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Yes, we care. You have taken a pretty superfical look at the country. I do not support our current administration and policy on Iraq or any of this administration's screw ups. This war is wrong, we shouldn't have gone in and we need to get out. You can bet I and (hopefully) many others will be voting in two weeks.

I don't think the world press helps matters when you paint such a glib picture of how we live. You might think this is the land of plenty, but there are many who struggle everyday to sustain a living.

Exactly right, Maryanne. If the author goes to families whose sons have been killed in this insanity or took the time to ask Iraqi families, the picture would be tragic. It's not Iraq that is the problem. We need to look in Washington for the real issue.

The only way to solve this problem is to stop fighting wars on credit. Can you imagine the effect and uproar from the public if 6 months into the war, taxes had to be rised 25% to pay for the continued occupation?

The horrors that would produce.. families not being able to purchase new video games, or new cell phones. Having to make do with old stuff.

Maybe, when the country is at war (although we have not 'declared' war since 1941), we should ban all luxury items, stock the shelves with bread, beef dripping & spam and ask for donations of pots and pans to be melted down to make hummers.

Yes I agree with Adam Brookes, Iraq war is not a issue for Americans. As a indian living in U.S I have realized that most of middle america supports war and people in west coast and east coast doesn't like the war because they don't agree with their current president. I have yet to meet a person who doesn't like Iraq war because of all the ills associated with the war.

I've noticed that foreign reporters rarely get a real look at most Americans. They hang out at zoos and theaters and museums, and think that's America. The average American doesn't have time to visit those places. He's too busy working 2 minimum wage jobs to pay the damn bills. But yes, we do care about the war. I think you display a biased dislike of Americans to suggest otherwise.

I'm sure some Americans care-for the "ideology" in which they support.

But as I said on a comment to "Have Your Say' history has a habit of making fools out of those that know best.

The problem with "Iraq" is that it isn't "Iraq" that's the problem per se, but the partisan nature of the "debate".

In the blue courner you have the Republicans, "faith based" policies with a simplitic world view that was adequate in the Cold War,but fails to understand the complex nature of the world today,and is seen as dogmatic at best.

In the red courner you have the Democrates,who come from a demographic area (mainly the North East),who are divided in stratgy,who veer between support to hostilty (flip flop) of the Administration,but again fail to understand the complex nature of the world.

Billions of dollars (more than has been spent in Iraq I would suggest) have been sunk into discrediting each other,be it Green Day's "American Idiot" album or Micheal Moore's diatribes,through to the rants of people like Rush Limbaugh.

All of the above have "gained" from Iraqi and coillition deaths,be it from film deals,music awards or just a higher profile.

When Madonna say "Rock the vote-but only Democrates" that says it all really.And isn't it telling that some "critics" believe Bush is worse than Saddam.

Does calling people "war mongers","war criminals" or "surrender monkeys" anyway to solve todays challenges?

Is spouting every "statistic" (600,000 dead this week,30,000 the week before) in favour of your opinion,while saying everybody elses is a "lair" really the way to unite people?

Do we serve ourselves better by ignoring the lessons from the such documents as the Iraqi Survey Group or the 9/11 commision?

Yet through all these "histronics" there still no game plan from either side.

This is the legacy not of "Iraq",but of Clinton "impeachment" and the poison that has pumped through American politics ever since.

This in my mind is why the Iraq veteran walked on his own-because everybody else is to busy being the armchair general and barrack room lawyer to care otherwise.

No doubt the US electorate will revert back to type,and just carry on bickering

BTW-We are no better in Europe.

Hopefully in two weeks the American Electorate will practice what always has been the intention of its Founders. The principle of checks and balances is incorporated within the US Constitution and needs to be placed on this adminstration. Regardless of the view held towards the Democratic Party I hope to wake up the morning of November 8th and see the Democrats in control of the House of Representatives and the US Senate Then there will be a check and balance on this presidency and his quagmire called Iraq.

While I cannot agree that people do not care about the war, I do believe that this war actually took place because not enough Americans took the time, about three years ago to educate themselves and get the facts on what were the real issues, involved here. In fact I would say that even the media failed to ask the tough questions, because no one wanted to appeaar to be Anti-American.
So the megalo maniacs in washington, aided by public apathy and fully supported by the neo-cons took this Nation into an completely ill advised war.
For the record, yes I was one of those who protested day and night against the drums of war.And yes I too was branded un-patriotic.But believe me I really take no delight in saying,"I told you so".
There is nothing wrong in quoting the numbers . There is nothing wrong in saying we lost 2800 on 9/11. There is nothing wrong in saying that the Iraqi people lost 3500 between July and August alone. There is nothing wrong in saying we are approaching over 2800 killed and 22000 injured.There is nothing wrong in saying we have spent over $300 billion.And yes, there is nothing wrong in saying that the Iraqi overall death toll since the start of the war is north of 650,000.
But the real damage this war has visited on this Nation lies not so much in the numbers, but what it has done to undermine the soul of this great country. The stain of Abu Grahib will remain with us a very long time. The shame of Gitmo will be felt for a very long time. The violations of personal liberties will not go away and time soon. Attempts to rewrite the Geneva Conventions will not be forgotten by those who choose to take the time to know the possible consequences, any time soon.
The fact that the world is any thing but safer today will be remembered by those of us who like to travel to other countries, to meet and greet and embrace other members of the human race.We will never forget the fact that this great nation of ours is becoming the flip side of countries such as Iran , where religeous fanatics have their hands on the control,thereby determining both domestic and foreign policies. And yes I know that not many people have a problem with thas but the fact of the matter is, we are a Multi cultural, multi ethnic and yes multi racial Nation. The founding fathers, in their infinite wisdon clearly advocated for the seperation of Church and state. That line has been obleterated by the power managers in Washington.
So it's not that people do not care. It's just that many of us would rather look the other way ,than deal with the reality of the debacle known as Iraq.Think about the fact that even today, pictures of returning Caskets cannot be taken and posted, and no one is questioning why.
Apathy is the name of the game.But also, many are asking themselves, how could they have been so blind as to allow thamselves to be duped into supporting a blatant, ball faced lie.So yes in their embarrasment and in their shame, they simple try to live normal lives.The markets, the games, American Idols.Yes life goes on as near normal on the home front while the carnage continue in that far off place called Iraq. Eighty seven US dead so far this month.And no, the month isn't over as yet.
To be continued........

Abstract? This is our country and the lives and limbs of our people are being risked needlessly. Our leaders had the forsight or cluelessness to destroy every sense of government in Iraq. Now it has to be rebuilt. The majority of Iraqis have seen what the USA has brought to them and they are rejecting it. The USA cannot solve the sectarian violence. Under Saddam, if you were suspected of violence, you were imprisoned, tortured and maybe killed. That was a deterent! Geo W. Bush has no clue, he just wants to make money in Iraq.

I dont think that most americans don't care about the war, but have become desensitized to it any more. Our culture is to centralized around television... 24 hour news and instant entertainmetn. We do not have the mental patience to think out a war. We failed to consider the basic problems in confronting iraq, and are anoyed at the continuation. Most americans appear to not care because ... what can we do? vote

and with a stunning 40% voter turn out that doesn't do much in a republic anyhow.
I think as a country we have to approach the problem realistically get all in or all out.

and i'm sick of hearing the administration rail on the Iraqis to get it together our support is not unconditional. WE DECIDED TO GIVE THEM DEMOCRACY... and it looks like it has been rejected. At least Al Gore had the sense to bow out when it was obvious that he had lost (even though he should have won).

I'm scared because I want this to finish well, but without full commitment from america (WWII mobilization) we can't do this.

The average American does not work two minimum wage jobs. The average American makes well above the minimum wage. The average American is not doing as well as the most wealthy amongst us, but they aren't struggling to the extent that the left in this country would lead people to believe. Is life perfect for them? No, but is life ever perfect? And given the struggles of people around the world, I don't think it is fair to equate the troubles of an American in poverty to those in a vast majority of the world. That would be selfish and without regard or understanding of the world as a whole.

Generally, those that support the war in Iraq are not venturing outside the US in regards to news. Very few of them are actually posting on blogs and other message boards.

The problem is, what is there to talk about? Virtually every politician just has different ways of staying in Iraq and doing the same thing as Bush. Very few truly advocate the immediate and complete withdrawal of all troops. Those that have done so, have been labeled un-patriotic. The view is, we created the mess, so we must stay to fix it.

Fix it how? It can not be fixed in the way or manner that the US wants. The best option is to pull out and let the people decide. If that means a civil war, then so be it. Since we can not fix it, the question becomes, do we pull out and leave a mess today, or pull out in 10 years time and leave a mess.

The only way for Americans to fix it, is to stop voting for the 2 main parties. Why not build a senate that has 20 Independents, Greens or Libertarians? Or vote for people that refuse to take the donation of the big corporations and end up being beholden to them when in power. Have those Independents put through the bills needed to fix the corruption of congress. Then we can see who votes against it and get them out of office too.

I know, I am dreaming.. but the point is, that the power is with the people. The people could change the course of our nation. It is just unfortunate that not enough care to do so as long as they have the ability to drive a big SUV and play on their gameboy..

I think there should be another election in Iraq. A referendum on weather or not the US and allies should stay or go. ASAP!

Your view of the greater, direct impact of the war on people outside families is wrong. Friends, co-workers and sons/daughters of all serve and suffer. This is not remote to me or millions of other Americans. Blogs may encourage glib statements. No excuse. Do the real research before you speak. JG

It seems the republicans have forgotten about some major issues they promised americans during the last year's presidential elections. remamber the social security scare? education for all and protecting our boarders? all of this have disappeared in the name of Iraq war.what about our future as young people in education, healthcare and job security? iam wondering if any party has the will to plan ahead for the future generations.well whoever takes the majority in both congress and the senate should think about the future of the country not enhancing the endless wars

Hi there,
well as one might recognize also in Europe, there are people who care for the war "even " in the (irony!) "bad ignoring selfish" U.S. and who don't agree with everything their administration does. Polls for the president are low compared to the beginning of the war, as is the percentage of war supporters. However there is something addressed to the ones who cry "pull out of Iraq now!" because of the increasingly high death count on coalition side: You (well your country) entered war and attacked Iraq, to destroy mass destruction weapons that are not there and to bring freedom, democracy and security to the Iraq people. Now you have a damn responsibility for all people there, you (well the coalition forces that some of you were supporting) destroyed any order, any military, any effective police. Now to think about retreating .. "uuuh well, was a bad idea, sorry, we go, you may build up your homes yourself, at least you are free ... free to kill and get murdered... just let the oil flowing" is quite disgusting. And will by the way increase anger about the U.S. Don't get me wrong, I feel also very sorry for all the coalition soldiers, who died there doing their duty. However, you(your military/administration) might have foreseen that it would be a bloody mess, after all. And indeed at least the (U.S.) military did!
So my message for all the supporters who are now against the war: You are in there, leaving now makes it even worse(for people there and for the opinion of "the world" about the U.S.) and would be quite gutless. However it seems a real "win" is out of any options...
Btw. to win the "war on terror" it's not the body count of killed "enemys" that counts, it's the opinion guys have about the U.S. and how it cares for other people, how it uses its world power. Wise or egoistic...
The more countries the U.S. attacks, the more human rights it ignores, the more hatred it will earn.

The war was wrong when Bush started it and continues to be wrong now. Doesn't anyone remember the lie of WMD and the Sadam link to Osama's organization that was fed to us to justify the war in the first place? We were lied to and decieved by Bush and company. When the lies became obvious the Washington Spinners took up with the view of how great it was that we ousted a terrible dictator out of power and that we did the world a favor. (Funny that Weapons of Mass Destruction have been completely forgotten now.) One lie after another, tens of thousands dead, many more young men maimed. For what? So the Shell CEO can have a second career as Iraq oil minister? So big business can have more profit? Let our awol golden spoon President pick up a rifle in Iraq for a few months and then try to lie about it. Get US the hell out!! We should never have gone in the first place.

Terrorism is a big business and involves big money . No matter how motivated the protagonists are ,this business can't go on if the funding is cut. Almost all of the funding for terrorist groups has come from the oil rich gulf countries.Afghanistan was just the workers assembly chain , the Gulf is the board of directors.

Being an Indian i've witnessed
violence in Kashmir going down over the years ,the millitants there don't get their attractive rewards anymore. Terrorist funding and cash flow has been difficult since US got on the offensive in the Gulf.

Millitant attacks have been stepped up against the American forces in Iraq as the extremists are aware of the mid term elections. They would be hoping as much as many of you for the Republicans to lose. Getting out of Iraq while it's in such a disorder would create a vacuum which could be filled by millitant groups worse off than Saddam.

It is really disturbing to hear from some Americans that the Iraq crisis is an abstract problem to americans.Ordinary people are dieing every day and entire families are being wiped off the face of the earth even american families having relatives serving in Iraq are lossing their love ones'. Americans are believed arround the world to be of very high moral standard and if this is being tarnished by the republicans,I have the feeling that democrates should be given the chance to come and clean this mess and restor this reputation back.Its a shame that the world's strongest president keeps twisting the truth when he say's he is a man of God.

Many, many of us - and our numbers are growing - have begun to see the Iraq war as very real, despite not having immediate kin there. My college classroom always has several veterans; it's much like the 1970's that way. Although they do not protest, we are witnessing a growing reluctance on their part to comment on the war, for fear of seeming disloyal to their comrades. But make no mistake, the war is growing more real with each passing day and tomorrow, 11/7, I am optimistic that you will see in the voting a massive rebuttal of Bush, et al, and his ignorant, ill-conceived and -planned war, indeed of the entire Republican strategy of selling fears, lies, deception.

I blogged be4 about the numbers, and some already know from their own eyes the following. Deaths are what propell humans into action. Hence, the deaths of a million civilians in iraq, not to mention the deaths of so-called insurgents and terrorists, the untold deaths in Afghanistan, and the Palestinian territories, will naturally fuel a fire that already has plenty of latent heat. But then again, many are more concerned about which party wins more seats. In the relative comfort of the west deaths in the east may seem like twisted providence but alas, not all of us think we are gods. No, some believe we are human under the divine. Will you be suprised if humans act accordingly?

Guess what? Do a little more digging (outside the beltway) and you may find that disturbing, unembedded and uncensored news about the debacle in Iraq has reached the majority of US voters. Bush may profit by keeping Americans in the dark, but increasing numbers of us do not consider the subversion of the Constitution, and ransacking of the Bill of Rights abstract. Warrantless wiretapping – not abstract. Secret payoffs, lies and corruption, scandal after scandal – we’re listening. Pseudo-science – it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure it out. Propaganda as news – ditto. Poisoning of the air and water – quite personal. War profiteering? The cost of the Iraq War at $1 trillion, about $9,500 per U.S. household is easy to grasp when your U.S. median before tax income is only $43,200. Average Americans working weekends to pay for Bush’s tax giveaways to the super rich - don’t have time to go to the zoo, either.

I am an American and hate George W. Bush with a passion...really wished that McCain had been the party nominee the first time.

I think that the Democrats missed the boat big time by not having an electable alternative in the 2000 election. John Kerry was a pretty pathetic choice. In fact, John Kerry voted against the original Gulf War to defend Kuwait and voted for the war to invade Iraq. Pretty retarded.

The Iraq war is more than an abstract
issue. It's already cost tens of
thousands of lives, including mostly
Iraqis, but also American and British; it's cost hundreds of billions of U.S. dollars, and is now
approaching a half a trillion dollars; and it's led to a great di-
visiveness in our society.

For what? Weapons of mass destruction that never existed? To
depose a dictator that was already
hemmed in by no-fly zones? To spread
a Western style democracy in a totally different land? Or was it
simply a monumental battle of good
over evil?

In my half-century of life, I have
never seen such an unmitigated disas-
ter perpetrated on the American people. This is more than an abstraction--it's a debacle that we
need to end as soon as possible. No
More War!

Here are facts, not the far left trash most of these ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ blogs vomit at the mindless far left whackos.

1. The War on Terror will continue, although less by boots on the ground and more with the scientific wizardry
only the United States is competent to produce (see military contracts in the recent past and present...the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ has access to them, as they are public record).The nuance is that the EU and SE Asia will be left to deal with their own Islamic mess on their home front. Good luck.

2. The United States will reach an accomodation with Syria and Iran over Iraq. Let's call it no war for oil, to amuse our far left friends.
The United States will focus on China and Russia as the strategic enemies they are. Not through overt military acts, but economic and diplomatic acts.

3. Politically, the Democrats will take over, by a small margin, the House of Representatives. The Republicans will continue to have a majority in the Senate. This will play into Republican hands for the 2008 election once the American voter takes a good look at who is in charge in the House (Pelosi, Rangle, et al). This will result in political gridlock, which..

4....Will propel the stock markets and the United States economic engine faster and farther than ever, to the consternation of no-growth EU and the usual dictators of the Third World.

5. Kyoto....nope. Maybe the environmentalists had better move China and India ahead on the "most wanted" list.

No one understands what war means until it is at their door step! I envy the US and UK...they dont have enough land to fight wars on! Go to Congo DR!

The Iraq war wont end...Mr Bush GW and Mr Blair T will leave their respective offices and their successors will inherit the war - thats the beauty with polictics: you never finish what you start!