I cannot believe you wrote that. If you participate in a debate online then it is fully expected that it will be an honest attempt to communicate. If you do not want to answer a question directed to you, then do not answer at all or at least be honest as to why you will not respond. Avoiding questions does not qualify as a discussion in any sense. If you do not feel a question warrants a response, fine, but don't attack to the left without defending a question first placed on the right. Communication is key to a democracy and a free society. Everyone believes that their viewpoint is the correct viewpoint until new facts and ideas alter that opinion. Only the presentation of new facts and ideas can have any effect. Avoidance only further cements the other party in their current position. That has nothing to do with the 'bigger picture' at all. Your comment makes no sense given the context of the discussion. In your opinion, based on your comment below, I understand you to believe that there need be no discussion because you are right regardless? That attitude will not bring anyone over to your side Perry, right or not. It is difficult to discuss anything with you under those conditions and not worth the effort. I bow out.


>Any question he has asked has nothing to do with the bigger picture. You of all people, with a military background, should know of just how big a cost we are paying for the current effort in Iraq.
>
>>You did not answer his question but attempted to deflect it with one of your own.
>>
>>
>>>First and foremost, the stated purpose of the war had nothing, nada, zero to do with granting Iraqi's their freedom. If it was stated that way, the war never would have been started.
>>>
>>>One of the reasons being, I believe, is the cost involved.
>>>
>>>Are you going to be so upbeat and positive if your birthdate was to come up #1 in a draft lottery?
>>>
>>>
>>>>This is an interesting reply to a message that contained only the question:
>>>>
>>>>Do you honestly think that Iraqis have gained no freedoms since Saddam's rule?
>>>>
>>>>How would you answer the question directly?
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>Mike,
>>>>>
>>>>>Personally, I think you are just too young, and are willing to give the powers that be in Washington too much credit. I'm of the age that my birth year was the last year of the draft lottery for Vietnam. We weren't actually drafted however.
>>>>>
>>>>>Yet I did see the results from those returning and trying to blend back into society. It wasn't a pretty site.
>>>>>
>>>>>I don't think there was any near the level of altrueism you are attributing to people over this war. There have been all kinds of theories proposed, from the neocons desire to create a democracy in the middle east, to GB focus on trying to upstage his father.
>>>>>
>>>>>Vietnam clearly showed the fallacy of our government's getting involved in a war like this. There is no good that will come from this. The situation is not as bad as Vietnam became, but it is on the same path. Terrorist attacks are getting more vicious by the day.
>>>>>
>>>>>I can more clearly see a day in our future when all soldiers are brought home and the discussions begin of how we got involved in such a mess, rather then a day of peace you invision.
>>>>>
>>>>>>>If it was botched from the start, then I have no idea how to define a success in this case. Can you do that?
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Of course.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Just like I can look at a set of requirements and somebody's attempt at implementing them in software.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>I can scracth my head and say "why the hell did they do it that way?" and then try to track down all the personal background information on the comptuer programmer, to try to understand the way he thinks.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Or you could say "well, I know how it has to be done" and just do it.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>So how to define success? I'd say stable democractic Iraqi and Afghani governments within a decade or two.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>A success to you, it seems, would be an injurous blow to Bush, though I think he's already received it.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>Freed? From what, and into what? I somehow don't see the replacement of a dictatorship with a theocracy as liberation, regardless of the theocracy's prefix.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>Ha.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>Exactly.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Do you honestly think that Iraqis have gained no freedoms since Saddam's rule?