Bush likens war in Iraq with WWII

MrBishop

MrBishop

Well-Known Member
President Bush compared the fight against terrorists to the struggle against tyranny that forced World War II, telling new Air Force officers Wednesday that the United States and its allies can win the battle by bringing freedom and reform to the Middle East.

"Our goal, the goal of this generation, is the same" as it was in World War II, Mr. Bush said. "We will secure our nation and defend the peace through the forward march of freedom."
Click to expand...

As I understand it...the Germans and Japanese were actually a viable threat to the continental United States and the USA didn't get involved well after Pearl Harbour (December 7, 1941)....but on (June 7, 1944) D-Day. The tyranny (in Germany and France) had been going on for a while and was on a far larger scale. I don't see how he can make the comparison with a straight face. Seems like an election play, t'me.


"If that region is abandoned to dictators and terrorists, it will be a constant source of violence and alarm, exporting killers of increasing destructive power to attack America and other free nations,"
Click to expand...

So..who's next? Iran, with their burgoning nuclear platform, Libya (weapons traders to the world), or Saudi Arabia (the money source for a great deal of terrorist groups and perhaps the most repressive GVT in the whole of the Middle-East)

or...perhaps North Korea or China?

If that region is not to be abandoned to dictators...then that means that the USA cannot stop until all countries therein are 'freed'. Looks like a long, hard war...boys and girls.

source
 
Care to fill us in on why Iraq isn't a viable target on the War on Terror. Seems all the justifications for war are correct.
 
MrBishop said:
If that region is not to be abandoned to dictators...then that means that the USA cannot stop until all countries therein are 'freed'. Looks like a long, hard war...boys and girls.
Click to expand...
 
*sound of crickets chirping*

I would also like to hear some reasons why fighting terrorism is stupid.
 
MrBishop said:
As I understand it...the Germans and Japanese were actually a viable threat to the continental United States and the USA didn't get involved well after Pearl Harbour (December 7, 1941)....but on (June 7, 1944) D-Day.
Click to expand...

Here's a history lesson: http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761563737/World_War_II.html#s1


I don't see how he can make the comparison with a straight face.
Click to expand...

Perhaps President Bush was comparing these thoughts from FDR's "Day of Infamy speech":

Always will we remember the character of the onslaught against us. No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory.

I believe I interpret the will of the Congress and of the people when I assert that we will not only defend ourselves to the uttermost but will make very certain that this form of treachery shall never endanger us again.

Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory and our interests are in grave danger.

With confidence in our armed forces - with the unbounded determination of our people - we will gain the inevitable triumph - so help us God.
Click to expand...

...to his own thoughts on what was borne from America's other day of infamy:

...The United States of America is an enemy of those who aid terrorists and of the barbaric criminals who profane a great religion by committing murder in its name.

Given the nature and reach of our enemies, we will win this conflict by the patient accumulation of successes, by meeting a series of challenges with determination and will and purpose.

Every nation has a choice to make. In this conflict, there is no neutral ground. If any government sponsors the outlaws and killers of innocents, they have become outlaws and murderers, themselves. And they will take that lonely path at their own peril.

We defend not only our precious freedoms, but also the freedom of people everywhere to live and raise their children free from fear. The battle is now joined on many fronts. We will not waver; we will not tire; we will not falter; and we will not fail. Peace and freedom will prevail.

Thank you. May God continue to bless America.
Click to expand...

Seems like an election play, t'me.
Click to expand...

:rolleyes: Please.
 
Number of US casualties in WWII: 500,000
Number of US casualties in Iraq: 501 (so far)

Man, I don't know how I could have missed the similarity.

WWII: A major political and economic power gathers allies and attempts world domination. (We were fighting for our survival as a nation)
Terrorism: A small group of fringe fanatics commit criminal acts against largely American interests around the world. (We are trying to be the police force. Admittedly, no one else seems anxious to do it)

It's just eerie how much alike they are, isn't it?

Pearl Harbor: Military attack by a foreign nation on a military target.
9/11 (and others) : Criminal attack by aforementioned fanatics on a civilian target.

Whew, you're right, history is repeating itself. :rolleyes:
 
chcr said:
Number of US casualties in WWII: 500,000
Number of US casualties in Iraq: 501 (so far)

Man, I don't know how I could have missed the similarity.

WWII: A major political and economic power gathers allies and attempts world domination. (We were fighting for our survival as a nation)
Terrorism: A small group of fringe fanatics commit criminal acts against largely American interests around the world. (We are trying to be the police force. Admittedly, no one else seems anxious to do it)

It's just eerie how much alike they are, isn't it?

Pearl Harbor: Military attack by a foreign nation on a military target.
9/11 (and others) : Criminal attack by aforementioned fanatics on a civilian target.

Whew, you're right, history is repeating itself. :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

So...according to another liberal on this forum, even though there are only 501 US deaths so far, it's too many, and according to you, it's too few. Can you say inconsistency?

As for your 'similarities' about freedom, when was the last time you heard a terrorist say that they would'nt make you a target if it fit their needs? Sorry to burst your bubble, and, perhaps, Gonz's, but this war is not being fought against a specific country. It's being fought over ideas. The idea that, if you leave them alone, they'll leave you alone. Come on...bring me your political platitudes now about how we brought terrorist attacks on ourselves through some imagined slight...

One more thing...exactly how many years was WWII fought as opposed to our current 'war on terror'?
 
Sorry, Gato, but that was not my point. Our way of life was in real danger from the Axis. While Americans are certainly in danger from terrorism, the American way of life is in danger from Americans (on both the left and the right). People tend to overestimate the danger from terrorism, and the media loves to blow it all out of proportion. Even among muslims the terrorists are a fringe group. I know a lot of people don't believe that but it's true just the same. My point is that comparing the current situation With World War Two is spurious, and belittles the accomplishments of those soldiers who were in very real danger of losing a war which they fully understood would mean the end of everything they held dear. The US is in no such immediate danger today, and although soldiers who risk their lives to protect freedom today are no less heroic, they are protecting us from criminals, not world powers. The comparison is ridiculous.

Of course we didn't bring the terrorist attacks on ourselves, these people are criminals. I do think it's important to understand their motivation.

Finally, the "war" on terror is just like the "war" on drugs. It's an interesting marketing strategy and it's going so well. Terrorism and drugs are almost gone. :shrug:
 
chcr said:
Sorry, Gato, but that was not my point. Our way of life was in real danger from the Axis. While Americans are certainly in danger from terrorism, the American way of life is in danger from Americans (on both the left and the right). People tend to overestimate the danger from terrorism, and the media loves to blow it all out of proportion. The US is in no such immediate danger today, and although soldiers who risk their lives to protect freedom today are no less heroic, they are protecting us from criminals, not world powers. The comparison is ridiculous.

Of course we didn't bring the terrorist attacks on ourselves, these people are criminals. I do think it's important to understand their motivation.
Click to expand...

Hate to burst your bubble on this, chcr, but terrorism actually is a real danger to your, and my, way of life. If you don't believe me, ask the Israeli's...better yet, ask the people who lost loved ones in the attacks on 9/11...
 
Gato Solo said:
better yet, ask the people who lost loved ones in the attacks on 9/11...
Click to expand...
Professur said:
Or ask any of the workers trying to rebuild Iraq who were taken hostage.
Click to expand...
How, specifically, has that affected the American way of life? It has certainly affected the lives of the individuals involved, but that was my point.

The only differences between 9/11 and any other terrorist attacks is that they were more successful this time. They tried to take out the world trade center before, and would have succeeded but they screwed up the bomb.

We're just going to disagree on this one because I know I'm right and you know you're right and the two will never meet. :shrug:
 
We're just going to disagree on this one because I know I'm right and you know you're right and the two will never meet.
Click to expand...


I wonder how many wars we could have avoided if we'd been able to overcome that.
 
Professur said:
I wonder how many wars we could have avoided if we'd been able to overcome that.
Click to expand...
All of them.

Live and let live might work just as well though.
 
chcr said:
All of them.

Live and let live might work just as well though.
Click to expand...

No. Live and let live is simply ignoring differences, not accepting them. Sooner or later, they'll become someone's agenda again.
 
See, now to me live and let live is all about accepting the other person's differences. Nobody is going to agree about everything though. :shrug: On the other hand, I like to argue. I ususally think I'm right and the other person is wrong, but I expect them to feel the same way.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top