Good Morning, Iraq.

[Roark]

Supporters of the war always seem to jump on that old "We've removed a cruel despot" bandwagon. It became more convenient to label Saddam a monster when the publicised justification for the war fell through.

Yeah, he was a mongrel, but let's not fool ourselves... If the West was truly concerned about the poor oppressed masses, they would have done something long ago when he was happily gassing 300,000 Kurds...

[Azi Tohak]

Would they? Seems to me we were hamstrung by a President too busy getting...well...you know (I'll not write it here for the children). And God knows the rest of the western world can't get off its sorry ass and help anything without the US leading. Germany has been emasculated, France...well...is still France afterall, and Britain is just too darned small.

Oh yes, by the way, good afternoon Roark

Edit (Okay so I feel bad for my ADD and keep upping my post count): Now then...if we were so wrong to support the war...what is your justification for opposing it? People are dying? Methinks we can all agree more died during Saddam's hold than have recently. More white people are dying? Seems to me that is true, but foul. I'm just curious.

Azi

[Roark]

Good afternoon!

[Franconicus]

Get out of here! This is for good news only!

[Tribesman]

Jag saddam killed more iraqis then the WHOLE coalition combined.
True , and he killed most of those people when he was being backed by members of the coilition .

And remember, had I heeded the advice of those who opposed the war, we would be giving more money into the ‘Oil for Food Program’
would that be the self financing program that was set with your governments blessing precicely so that they didn't have to give any money.

Seems to me we were hamstrung by a President too busy getting...well...you know
I didn't know Reagan and Bush were too busy having oral sex to do anything , I wonder why there wasn't any hearings into that

[Franconicus]

Seems to me we were hamstrung by a President too busy getting...well...you know
I didn't know Reagan and Bush were too busy having oral sex to do anything , I wonder why there wasn't any hearings into that

Make love, not war!

[Azi Tohak]

I'm sure I would have a witty comback if I wasn't laughing so hard.

Azi

[Tribesman]

I'm sure I would have a witty comback if I wasn't laughing so hard.

Do you have something to say , witty or otherwise ?
Or do you have nothing to say in case it would be completely lacking in substancce that might run the risk of being ripped apart in a witty way ?

Subject......Iraq war ....good luck .....

But seriously , Prole made this thread for good news , ....post away ....as I said earlier there is plenty of good news , if you want to show everyone how good it is then go ahead , but don,t try crappy little irrelevant comebacks that only deter from your aims like ceasar did with his Saddam killed people , or yourself did with the "oil for food" nonsense .

[Redleg]

[But seriously , Prole made this thread for good news , ....post away ....as I said earlier there is plenty of good news , if you want to show everyone how good it is then go ahead , but don,t try crappy little irrelevant comebacks that only deter from your aims like ceasar did with his Saddam killed people , or yourself did with the "oil for food" nonsense .

Or like you just did here. My-My someone has had to much to drink and is being so hypocritical tonight. A shot of coffee and a good nite sleep is what you need.

[Tribesman]

My-My someone has had to much to drink and is being so hypocritical tonight.
Well I wil not dispure the drink bit , but how is that post hypocritical in any way ? Have I posted any irrelevant comebacks ?

[Redleg]

My-My someone has had to much to drink and is being so hypocritical tonight.
Well I wil not dispure the drink bit , but how is that post hypocritical in any way ? Have I posted any irrelevant comebacks ?

Yep your last post - try reading it again when your sober - its not witty nor is it relevant to the subject of the thread.

[Azi Tohak]

One might say a personal attack on another forum member is an irrelevant comeback.

But I suppose I should have explained what I said. I was laughing at the thought of Reagan or Bush being distracted from state buisness by the same thing Clinton enjoyed. I'm sorry, but that is like my grandpa...that is just wrong. And then franconius with his make love not war...same thing with Bush and Reagan...eww... and I must say I thought it was funny.

Anyway, this another article from a soldier home from the war where I am working right now:

Home from the war
By Deb Gau
Independent Staff Writer

For the last several months, Doug Brunsvold has experienced dust, heat and separation from friends and family as an Army National Guard first sergeant serving in Iraq. But what stands out most to him, he says, is probably the Iraqi children.
“The kids are very open,” Brunsvold said of his experiences meeting Iraqi youth. “They’re very friendly children. Guys will basically adopt some to themselves in special cases.”
Positives, like the friendships and local improvements Brunsvold has seen in the Baghdad area, are seldom seen in media coverage of Iraq, Brunsvold said. But they are there, he told members of the Reflections Family Readiness Group gathered at the National Guard Armory in Marshall on Thursday night. Brunsvold attended the meeting while on a 15-day leave from active duty.
Reflections is a support group made up of family and friends of local soldiers, organized by Brunsvold’s wife Carmen. The group has met monthly since the Battery “A” 1-151 Field Artillery Battalion was deployed last fall.
“We’re called ‘Reflections’ because we’re the reflections of the soldiers,” Carmen Brunsvold explained.
Doug Brunsvold answered questions from the group at Thursday’s meeting. One of the first questions raised was when will the battalion come home. To avoid rumors, Brunsvold stressed that nothing is certain yet. In the worst-case scenario, it could stay in Iraq until March 2006, he said.
“There are no promises for when we’re gonna come home,” Brunsvold said. “But we’re gonna come home.”
So far, the troops’ morale is pretty good, Brunsvold said. The unit is mainly providing support and training for Iraqi police in Baghdad, he said.
Brunsvold said the area is slowly starting to improve as a result of the training.
“We’ve instilled some pride into the Iraqi police officers,” he said.
Soldiers are also getting to know the local people, he said. Many Iraqis have offered the soldiers help, translating or pointing out explosive devices on the roads.
“We have a lot of good working relationships,” Brunsvold said. “We’ve made friends with a lot of them.”
Even with local support, the troops are being careful, Brunsvold said. Alertness is vital in an unstable and dangerous environment.
“They’re all very serious about their jobs,” Brunsvold said. “Your alertness is increased, because the only one you can rely on is you.”
Living conditions for the soldiers are comfortable, though a lot less temperate than in the States, Brunsvold said. The summer weather in Iraq, he said, is like a constant blast of heat from an oven broiler. Temperatures of over a hundred degrees are normal.
“Our interpreter classifies August as ‘the time of two hells,’” Brunsvold told the group. But the heat isn’t too bad, he added — air conditioning inside headquarters and barracks keeps temperatures down to about 80 degrees.
Brunsvold also has access to the Internet, and is able to contact Carmen every day while overseas. He says he also keeps in touch with his sons Eric and Quentin, both members of his unit, although not as often because of differing work duties.
Brunsvold said he didn’t really have to change gears when he returned to Minnesota, although he was glad to have a change from Iraq’s desert landscape.
“I was looking forward to some green for a long time,” he said.
Brunsvold returns to Iraq on Wednesday, but in the meantime he’s been catching up with friends and family. He took a trip to Bismarck, N.D., to visit his mother, and attended the Marshall Fire Department picnic.
Brunsvold said that everyday conditions in Iraq are getting better, but gradually. He used to see long lines of people on the street waiting to buy fuel, but not as much any more. The streets have a little less garbage on them, and the police are getting more effective.
“You don’t see the positive,” he said, referring to American media coverage. “It’s a slow process, but it’s getting better.”
As residents fight it, city may award street bids
By Rae Kruger
Independent Staff Writer

The source is http://www.marshallindependent.com/ but I don't like navigating the site myself. Small budget, but I am sure you can find it okay.

So the Oil for Food program was set up by some UN nations to try to get food to the poor or Iraq. Why the hell should I have to pay for that if the nation is perfectly capable of paying for the food itself? The reason I don't like that program is because the same thing happened with it that always happens with any program the west sets up to try and help poor. The rich take all the money. It just seemed silly to me to make Hussein wealthier than he already is, but hey, if the lefties thought that would stop Hussein butchering his people good for them. Did it work?

And what exactly did Ireland do about Iraq? Get toasted and forget there was such a thing. It must be very easy to attack other nations when yours barely rates as the UKs chew toy. I also love that you lack any foreign policy other than to cause as few ripples as possible. Way to change the world one whiskey at a time right?

Azi

[Proletariat]

Saddam's genocidal rampage is over?

The Oil For Food fiasco which was starving the Iraqi people, yet kept the baneful Baathists in power to feed dissenters into wood chippers is over?

Gee, those have no place in a 'Good News' in Iraq thread.

I was not living before the 9th of April and now I am, so let me speak!

http://afreeiraqi.blogspot.com/

Ali sends his regards, from Iraq.

[Tribesman]

Yep your last post - try reading it again when your sober - its not witty nor is it relevant to the subject of the thread.
Not relevant ?
Not relevant to the subject of "good news" but entirely relevant when people say "oh but Saddam killed more" or "I don't want to pay for Oil for food" .
misrepresentation and twisted logic will be countered in any thread , no matter what the title of the thread is .

As Prole has now put it
Saddam's genocidal rampage is over?
Yes congratulations , but perhaps it would have been better if you hadn't helped him when he was doing his genocidal rampaging .

The Oil For Food fiasco which was starving the Iraqi people, yet kept the baneful Baathists in power to feed dissenters into wood chippers is over?
The fiasco that was set up by your government , exploited by your businessmen and circumvented by your allies with your assistance .

So if you want to , tell me some good news , don't just tell me bad news that isn't happening anymore when your government(among others) was the bastards that was aiding it happening in the first place , like it is some major achievement .
Hey good news everyone we are no longer supporting a crazy dictator , so sorry to all those people who unfortunately got killed , but hey thats politics , your families can now have a temporary reprieve until we decide to back the next crazy dictator who may be coming your way .


One might say a personal attack on another forum member is an irrelevant comeback.
Sorry Azi , I didn't mean it that way , it just came out wrong due to the state of mind I am in at the moment (no Redleg , it isn't just drinking that can affect your state of mind , incidents can have bearing aswell), it wasn't a very pleasant night in the end and I was feeling slightly uptight . But that aside , if the tone of the post may be off the underlying meaning is still true .

[JAG]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/mid...st/4718717.stm

Great news keeps coming.

[Franconicus]

What's great about it?

[JAG]

What's great about it?

Sarcasm really is such a British thing.

[Franconicus]

Sarcasm really is such a British thing.

Right! We Europeans prefer subtle irony.
Why don't you choose another thread for your sarcasm?

[JAG]

I am sarcastic in many threads - and here it is so apt.

[Franconicus]

No, it ain't!

[JAG]

Is.

[Redleg]

Yep your last post - try reading it again when your sober - its not witty nor is it relevant to the subject of the thread.
Not relevant ?
Not relevant to the subject of "good news" but entirely relevant when people say "oh but Saddam killed more" or "I don't want to pay for Oil for food" .
misrepresentation and twisted logic will be countered in any thread , no matter what the title of the thread is .

Yep not relevant to the discussion - just like my comment is not revelant to the discussion.

You pointed out an arguement directed at an individual because you did not like their comment. And it seems you dont like it direct at you. Countering an arguement with facts is revelant - countering an arguement with a personal attack is not. That you hide it behind sarcasm - still makes it irrevelant.

As Prole has now put it
Saddam's genocidal rampage is over?
Yes congratulations , but perhaps it would have been better if you hadn't helped him when he was doing his genocidal rampaging .

So Saddam was a good guy in your opinion now. Yea (and yes I am being sarcastic)

The Oil For Food fiasco which was starving the Iraqi people, yet kept the baneful Baathists in power to feed dissenters into wood chippers is over?
The fiasco that was set up by your government , exploited by your businessmen and circumvented by your allies with your assistance .

Try again - the fiasco was set up by

http://www.un.org/Depts/oip/background/index.html

Resolution 986: On 14 April 1995, acting under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, the Security Council adopted resolution 986, establishing the "oil-for-food" programme, providing Iraq with another opportunity to sell oil to finance the purchase of humanitarian goods, and various mandated United Nations activities concerning Iraq. The programme, as established by the Security Council, is intended to be a "temporary measure to provide for the humanitarian needs of the Iraqi people, until the fulfillment by Iraq of the relevant Security Council resolutions, including notably resolution 687 (1991) of 3 April 1991".

It looks like you can also point the blame at Russia, France, Britian, and every other member of the Security Council - not just the United States.

So if you want to , tell me some good news , don't just tell me bad news that isn't happening anymore when your government(among others) was the bastards that was aiding it happening in the first place , like it is some major achievement .

And that means you have to stop mentioning all the past activities concerning Iraq also.

Hey good news everyone we are no longer supporting a crazy dictator , so sorry to all those people who unfortunately got killed , but hey thats politics , your families can now have a temporary reprieve until we decide to back the next crazy dictator who may be coming your way .

Your trying to hard to be sacrastic.

One might say a personal attack on another forum member is an irrelevant comeback.
Sorry Azi , I didn't mean it that way , it just came out wrong due to the state of mind I am in at the moment (no Redleg , it isn't just drinking that can affect your state of mind , incidents can have bearing aswell), it wasn't a very pleasant night in the end and I was feeling slightly uptight . But that aside , if the tone of the post may be off the underlying meaning is still true .

More then aware of everything that can effect your state of mind. Drinking makes it worse when faced with certain circumstances.

[Azi Tohak]

Thanks for the link for the Oil for Food. I need to check that out when I've got time...

Azi

[Azi Tohak]

I think this is good news. Hey, at least Iran is talking to someone!

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,163503,00.html

Sorry to dissapoint you JAG, no dead civilians here.

Azi

[JAG]

No need to disappoint me, I never want deaths, it is you and your cronies that scream death and intolerance for arabs and muslims, whether they be in Iraq, Palestine or in our nations.

However, let us post a link and read about the daily attacks which now occur in Iraq.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/mid...st/4722307.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/mid...st/4721719.stm

Oh and look at this, more mistreatment by US forces, of Iraqis!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/mid...st/4723035.stm

Great news, it isn;t as if that will be continually used by terrorists for new recruits!

[Redleg]

No need to disappoint me, I never want deaths, it is you and your cronies that scream death and intolerance for arabs and muslims, whether they be in Iraq, Palestine or in our nations.

Oh look at the nice little idiotic comment. Poor intolerant Jag

So Jag who are his cronies and who is screaming for the death of arabs and muslims? A little hyperbole on your part.

[Ser Clegane]

No need to disappoint me, I never want deaths, it is you and your cronies that scream death and intolerance for arabs and muslims, whether they be in Iraq, Palestine or in our nations.

I think the same rule should be applied here as in the "Palestine and the Left" thread.
It seems you are using the same broad brush for painting as Prager and his fans do when talking about "the world's left".
I think it would significantly improve the discussions in the Backroom if people would switch to finer tools (the general style in the Backroom certainly suffered during the lasts weeks)

[Tribesman]

It looks like you can also point the blame at Russia, France, Britian, and every other member of the Security Council - not just the United States.
Yes , but there does seem to be a lack of posters from those nations that bring the subject up , when they do they will get the same treatment .

[Redleg]

It looks like you can also point the blame at Russia, France, Britian, and every other member of the Security Council - not just the United States.
Yes , but there does seem to be a lack of posters from those nations that bring the subject up , when they do they will get the same treatment .

Ah but only blaming those that post from the United States makes your arguement well meaningless - especially since there are many posters here from Britian and a few from france and Russia. However it seems you rather just point your finger at america - forgetting the other three that point in your direction of the woods.

[JAG]

I think the same rule should be applied here as in the "Palestine and the Left" thread.
It seems you are using the same broad brush for painting as Prager and his fans do when talking about "the world's left".
I think it would significantly improve the discussions in the Backroom if people would switch to finer tools (the general style in the Backroom certainly suffered during the lasts weeks)

You are right.