CLIFF MAY: Missions Possible; Kill Terrorists, Support Democrats

From today's Scripps Howard News Service:

After last week's constitutional vote, what's America's primary mission in Iraq? The same as it's been all along: to hunt down terrorists and insurgents, to eliminate Islamo-fascists, including both al-Qaeda forces and the Saddam Hussein loyalists who learned the wrong lesson when they were spared by American troops in 2003. The chattering classes say that mission is not going well. Most Americans in uniform disagree. Read More.

Read the Spanish translation.

Comments

[Jerry Thomas]

Mr May;
Mission Possible= Crap, Wake Up
there are no wnds, no connect to
9-11, only idiots beleive America is in Iraq for freedom &
democracy of the Iraqi people.
BOTTOM LINE America has sent our wemon and men of to die on the sole orders of two presidents with reputations as
DRAFT DODGERS, LIARS, DRUGGIES,
DRUNKS, SEX OFFENDERS, RAPIST,
ETC, ONE A CONVICTED CRIMINAL NOT FIT TO BE A LAWYER. Like Cindy Sheehan, I want to know why we are in this war, and it sure the hell ain't democracy.
Jerry Thomas

[David Parsons]

I agree with the guy who just said that. Only IDIOTS and MORONS like this war. Because it is BAD and STUPID. I think we should VOTE about the war again. Becuase then the war would STOP. And if it didn't stop then that means that we are BAD. Not me. You. You BAD Republicans! I like to HATE you. And I like to vote. It is fun.

[Bill Narvey]

That relatively few American soldiers have died in Iraq is fair comment. Your observation that American efforts have given Iraqis some sense of what decomcratic freedom is about and its potential virtue for them is also fair as is your view that Iraqis' desire for freedom led them to risk their safety and their lives in going to the polls to vote.

In spite of this, there is a deep growing concern with America being in Iraq in the first place and that concern is being visited on the Bush administration.

Americans' concern with being in Iraq has been variously dealt with in many media op-eds, TV and blogs.

I assume that you are of the view that the long term big picture is that regardless of the terrible cost in American lost lives and the great financial burden this war in Iraq has been and will continue to be for America, it is well worth it because with America's ultimate success at some point down the road, America will be able to look back in hindsight and see that America's great sacrifices were well worth it and American interests will have been very well served.

Thus far, pundits on both sides of whether America should be in Iraq, advocate their respective positions well enough in various venues.

Much of the dialogue has not been helpful in that it is more just talking at one another without seeking to show how the other view is misguided. Perhaps that is due to media printed word constraints or time constraints for TV.

It would be useful however, if you and those whose perspectives you share, met the critics of America's presence in Iraq head on by dealing with each point made against America's presence in Iraq.

Finally, just a suggestion for your blog set up.

For those who wish to provide comment on a point or some points made to your articles posted or those who wish to just read the article and others comments regarding articles, it is much easier to reference those points if the postings follow the full text of the article rather than forcing the blogger or reader to switch back and forth.