Philip P:
So what’s the benchmark for progress, then? If no futher terrorist attacks had occurred since invading Iraq, the pro-war side would claim they were justified. When further terrorist attacks do occur, the pro-war side still claims that they are justified.
What if a London-style transit attack takes place in the US? Is that proof that we need to “strengthen our resolve” and that we should remain in Iraq? What if a US city suffers a nuclear attack? What if multiple US cities suffer multiple attacks?
You see the problem here - both sides (pro and anti Iraq war) can claim justification, but neither can prove their claim since there is no agreed upon benchmark. If an increase or decrease in the worldwide threat of terrorism isn’t a benchmark for judging the success of our policies, what is?
Philip, I respect what you’re trying to do here. You want to quantify things that aren’t neccessarily quantifiable. In every war there are unquantifiable, unmeasureable constants that neither you nor I can measure with any consistency. Things like the morale of our troops, which has been proven time and again throughout the course of human history to be an enormous, yet unmeasurable reason some battles are won and some wars have been lost.
The reality remains, the war is won/over when the enemy is defeated and either surrenders or is destroyed. As Vern keeps telling you, you are *plugging in the wrong numbers". You’re trying to form an accurate measuring stick to a war that’s never going to conform to the parameters you want to apply 24/7. All wars are a fluid series of events and we will not always win every event. The bad guys are going to get their licks on us.
Respectfully, it appears to me as if you want the
perfect war. As much as I wish there was such a thing, there isn’t. War’s are always ugly, nasty things–but sometimes they are neccessary.
My reccomendation to you is this:start plugging in the numbers of good and evil. Not some moral equivlency nonsense. Old fashioned Catholic believin’ good and evil. IMO, when anyone does this, honestly–it’s a no-brainer.
Then pray that God’s Will be done.
Quickly, let me assure you I didn’t come to my feelings about removing Saddam after the 2000 election. I was angry with Bush41 for not removing the butcher of Baghdad in the early 1990’s–because once I saw the horror this man and his regime were inflicting upon the people–it’s a no-brainer. I was equally furious with Bush41 for not hold China responsible for the massacre in Tianamin Square and for not doing anything in Bosnia.
I could go on and on, but I sincerely believe that helping “the least of these” includes jailed priests and Christians in China camps, the folks in Iraq, Rhwanda, Sudan and everwhere there is the mistreatment of people and the abscence of human dignity–good people and nations should remove it whenever and whereever possible.
