[UnderseaLcpl]

Ok extra super duper brief attempt to reply after three failed, longer posts.

Very good post I disagree with the following

1)You're assuming the people who are giving the orders really do believe "stabilizing" the country is possible.

they do believe it. it would take quite a monster to start an unwinnable war knowingly for personal gain or profit. most likely a case of believing what you want to believe. Also, how could you gain more from an unwinnable war than from a winnable one?

Do I believe Iraq had WMD's? Undoubtedly. Well, they certainly did at one point. At the time of the invasion, who knows?

True, we can't really know, but they did. They had munitions factories and warhead factories and insurgents kept planting nerve- gas or other chemical warhead IEDs. We were fortunate that they know nothing about nerve gas and stuff so the bombs didn't work. In the last war they had the same facilites,. They had plenty of time to hide them or move them. They have hidden bigger things than a warhead.

Hidden motivations tend not to be their primary reasons, although.

I shouldn't have said "hidden", I should have said " people believe what they want to, which is naturally what is most inclined to their own benefit". The people who profit from this war aren't evil, just stupid.

We are oh so kind enough to "stay" as long as the public opinion will let us after destabilizing a country.

Didn't really understand this. Could be straightforward, sarcastic, or any number of other things. The word stay in quotes really throws me off. Please elaborate.

I don't think this can be blamed on the military. Their job is to follow orders. They did.
Bull. Military people are people too. They have the same obligation to make sound judgements as anyone else. Problem is that making those judgements may not be popular. Politicians are elected by being popular. Therefore their generals must be popular. Popular does not translate into "militarily effective" so people die.
Ask any vet about "rules of engagement"

I am almost ashamed of this post but my very bad internets seems to be making a full reply impossible. In fact, it seems rude. I can assure you that this is not intentional, just a consequence of making it so short.

I would love to continue the discussion in pm where my brief, crude reply cannot clutter the forum.

Thanks 4 understanding
-The Lance