Comments on: In response http://blog.evesun.com/2007/01/11/in-response/ Reporters' Blog for the Evening Sun Mon, 01 Dec 2008 18:59:16 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.3 By: Ben http://blog.evesun.com/2007/01/11/in-response/#comment-1631 Ben Wed, 17 Jan 2007 16:08:37 +0000 http://blog.evesun.com/2007/01/11/in-response/#comment-1631 After such insightful comments mine may seem trivial, my bias unchecked at the door, and my point...... blunt. I believe that there is some truth to Maggie's points, we will become very dependant on Middle Eastern Countries as oil reserves are diminished, democracy isn't necessarily the flavor of the month right now in Iraq, and our government should be responsible enough to seek out alternate energy sources. As for Iran, and Syria..........not exactly the Virgin Islands, but I'd still send postcards. I believe the answer lies in our Soldiers, our nation's greatest treasure, and the values we hold dear. The Infantryman's creed tells us," I am the Infantry, Queen of Battle. I have kept our nation safe for over two centuries purchasing freedom with my blood. To the oppressed I am the hope of the future, to the tyrant I am the day of reckoning". We fight in Iraq, Afghanistan, and wherever else our Soldiers end up to bring about change, improve living conditions, and prevent travesties. Whatever the agenda, toppling Sadaam's regime was the right thing to do. Whoever said," the truth shall set you free", probably wasn't facing public opinion polls, overwhelming pressure, and a bad intelligence estimate. 20,000 more troops will step up the operational tempo (OPTEMPO) of our nations service men and women. I differ, however, because I support the decision to send more troops to Iraq to assist the Iraqi govenrment in training their forces, securing their neighborhoods, and bringing the peace of mind that one has when they can watch their children play soccer without fear of setting off an improvised explosive device (IED). Lastly, a Democratic president in 08? I'm voting Giuliani for President. After such insightful comments mine may seem trivial, my bias unchecked at the door, and my point…… blunt. I believe that there is some truth to Maggie’s points, we will become very dependant on Middle Eastern Countries as oil reserves are diminished, democracy isn’t necessarily the flavor of the month right now in Iraq, and our government should be responsible enough to seek out alternate energy sources. As for Iran, and Syria……….not exactly the Virgin Islands, but I’d still send postcards. I believe the answer lies in our Soldiers, our nation’s greatest treasure, and the values we hold dear. The Infantryman’s creed tells us,” I am the Infantry, Queen of Battle. I have kept our nation safe for over two centuries purchasing freedom with my blood. To the oppressed I am the hope of the future, to the tyrant I am the day of reckoning”. We fight in Iraq, Afghanistan, and wherever else our Soldiers end up to bring about change, improve living conditions, and prevent travesties. Whatever the agenda, toppling Sadaam’s regime was the right thing to do. Whoever said,” the truth shall set you free”, probably wasn’t facing public opinion polls, overwhelming pressure, and a bad intelligence estimate. 20,000 more troops will step up the operational tempo (OPTEMPO) of our nations service men and women. I differ, however, because I support the decision to send more troops to Iraq to assist the Iraqi govenrment in training their forces, securing their neighborhoods, and bringing the peace of mind that one has when they can watch their children play soccer without fear of setting off an improvised explosive device (IED). Lastly, a Democratic president in 08? I’m voting Giuliani for President.

]]> By: Jessica http://blog.evesun.com/2007/01/11/in-response/#comment-1499 Jessica Fri, 12 Jan 2007 19:13:31 +0000 http://blog.evesun.com/2007/01/11/in-response/#comment-1499 Perhaps you are right, but I don't think that goal (creating a permanent military base in Iraq) is going to be completed by 08/09 when Bush will be leaving office. If that is his plan, I think it is short sighted and foolish, because with the current political climate, it is very likely that a democrat will take office. Hopefully, whoever does take his place will have the presence of mind to realize that is no solution to our current energy crisis at all. Finding alternative energy sources is an important task that needs to be addressed sooner rather than later, but I fear this administration is focusing only on the present and not the future. A time will come when the oil will run out, and our only hope is that somehow an alternative solution is found, but without governmental support for the research, I fear it will be an uphill battle. Perhaps you are right, but I don’t think that goal (creating a permanent military base in Iraq) is going to be completed by 08/09 when Bush will be leaving office. If that is his plan, I think it is short sighted and foolish, because with the current political climate, it is very likely that a democrat will take office. Hopefully, whoever does take his place will have the presence of mind to realize that is no solution to our current energy crisis at all.

Finding alternative energy sources is an important task that needs to be addressed sooner rather than later, but I fear this administration is focusing only on the present and not the future. A time will come when the oil will run out, and our only hope is that somehow an alternative solution is found, but without governmental support for the research, I fear it will be an uphill battle.

]]> By: Maggie Shayne http://blog.evesun.com/2007/01/11/in-response/#comment-1495 Maggie Shayne Fri, 12 Jan 2007 13:08:35 +0000 http://blog.evesun.com/2007/01/11/in-response/#comment-1495 I'm very much enjoying the blogs, and am particularly impressed that you can remain as objective as you are, given your own situation. Good work! My worry is that the administration's goals are still not being honestly shared with the American people. Their true goals. I think the powers that be hope to establish a permanent military base (or maybe more than one) in Iraq. Clearly that wouldn't be a good move with things the way they are now, so they need to wipe out the insurgents to make a safe place to establish an ongoing presence there. The question is, why? Why do we need a base there? I think the president's speech Wednesday night gave us our first hint. It would put us in an ideal position from which to launch attacks on Iran and Syria. I think President Bush honestly believes our nation is going to be at the mercy of middle eastern countries in the not too distant future because the world is running out of oil. So he wants to establish a powerful position from which to get more of it. It's a short-sighted view, in my opinion. Instead, he and all of us should be spending our money and efforts on finding alternative sources of energy. Renewable sources, sources of our own, that don't make us dependent on any other nation. Sources we could, in fact, share with the world. If all the money spent on this war had been spent on projects like this, we wouldn't have to worry about the middle east anymore. And no one would have to die in the effort to convert to wind and solar and other alternative energy sources. This isn't about spreading democracy or WMDs and never was. It's about oil. And as for spreading democracy--believe me, when the Iraqi people are ready for change, they will rise up and create it for themselves, in the way that works best for them. You can't force democracy down the throats of a culture that doesn't want it, doesn't understand it, and isn't willing to fight for it. Keep up the great work! Maggie I’m very much enjoying the blogs, and am particularly impressed that you can remain as objective as you are, given your own situation. Good work!

My worry is that the administration’s goals are still not being honestly shared with the American people. Their true goals. I think the powers that be hope to establish a permanent military base (or maybe more than one) in Iraq. Clearly that wouldn’t be a good move with things the way they are now, so they need to wipe out the insurgents to make a safe place to establish an ongoing presence there.

The question is, why? Why do we need a base there?

I think the president’s speech Wednesday night gave us our first hint. It would put us in an ideal position from which to launch attacks on Iran and Syria.

I think President Bush honestly believes our nation is going to be at the mercy of middle eastern countries in the not too distant future because the world is running out of oil. So he wants to establish a powerful position from which to get more of it. It’s a short-sighted view, in my opinion.

Instead, he and all of us should be spending our money and efforts on finding alternative sources of energy. Renewable sources, sources of our own, that don’t make us dependent on any other nation. Sources we could, in fact, share with the world. If all the money spent on this war had been spent on projects like this, we wouldn’t have to worry about the middle east anymore. And no one would have to die in the effort to convert to wind and solar and other alternative energy sources.

This isn’t about spreading democracy or WMDs and never was. It’s about oil.

And as for spreading democracy–believe me, when the Iraqi people are ready for change, they will rise up and create it for themselves, in the way that works best for them. You can’t force democracy down the throats of a culture that doesn’t want it, doesn’t understand it, and isn’t willing to fight for it.

Keep up the great work!
Maggie

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