war effort, we lost 407,300 in a war spanning from 1939 to 1945. It's been roughly the same amount of time since September 11, 2001 and the cost of our freedom (to live free of terror) hasn't been as great. No, I'm not minimizing the death of our Soldiers. Rather I'd like you to maximize the cost of your freedom.
| Quote: | | Butterfield said a compromise agreement reached this past week gave the president $100 billion for the war effort in exchange for $20 billion in domestic spending. Congress will then re-examine the war issue in September. |
--Ah yes, the debate over what's more important. The sake of the whole world? Or the sake of our own home? They say we're just there for the oil. So let's make cars that run on less oil consumption and more electricity. Buy American! But how many things in Wal-Mart is made overseas. It's a global economy and butterfly wings are flapping everywhere. What happens anywhere on this Earth is going to affect us. So we better learn to start living with each other. Let me put this into perspective -- when I yell at my children in the back of the van, "OK! NOBODY TOUCHES ANYBODY ELSE! EVER!" Does it work in my van for a one hour and twenty-six minute drive (the time between my house in Fayetteville to my parent's house in Roanoke Rapids), or in 17 minutes (the time between my house and the Sonic?), nope. It's not going to work in my Nissan Quest (sorry, I didn't buy American, sue me), it won't work globally. So, following government solutions, I should tell my daughter to nail her brother with her stuffed animal before he retaliates, right? Nope, we haven't found the best solution for that either.
| Quote: | | After his speech to constituents, he told the Daily Herald that in September, “I think we'll insist on time lines. |
--Have you ever told somebody at work that they can take of early that day? Did they start working harder? Let's say the special team just told the defense that on "HUT!", we're going to start falling back. What do you think that defense is going to do?
| Quote: | | We've got to wind down this war. We have won the war as far as I'm concerned. |
--There's that won the war thing again.
| Quote: | | We have secured the peace; we have set up a democratic government. |
--We have set up a democratic government. Peace is far from secured - anywhere.
| Quote: | | We brought Saddam Hussein to justice; |
--Again, not to undermine the great work of our Soldiers, but whoopty-freaking-doo. He's a piece of a big whomping puzzle. Albeit a larger piece than most, a piece nonetheless.
| Quote: | | we have determined there are no weapons of mass destruction. We've accomplished our mission.” |
--I think you've heard me respond to this already.
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| Quote: | | “These are difficult times for our country. Our great challenge is to take this country in a brand new direction. |
--I couldn't agree more. See? I'm not thoroughly opposed to what he says. The rest of what he talks about isn't directed to our military, but about medicaid, mental health, sales taxes and local taxes. So I'll end here.
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Cap'n Slappy
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It's more likely that this is the way Butterfield actually feels. He doesn't need to say these things to win votes in this district which has been solidly Democrat for a long time.
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Kestrel
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Yeah, I think you have some holes in your arguements, but at the same time, I don't agree with Butterfield either. Personally, I don't think the war in Iraq is won, and I seriously doubt that we can win it. I view it as a question as how to exit with the least "loss". That's all I have time for now. Gotta hit the sack...
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