The "forever wars" - America moves to extend presence in Iraq; Afghanistan (Ron Paul, unemployment)

[tablemtn]

First came the announcement that Iraq's "government" was probably going to "allow" us to stay in Iraq past the previous withdrawal deadline:

BBC News - Iraq will ask US troops to stay post-2011, says Panetta

Outgoing CIA director Leon Panetta said he had "every confidence that a request like that will be forthcoming".

...then comes the announcement that we are in "no rush" to withdraw forces from Afghanistan:

No rush to Afghan exits, says Robert Gates

DEPARTING US Defence Secretary Robert Gates has talked down proposals for withdrawing troops from Afghanistan, saying "there will be no rush to the exits".

So should we simply accept that our defense establishment desires a permanent occupation of those two countries, and adjust our budget accordingly for the next decade or so?

[emilybh]

I wonder what Robert Gates get's out of keeping our troops in harms way when it is totally unnecessary. Maybe the arm's mfrs pay him off the longer he keeps wars going and the rvenues going to the weapon mfrs.

Also people have been brainwashed to think that wars help the economy when actually they make it WORSE. During the "Great" Depression the economy didn't improve until after the war was over!



Ron Paul said today in the debate that as President he would be concerned a lot more about our own borders than Afghansitan's after it was brought up how Obama has expanded the war in Libya and is bombing in Yemen

Having watched the developements during the Bilderberg meeting in St. Moritz, Switzerland last weekend, it was said that part of the agenda was to talk about possibly starting something between India and China.

[AeroGuyDC]

OF COURSE THE UNITED STATES WILL STAY IN AFGHANISTAN AND IRAQ FOREVER!!! THIS NATION DOES NOT POUR BILLIONS OF DOLLARS INTO A COUNTRY AND THEN DISAPPEAR!!

See Germany/Italy/France/Japan/Korea and the dozens of other countries where we have fought wars and have never left for your proof.

Why is this so hard for the Liberal Establishment to understand??????? Because Barack Obama said it? LOL LOL LOL

[workingclasshero]

Originally Posted by emilybh

I wonder what Robert Gates get's out of keeping our troops in harms way when it is totally unnecessary. Maybe the arm's mfrs pay him off the longer he keeps wars going and the rvenues going to the weapon mfrs.

.

totally a screwed up view point

gates is trying to get us OUT of those countries big time....

and btw..he retires within 2 months and obamy's pick panetta will take over


so your whole point is a FAIL, and this whole thread is a fail


btw2

"I've never said that troops should be withdrawn. What I've said is, is that we've got to make sure that we secure and execute the rebuilding and reconstruction process effectively and properly, and I don't think we should have an artificial deadline when to do that."

Senator Barack Obama (Democrat, Illinois)
During an interview on "Chicago Tonight" with Elizabeth Brackett
April 5, 2004

[DairousTheGreat]

Originally Posted by AeroGuyDC

OF COURSE THE UNITED STATES WILL STAY IN AFGHANISTAN AND IRAQ FOREVER!!! THIS NATION DOES NOT POUR BILLIONS OF DOLLARS INTO A COUNTRY AND THEN DISAPPEAR!!

See Germany/Italy/France/Japan/Korea and the dozens of other countries where we have fought wars and have never left for your proof.

Why is this so hard for the Liberal Establishment to understand??????? Because Barack Obama said it? LOL LOL LOL

And you feel America benefits from this policy?

[workingclasshero]

Originally Posted by DairousTheGreat

And you feel America benefits from this policy?

having a presence in other countries around the world, having equipment and personell pre-positioned............YES

[DairousTheGreat]

Originally Posted by workingclasshero

having a presence in other countries around the world, having equipment and personell pre-positioned............YES

So you do not feel that this policy creates animosity toward America?

[GregW]

The oil, or a pipeline route to the oil, is still there and international petroleum is not ready to risk the control, development and eventual marketing falling out of their hands. Both London (BP) and Huston (SO) fear that this oil will be controlled from New Delhi or Peking. That would cost the westerners trillions in profits and is completely unacceptable. They are the businesses telling our government to keep troops where they are neither needed nor wanted.

The other significant factor is the increases in unemployment and profit levels if our government slowed military contracting and equipment purchases. How many industrial workers are dependent on military spending for their decent paying jobs? How much profit is being made supplying the fuel for our military? How much overall economic activity is involved?

Our economy is addicted to this spending and we are in the position of any addict facing the choice of unsupportable continuation of the habit or a devastating withdrawal. This is not an easy choice as witnessed by the addict’s preference for the addiction over life without.

[workingclasshero]

Originally Posted by DairousTheGreat

So you do not feel that this policy creates animosity toward America?

do you feel embassies cause animosity towards anyother countries??

the FACT is those other countries have ASKED US to be there, that is exactly what the "status of forces agreements' are

do you think we would have a base in england if they didnt WANT US THERE (raf lakenheath, and a dozen more

do you think we would have 3 dozen bases in germany if they didnt WANT US THERE

do you think the navy would have these ports, if these countries didnt want us there??
Naval Support Activity Bahrain
Naval Detachment Dubai
British Indian Ocean Territory
Diego Garcia
Brazil
Sao Paulo, Naval Support Detachment
Cuba
Guantanamo Bay Naval Base
Spain
Rota Naval Station
Japan
United States Fleet Activities Yokosuka
United States Fleet Activities Sasebo
Naval Air Facility Atsugi
Naval Forces Japan, Okinawa
Guam
Naval Base Guam
Italy
Naval Support Activity Naples
NCTS Naples
Naval Air Station Sigonella
Naval Support Activity Geata
Israel
The Port of Haifa maintains facilities for the United States Sixth Fleet.
Greece
Naval Support Activity Souda Bay, Souda Bay, Crete
South Korea
Commander Fleet Activities Chinhae

do you think the army would have the bases in Italy (Caserma Ederle (Airborne) , Vicenza and Camp Darby, Pisa-Livorno ) if they didnt want us there???



no I think they only animosity comes from idiots who are so anti-america they will find ANYTHING they can find to make america look bad

[HappyTexan]

Folks, we never really leave any country once we send our military in.
Why did anyone think the ME wars would be different ?

Leave 50K troops in Iraq, relabel them as "peacekeepers" and call it over ?
Lots of gullible folks bought into that.