Peaceful elections in Iraq: Did anyone notice? - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

HOZ · 02-01-2009, 12:49 AM

14000 candidates for 440 seats. No major violence and all groups participated. Very nice.

Election was hailed as a great success.

Thor · 02-01-2009, 12:58 AM

Hopeful for sure.

But still a problem that voters vote along their sectarian lines.

Daradon · 02-01-2009, 01:05 AM

Yup, I did notice.

Exciting to say the least, but I'm not sure their out of the woods yet... A minor conflict could easily create a major conflaguration and send all the progress they've made back like that.

peter12 · 02-01-2009, 01:44 AM

It's funny that people are still attempting to declare the Iraqi intervention a failure in the face of contrary evidence.

Iraq also had a $79 billion surplus in 2008.

Daradon · 02-01-2009, 01:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by peter12

It's funny that people are still attempting to declare the Iraqi intervention a failure in the face of contrary evidence.

Iraq also had a $79 billion surplus in 2008.

I don't think you could call it a success.

Give it ten years see, then maybe. But so far you've got thousands dead on the US side. Tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands dead on the Iraqi's side, and no guarantee there is stability yet.

If there is stability then maybe, sure. But I think it's FAR to early to be declaring that yet.

Especially with the amount of lives that were lost. We will see yet if they were in vain or not.

peter12 · 02-01-2009, 01:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daradon

I don't think you could call it a success.

Give it ten years see, then maybe. But so far you've got thousands dead on the US side. Tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands dead on the Iraqi's side, and no guarantee there is stability yet.

If there is stability then maybe, sure. But I think it's FAR to early to be declaring that yet.

Especially with the amount of lives that were lost. We will see yet if they were in vain or not.

Oh yeah, I totally agree. I just don't think that it's a failure, by any means. Civil war has been averted, the Kurds will get their separate state, and there is a functioning polity/economy.

Daradon · 02-01-2009, 02:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by peter12

Oh yeah, I totally agree. I just don't think that it's a failure, by any means. Civil war has been averted, the Kurds will get their separate state, and there is a functioning polity/economy.

For now.

It does look better than it did even a short year ago, but I have to be honest, I'm not overly optimistic. The middle east is known for hanging onto grudges, lol.

It is encouraging this election, and I do want to see things work out. I want to know all the violence wasn't in vain. But I'm still vary wary.

Anyone's guess on what happens next is probably as valid as another opinion. Time will tell.

Hemi-Cuda · 02-01-2009, 02:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thor

Hopeful for sure.

But still a problem that voters vote along their sectarian lines.

not much difference than your hardcore neo-cons or liberals in the states

Vulcan · 02-01-2009, 03:08 AM

Lets see now, a senseless war built on lies causing as many deaths as Sadam caused, never mind the suffering involved, with the sole purpose of feeding the egos of some chicken hawks . Can you tell me one thing that the US has gained from this nonsense, except more hatred around the world and a place for terrorists to practise their trade?

Yeah, Saddam was a tin pot dictator who preyed on his own people, kind of like maybe 50 others around the world who for whatever reason the West ignores.

The US has lost billions of dollars at a time they are going bankrupt and have taken their eye off the real threat in Afghanistan and Pakistan. How anybody can call this not a failure, I don't know.

Having said this I wish the Iraqi's great success and peace, they deserve it.

Displaced Flames fan · 02-01-2009, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vulcan

Lets see now, a senseless war built on lies causing as many deaths as Sadam caused, never mind the suffering involved, with the sole purpose of feeding the egos of some chicken hawks . Can you tell me one thing that the US has gained from this nonsense, except more hatred around the world and a place for terrorists to practise their trade?

Yeah, Saddam was a tin pot dictator who preyed on his own people, kind of like maybe 50 others around the world who for whatever reason the West ignores.

The US has lost billions of dollars at a time they are going bankrupt and have taken their eye off the real threat in Afghanistan and Pakistan. How anybody can call this not a failure, I don't know.

Having said this I wish the Iraqi's great success and peace, they deserve it.

You know, you don't have to agree with the justifications or the way in which it was carried out to admit that some good has come of it and maybe, just maybe, Iraq will be better off in the long run.

Did you notice the elections before HOZ brought it up?

Ice · 02-01-2009, 10:26 AM

Mainstream media in the states will never deliver good news out of Iraq. It goes against their agenda.

I definitely can't say that the Iraq war is a success, but I can't say its a failure either. I don't see how anyone on either side of the debate can call it either way. Its going to take years to see what happens as a result of U.S. getting involved there.

ikaris · 02-01-2009, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by peter12

It's funny that people are still attempting to declare the Iraqi intervention a failure in the face of contrary evidence.

Is that what we're calling it now? LOL.

Displaced Flames fan · 02-01-2009, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ikaris

Is that what we're calling it now? LOL.

What's more appropriate? I'm not saying intervention is the right word but war, IMO, is less correct. That's the term the Bush Administration liked to use.

ikaris · 02-01-2009, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Displaced Flames fan

What's more appropriate? I'm not saying intervention is the right word but war, IMO, is less correct. That's the term the Bush Administration liked to use.

I would refer to it as an invasion considering that's what it was.

Displaced Flames fan · 02-01-2009, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ikaris

I would refer to it as an invasion considering that's what it was.

Invasion is a military term and would be the correct noun for the initial action. I don't think that's what peter12 was referring to.

ikaris · 02-01-2009, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Displaced Flames fan

Invasion is a military term and would be the correct noun for the initial action. I don't think that's what peter12 was referring to.

I see what you mean, I guess then I would refer to it as an occupation in that context.

longsuffering · 02-01-2009, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by peter12

It's funny that people are still attempting to declare the Iraqi intervention a failure in the face of contrary evidence.

Iraq also had a $79 billion surplus in 2008.

I'd be more impressed if they spent more of that surplus on infrastructure.

I wonder where the surplus goes? Iraqi Treasury?

Vulcan · 02-01-2009, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Displaced Flames fan

You know, you don't have to agree with the justifications or the way in which it was carried out to admit that some good has come of it and maybe, just maybe, Iraq will be better off in the long run.

Did you notice the elections before HOZ brought it up?

I thought my last paragraph, where I wished them the best, took care of that. Despite my hatred for this war, I've always hoped that the Iraqi's would come out the better. They are not our enemies and I think you are trying to twist what I said.

Of course I noticed the elections, how can you miss those blue thumbs.

Hack&Lube · 02-01-2009, 03:22 PM

Great success? I thought the Bush administration spin job was over. There were lots of problems including registration bungling that stopped many from voting. Only 51% were able to vote.

Displaced Flames fan · 02-01-2009, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vulcan

I thought my last paragraph, where I wished them the best, took care of that. Despite my hatred for this war, I've always hoped that the Iraqi's would come out the better. They are not our enemies and I think you are trying to twist what I said.

Of course I noticed the elections, how can you miss those blue thumbs.

How did I twist what you said? To me, you were pretty clear. Huge mistake and collossal failure on all fronts, but you wish the Iraqi people the best and are happy for any success that comes their way.