</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">Originally posted by bretwalda:
<strong>All too typical. Because I dont think this war is going to do the US any good and furthermore will undoubtably unleash an animal we have no idea how to handle makes me a liberal/socialist? As a matter of reference to get you out of the tunnel vision you find yourself in: I am a registered Republican, have voted Republican since I was of age, went to arguably the most conservative university in the US, grew up in a staunch conservative, Christian household. I haven't blown off the values I was imparted with. I cherish them obviously more than you. Doesnt mean I am more or less American than you, being one is 100% priviledge - none of us deserve what we've been blessed with here in the USA. I'm just not ignorantly going to follow a party line cuz that's what I was brought up in or in general adhere to.

Your ignorance of history and rearrangement of fact is what troubles me about the whole Ra Ra Republican crowd. Name me one nation that has gone down the path of imperialism that still exists today as it did in its original glory. Or exists at all for that matter. As far as International Law and the legality of this attack is concerned - thats what this whole international bickering is about!

You stand corrected yet again my freind, and still nothing REASONABLE to say?

P.S. Phil, I think this complies with your directive. Let me know if I'm off track.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">OK. I don't get a lot of time where I can follow and respond in an active debate, but I will jump in here for the sake of our country and spreading the message of Conservatism.

You said: Doesnt mean I am more or less American than you, being one is 100% priviledge - none of us deserve what we've been blessed with here in the USA.

I say: You are only partially correct here. Yes, this country exists in it's current state of freedom because of the Grace of God. However, many folks have contributed to preserving this country by either fighting to maintain this freedom or vigorously protecting our freedom by raising our children to value the freedom and liberties that we have today. It's kind of like the story about the preacher who takes some barren land and, by the Grace of God and hard work, builds a church and a beautiful campus for the church. Another preacher comes to visit and says, "Wow, look what God has done here!" The preacher, with tongue in cheek responds, "are you kidding? You should have seen it before I got here and He had it by himself!"

The moral of the story is that yes, America was created by the Grace of God, but it is protected every day by a partnership between God and his people who want to preserve the country by honoring Him.

You said: Name me one nation that has gone down the path of imperialism that still exists today as it did in its original glory. Or exists at all for that matter.

I say: Sure, I'd be glad to. The United States of America. If you are saying that we will be brought down by our imperialistic tendencies, I say you are wrong. We will use our awesome power to bring any nation that harbors terrorists or sponsors terrorism to their knees. After they are vanquished, we will help rebuild a nation with freedom and liberty for the people. Look at Germany, Japan and South Korea for examples. If you have access to good sources in Afghanistan, you will find that businesses are thriving there now... and more growth is expected in the future. We will do the same in Iraq. We will do the same wherever necessary until there are no countries left that are willing to harbor or sponsor terrorism. I never cease to be amazed at the entrepeneurial spirit of a free man/woman. Some of us have forgotten how blessed we are to have the liberty and freedom we have in America. New immigrants do and they show it every day by working hard and succeeding. New freedom in these countries will foster this same entrepeneurship and new patriots who will fight to preserve this newfound freedom.

You said: As far as International Law and the legality of this attack is concerned - thats what this whole international bickering is about!

I say: Let 'em bicker all they want. The United Nations was founded after WWII and one of it's purposes was to prevent evil dictators from gaining power and committing evil atrocities. (ie. Adolf Hitler as example) The UN recognize Saddam Hussein as one of these evil dictators. They condemned his actions in three resolutions that are still in effect. The latest version being 1441. (I think the others were 678 and 876 if I remember correctly) There was a unanimous vote to support 1441 which said that we would give Saddam one last chance to disarm and, if he failed to do so, there would be serious consequences. France, Germany and Russia failed to follow through on this resolution. Bush and Powell tried to get the UN to follow through but France refused to follow through and threatened to veto any new resolutions supporting force. You are now seeing the US and UK following through. Many other nations now endorse this action. The count of nations publicly supporting the action is now at 40.

Time will tell. Let's come back to this debate after Saddam is gone, the Iraqi people are free and it's safer to be an American.

Powell

P.S. - If you don't see a reply from me right away, it's not because I don't have a response... I just don't have a lot of free time to post rebuttals.