Once again just so the writer can understand: The Iraq War is a bogus war of choice, initiated through a series of lies, and the final legacy of George W. Bush and his neoconservative minions.

There is no reason to support this war. It is a waste of the American military and American money.

Support the troops by bringing them home as soon as possible. Help those soldier's who have been wounded fighting for the Bush/Cheney Lie.

If people are to support anything, support American in rebuilding itself in the eyes of the world and get our soul back from the depths that the Bush Administration sank it.

Wanting to feed more bodies into the cauldron that is Iraq is not in the interests of America. Getting more deeply engaged is only in the interest of the Bush/Cheney disaster until they can foist it off to the next administration.

Bush/Cheney have failed miserably in their attempt to control Middle East oil. No more lives should be sacrificed for their blunder.

What are you suggesting? A draft? You wouldn't just be opening a can of worms with a draft, you'd be shoving those worms down everyone's throats. The only thing keeping the youth of this country from open rebellion against the establishment (a la Vietnam) is that they don't have to go die for Bush's Imperialism.

And please, don't equate Iraq with World War 2. The differences between the two are far too numerous to sum up here, but I'll state the main one: World War 2 was just.

And finally, people who believe that the Iraq War is "winnable" are deluding themselves. You can no more win the so-called "war on terror" than you could preemptively kill all possible murderers in the world. Interestingly enough, that's as much a paradox as this "war" is.

hey frank, get over there and show your support.

The government is already breaking its promises to the men and women serving so incentives are not working either. If the war is a just war then the draft should be brought back for all to participate not just a few. This war is not just therefore it is really hard for people to support it. It is drawing the poor kids in because the economy but in reality this country is in trouble with the set up it has now. Believe it or not Americans are selfish but then again with this war I am too in that I cannot justify my child dying for OIL, bush or cheney

This one is too easy. There's no hope for this writer.

As a true American, I can never support an illegal, immoral war that is based on lies and is making zillions for Dick and Lynn Cheney's Halliburton and Lockheed Martin.

"Fully supported, the war in Iraq could have been over five years ago."

You got that right.

The Democrats have been at Bush's throat for the last seven and a half years because of their hate for him. They don't care if their venom is tantamount to aiding and abetting the enemy... of which their is not question has prolonged the war.

Terrorism has found a home in a certain world religion and will continue for years to come. Bush had the guts to confront the threat head-on. Others not so brave would have placated the threat until it consumed us.

Frank,

Do you see the service-age children of prominent neo-cons enlisting?

Do you see the Bush Administration supporting the troops when they (finally) make it back home?

Do you and the war-lovers have any idea what "winning" the "war on terror" would even look like?

The honest answer to all the above questions is NO.

Bush & Co. sent TWO BILLION dollars in hundred dollar bills in shrink-wrapped palettes to Iraq and guess what? They can't tell us what happened to the money! All this while cutting veterans benefits and using "stop loss" to keep troops in Iraq when they should have come home.

No wonder enlistments are down.

To say the Iraqi war is anything akin to the WWII is to spit on the graves of the real Americans who fought in WWII. The soldiers of WWII were fighting and dying for America, the soldiers fighting and dying in the Bush/Iraq war are fighting for personal gain and Oil company profits.

For me it is obvious that the military war against terrorism is a phoney war created to generate profits. It is also obvious that a military war against terrorism is a useless exercise. Terrorism is a symptom of a much broader problem that we need to fight with different kinds of weapons.

Bush/Cheney have not failed in their mission in the Middle East, they do control the oil. The proof is in the prices we are paying at the pump.

"Once again just so the writer can understand: The Iraq War is a bogus war of choice, initiated through a series of lies, and the final legacy of George W. Bush and his neoconservative minions."

Just so the commenter can understand... the war was approved by the US Congress... who had just as much access to intelligence reports regarding WMD threat as anyone in the administration.

And check the record. The US Senate voted to authorize the war. And also, check the US Constitution which requires the Congress to authorize wars.

Anyone else find it interesting that Utah has the highest percentage of support for the war than any other state, yet Utah provides the lowest percentage of people in the military?
Funny how hypocritical the lying neocons are when it comes to actualy support.

If we had a draft, and started it by drafting congressional offspring first, followed by Ivy League students and children of owners of private equity firms, this war would have never happened!

"the US Constitution which requires the Congress to authorize wars."

In fact, it requires the Congress to DECLARE wars: "The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts and excises ... To declare war", which it did not do in Vietnam, nor in Iraq. It did in WWI and WWII. Sounds like we should have stuck with the constitutional wars. "The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts and excises ... To declare war"

. . .you might want to wipe some of the foam off of your chin.

I would rather live in the Iraq of 2008 than the Iraq of 1998, but apparently you miss the "rape rooms," the childrens' prison, the government kidnapping women off the street then killing their husbands, and all of the other things that were part of the "peaceful" Hussein Administration.

Frank, own some stock in Halliburton?

The only way this evil, immoral, and horrendous war will end is if the draft were instituted.

Those eating evening dinner on their comfy couches during the national news who think the war doesn't affect them will quickly change their minds when their own children are required to risk their own lives.

Poor wrz has fallen for the Bush/Cheney/Neocon BS that is the Iraq war.

The terrorist theme is just a convenient buzzword for the GOP in an effort to continue their fascist-like power-plays.

And innocent people continue to be slaughtered, for what?

Our involvement in Iraq is now a "Police Action". Militarily, we have no equal, but our troops are not trained to be policemen. The goal of the war was to remove the "threat" of Saddam. That is done. Bring the military home.

Conservatives are all for the war.
Just so long as its the "little people" fighting and dying in them.

Hey, Gus conveniently forgets to mention the everyday slaughter of innocents due to Bush's war.

Hurry, somebody call the WAAAAAAAAAAAmbulance. Gus, et al are at it again. I guess we could blame Pres. Bush for the Vietnam war, if we worked at it hard enough.

Thanks for that stat, Ernest T. Bass. I didn't know that, though I have often suspected it.

War's fine as long as someone else is doin' the dyin'.

Useless rhetoric and a flag bumper sticker made in China won't bring our soldiers home. If you support this war, go and fight it, if you are able. And don't you dare say, "We all fight in our own way!" Men and women aren't dying so you can talk a good game and then go waterskiing on the weekends. This is a tragedy, plain and simple.

Should read..."Fully thought out, this war would have never started."
Also "HEY, GUS", turn off your AM radio. If we invaded every country that look like the "Iraq of 1998" and despot-run governments, we'd be in big trouble. Don't make a nice benefit of our occupation of Iraq overshadow the wasteful, ill-informed decision that it was.

Mr. 9:47, and all who think like him never seem to think it was anyone's job but the US's to do this little "regime change". What he and all the neocons forgot was that it's really up to the Iraqis what happens to their country. If they didn't stand up to oppose one dictator, who could blame them for letting US do all the bleeding opposing whoever came next? It's not just the wrong war - It's the wrong ALLY.

"In fact, it requires the Congress to DECLARE wars: "The Congress shall have power ... to declare war," which it did not do in Vietnam, nor in Iraq. It did in WWI and WWII. Sounds like we should have stuck with the constitutional wars."

A distinction without a difference.

If the Congress didn't intend to go to war in Iraq it should not have authorized the action.

If Frank is talking about a draft, he is talking about the destruction of the military as we know it. The draft was part of the problem in Vietnam. This country will never institute a draft again unless there is an invading force on the beaches of California and New Jersey.

Recruiting/retention is not a problem. The Marines for example are expanding their forces faster than expected by surpassing their goals by 142% and the Army well above a 100% as well. The Navy and Air Force always meet their recruiting goals.

Those who want the draft have no interest in improving the military of this country, in fact in my opinion the opposite is true. They know the draft nearly destroyed the military in the 70s and they hope to do the same again. They do not want a military capable of doing what has been done in Iraq, but they expect the military to defend them here, on the sea, and where ever they have business. As we see in Iraq, it takes years to create a competent military. Remember the Swiss have a draft and their army is useless.

Hate to spoil your school girl crush on GWBush WRZ, but if anybody has aided the enemy, it's our current administration. And as far as Bush being brave... If by brave you mean a complete idiot I couldn't agree more.

"The terrorist theme is just a convenient buzzword for the GOP in an effort to continue their fascist-like power-plays."

The purveyors of terrorism have long ago, declared war on the west. There method of war is slow and steady... They're in no hurry. Decades and even centuries is fast enough for them. They capitalize on the stupidity of Americans with short attention spans. But the terrorists who bombed the trade center made a mistake. They got too aggressive and awoke a sleeping giant. Democrats would have us pull back from the conflict and go back to sleep.

We are our own worst enemy on this. The President of Iran understands this. That's why he can strut around saying, "The US can never defeat us", and be correct. Not because we don't have the military ability to defeat them, but because we don't have the political will to defeat them and our politicians (doesn't matter which side is in power) would insure that whatever party IS in power fails. Iran doesn't have to worry about it because we are so divided WE will insure our own failure.

I didn't agree with the wars President Clinton got us involved in. But once the decision was made I supported him as much as I could to insure it would be over as soon as possible (and NOT turn into a political quagmire).

I think voiceing desent is fine and desirable, but actually doing everything in your power to insure our FAILURE is not. Our partisan politicians and media have lead and encouraged enough of us to cross this line that America (though still technically a "super-power") could not be victorious over even it's weakest enemy and they know it.

From now until November you can count on the GOP to be using the very same tricks they did to get the Bush/Cheney team re-elected.

Watch for these usual tell-tale signs:

"If you don't support the war - you must hate America!"

"If you don't support the war - you must hate the troops!"

Remember?

And how about "You must love the Dixie Chicks and Jane Fonda!"

Yesiree, you can count on a hyped-up version of the last election.

I guess we will all see in November if America at large is falling for it ... again.

We can't blame Bush for the Vietnam war, he dodged....I mean skipped that one remember?

I feel terrible for what Mormons must be going through today.
Their "prophet, seer and revelator" Gordon B. Hinckley, (before it was proven the existence of WMD's in Iraq was a lie) proclaimed it was "a just war."
One can only wonder how the prophet would feel today.

wrz- is sounding like that wacky minister of John McCain's.

He's the one who believes God wants Islam destroyed.

Is it November yet?

So what was that "mission accomplished?" Was that the securing of billions in contracts for our war profiteering hommies?

Stay the course!

To those who keep saying Conservatives don't serve in the military... What a lie! Do some research before you just say what you wish were true and assert that it is fact!

All the studies I've seen indicate that the vast majority of those currently choosing to serve in the military consider themselvs to be Conservative.

Can you imagine a military made up of people like Liberal Larry and Anonymous? It makes me laugh just to try to imagine it.

This brings up something to seriously consider though... If Obama IS elected with his obvious fear of any military action during his administration... What type of people do you suppose will be voulunteering for the military then? What state do you think the military will be in after a few years of neglect (basically where it was during the Clinton Administration, useless except as a tool to distract people from his personal affairs).

Ernest Bass, can you give a citation for your claim that Rhode Island and Montana (among other low-population states) have more active duty military than Utah - or that Utah has the lowest percentage of military in the Union? I can find nothing on google and what I can find says that participation is rougly equal according to population state by state.

I wouldn't count your November chickens before they hatch.

I know we all want a change, but I don't think enough of us want over-the-top people with your attitude in charge. The more you run your mouth, the more rational people will decide to choose the lesser of 2 evils when they get in the voting both and remember your venomous rants in November.

BTW... I think the "Mission Accomplished" statement refered to getting Sadam Hussein out of power and his military no longer a factor. It didn't mean there wouldn't be anymore resistance or civil strife and we could come home now. There are many "missions" involved in any complex undertaking like a war. Sometimes they change over time as the situation changes and new challenges develop. That you can't comprehend that is part of the reason I don't want raving liberals like you running the country.

The more you run your mouth and willingly offend people with your partisan rhetoric, the better chance there is that you will drive people to the other side and have what I assume you would consider a very unpleasant suprise in November.

In fact if you check with the Heritage Foundation, they show Utah as being in the bottom 10 states, in fact in 10th place, in enlistment by population. They are not dead last. The states with lower enlistment are CT, DE, DC, MA, MN, NJ, NY, RI, VT (note New York and New Jersey on that list). And they are proportional according to the number of 18-24 year olds in the state along the lines with other states.

Remember, 64.5% of all statistics are made up on the spot, and usually as a fanatical response based on erroneous assumptions, Mr. Bass can attest to.

There are people who believe that the United States is a basically good nation that has its flaws. They oppose policies they believe to be misguided because they truly love their country -- with all its faults -- and want it to be kept oon the right path.

And then there are people who believe that the flaws of American civilization aren't merely ugly deviations from its ideals, but characterize the whole enterprise -- that the American project is irrevocably stained from its foundation; that slavery, genocide, and oppression are the dominant American characteristics -- not America's articulated ideals of liberty, equality, consensual government, and justice.

Some people who oppose the Iraq war are in the former camp, and should be respected as patriots. And some people are in the latter camp. You know who you are. Most of us can tell, too.

I cannot believe the hate I am reading in these comments. This is not a debate but, rather, is a diatribe of false information, bickering, and strongly biased rot. When I think of the term "support the war" I think of supporting those who are fighting the war and their families and not those who started the war -- right or wrong. THEY are the only ones sacrificing at this time during a period that is critical to our nation's interests. I think that is a key difference between today's Americans and those from the 1940's -- we sacrificed in support of the effort. I remember standing in line at the butcher shop to get my family's rationed amount. Who else in this nation is sacrificing at this time except those in the military? NO ONE. So get off your high horses, stop tossing around unsustantiated barbs, and give thanks that you live in this great nation that has done more for the oppressed, both home and abroad, than any other nation. As a former general once said, all we ask in return for helping the oppressed is some land to bury our dead. And don't mock the prophet!

I have a "Support our Troops" sticker on my SUV!!

I wonder what kind of message is being given to conservatives when 72,000 people showed up at a campaign rally for a black 46-year old guy named Barak Obama?

Once again Utah (the reddest state in the U.S.) also has the biggest talkers.

What else would you expect from our snarling, nasty hypcritical conservatives?

"Hate to spoil your school girl crush on GWBush WRZ, but if anybody has aided the enemy, it's our current administration."

Bush is CinC, duly elected. The Congress gave authorization for the CinC to go to war with Iraq. He went. To win, all America must get behind the action. "United we win, divided we fail." Most Americans were behind the effort at the start. Most faded. So we lose. Bush's fault? No. The fair weather friends are to blame for non-support, action which encourages the enemy. Called treason.

"So what was that "mission accomplished?" Was that the securing of billions in contracts for our war profiteering hommies?"

No. It meant he landed on the carrier without crashing the plane.

"wrz- is sounding like that wacky minister of John McCain's.

He's the one who believes God wants Islam destroyed."

Well, we know for sure that Islam's God wants America destroyed... if his/her minions are correct.

Read the book titled "The Al Qaeda Reader" by Raymond Ibrahim for proof and details.

"I wonder what kind of message is being given to conservatives when 72,000 people showed up at a campaign rally for a black 46-year old guy named Barak Obama?"

Iran and the rest of the terrorist-supporting nations are dancing in the streets, I'm sure.

I think anyone with a good Muslim name such as Hussein would do well in negotiating with Iran's Ahmadinejad.

I see wrz and Samme have been tuning in to Rush O'Hannity again.

Where ELSE would they come up with such outrageous BS?

The real America, the America of old is on the move - and it's a beautiful sight to behold!

Gus, ET and Lib Larry,
You guys always slam your opposition with the same old mantra. Get a clue. This war is about global economic stability. Whatever the original COLLECTIVE (congress included) decision to move forward, the abiding reason is to maintain a energy and thereby financial stake in an unstable region of the world. Want to end the occupation? Come up with a viable energy policy that utilizes domestic product and inovation and reduces the financial hole card in the middle east. Drill off the US shore as is China, Cuba and others. Open up the capped reserves in the mountain and middle west. Open up ANWAR and nationalize the domestic resources. Begin nuclear construction now! Reduce the incentive for big oil to seel off reserves to the highest FOREIGN bidder. Stop whining about the Bush administration. Unless you walk or ride a bike exclusively, this war is funding your lifestyle like it is the rest of us. Stop playing the elite, cleanhanded innocents.

How right you are, we must support the war, even if it takes another 100 years. If we leave now, who knows, the Iraqis may obtain weapons of mass destruction. If you are a true patriot you will vote for John McCain who will stay the course in Iraq.

It is very important that we stay the course. Please join me in voting for John McCain.

Be a true Patriot, vote John McCain.