[JohnnyFlame]

Originally Posted by Lanny_MacDonald

You are such a fool. Seriously. The American forces are just trying to stay the hell out of the way and not get killed over there. The American forces have pretty well withdrawn into a protective shell and are trying to maintain Bagdad as a safe zone, and they are failing at that. So yeah, they are really influential in Iraq. Now what do those troops have to do with Turkey, Syria, Suadi Arabia, Iran, Kuwait, etc. and their security? Not a damn thing. In fact, their presence decreases the security of each country, but why let a little thing like an Iraqi civil war and a stead flow of refugees spoil your mindless rant?



Yeah, and the Flames should bring back Theo Fleury too! Man, he was one bitchin' hockey player at one time!

Gates is a smart guy and has tons of experience, but from a different time. The world changed on September 11th, whether we want to admit it or not. A lot has happened since this guy left the game and the world has indeed changed. Also, the majority of his experience is in intelligence, not the armed services, so this is also a strike against him. Sure, he'll be much better at cherrypicking intelligence than Rummy was, but the jury is out whether he will handle the military and find synergy with the generals any better. There are guys that are a fit for the job, and I don't see one there. A guy like Anthony Zinni or Wesley Clark would have been a much better fit, but that would have required Bush to reachout to someone from the military that isn't one of his or his father's cronies. But hey, you know better than anyone. Gates is da man!!! JohnnyFlame says so.

If I'm a fool then you are freakin DOLT of incredible proportions. You have zero qualifications to determine whether Gates is fit for the job. ZERO. Nor do you have any qualifications whatsoever to speak for any countries policy--ZERO. You don't have the slightest freakin clue what Turkey or any other countries policy would be --NONE. What are your qualifications that anybody with a brain would take your opinon. Meanwhile Obama and Biden are elected Senators. Baker and Holbrooke have tons of experience and a record.

I'm sticking with those who actually have qualifications -- You have ZERO.