Let me give you the lowdown on my thoughts:

Peace will never happen for real. Do you know why peace will never happen? Because of organized religion, in particular, the Islam extremists who insist on destroying the West. And someone will always have a gripe.

I think the war was a positive thing: whether it was justified the way the government said it was is not my call (I don't have the same source of intelligence that any of the governments have, so I can't make that call). The war not only allows the liberation of Iraqis, but it shows the world that the coalition forces will stand against evil dictators and regimes.

However, because of all the people against the war, that's not going to happen. You've effectively stopped anything like this from happening again, which means any other evil dictators in the world won't think twice about carrying on in the same way.

I really get the impression that everyone against the war is selfish, ignorant and doesn't realise that "peace" and liberation come at a price. I remember many saying to me that we'd be under threat of a chemical/biological attack if we went ahead with the war. Where's your anti-war justification now?

"Sometimes in order to open someone's eyes, you have to offend them." Sure, but your's are closed...and it's a damn shame. you are sterotypical of a large group of americans who do not happen to be conservative...and telling them to "get out of your country" is just ignorant. one of the things that makes america "great" is a difference of opinion. and, by the way, most people who are against the war that i know(and that's most of the people that i know) do at least have the respect to not be against the soldiers. i don't hate the soldiers, i just don't like this unjustified war.(try to justify it...would it be justified if someone just invaded the country where you live? no. you'd put up a hell of a fight...but it's of course not ok that they don't just comply. this is an example of how some people don't see iraqis as our equals. they are just numbers, enemies...not human beings or anything like that, right?)

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Right. So because they're violent, we are justified in being so as well? Funny, I thought we were adults.

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It's quite easy to over-simplify this war. However, we are being very peaceful in most aspects of this occupation. However, the extremist, radical Islamist will not listen to reason. How many times have you seen people trying to covnince zealot Christians that Bible isn't fact. They don't listen to reason or logic, or even tolerance in many cases. It's the same with radical Islam. Only these people are intent on killing or converting us. It's they're stated mission. How else can we go against that? Ignore them?

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And you don't?

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I try and look at things from as many angles as possible. Granted, neither of us knows all the info the other has gathered so far, or how reliable it is. It just seems to me that when someone brings up the prisoner abuse they completely take it out of context, and assume our entire military is like that. People screw up, and some sick f*cks do some sick things. It's not our policy.

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another reason why foreigners hate Bush is because he did not respect at all the UN's opinion. He ranted like a baby and did what he wanted, again for no apparent reason.

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The UN ingored their own ******* opinion. So why should we expect to do any different? In fact,we could be said to be enforcing previous UN resolutions. And what do you mean "no apparent reason?" We went in to stabalize the region and expand the American power base in the region.
Welcome to global, religous, cultural conflict.

What makes me sick is that people get entertainment of watching Nick Bergs or Danny Pearls beheading. That is sick and people should be outraged.

I know what you're talking about. I heard this kid today saying 'Those soldiers in Iraq are all *******es and I hope they ALL blow up!' I was so mad! My family is dying for these *******s. I am mad that those people over there are so unappreciative. It irritates me that children are dying for their *****.

The tortures are wrong. Very wrong. That NEEDS to be changed... NOW. Bush is doing a ****ty job.

God Bless you and stay safe.

it sounds to me that you expected a red carpet and a nobel prize for going to iraq.

there is evidence that the iraquis were tortured. and i know the burned people, i know they hate you, but isnt America "teachin morals"? Ok, so now, I will strip my neighbor naked a drag him in a rope because he killed my cat *sarcasm*.

i admire America's histor, really, but this war is so stupid i'm still wondering if it's sow for entertainment or something.

the revolution...yes, the soliders fought there, and i respect that. but you had a reason to fight. there werent any unexistent weapons of mass destruction, for example.

i'm sorry, i know the "weapons of mass destruction" thing is old. but i believe that lie from Bush was enough to inform his country of how pathetic he is.

i dont agree with the war, or the iraqui tortures. but that doesnt mean that i hate American soliders, only the ones who toruted iraquis. My father was in the Army, he was in the Gulf War, and i understand pretty well that a solider has no choice if he wants to go to war or not.

the reason other countries hate you (specifically Bush) is because you got into another person's business, and your president made cheap excuses ("weapons of mass destruction"). and let me inform you that the Arabs probably hate Americans even more now.

another reason why foreigners hate Bush is because he did not respect at all the UN's opinion. He ranted like a baby and did what he wanted, again for no apparent reason.

i'm sorry that American soldiers lost lives, no one should, but there was no reason for iraq. period.

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my mindset is simply this: If you don't like it get out of my country!!! I fought for your damn freedom, my father fought for your freedom and thousands of other men and women are doing the same as we speak, and what is your gratitude to them? NOTHING!!!!!

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My mindset is simply this: This is my country too, and one of the rights that you, your father, and thousands (I would venture millions) of other men and women fought for was my freedom to have an opinion. Narrow-minded belligerence is far more threatening than people who want peace.

And, ignorant one, my father and grandfather served as well, yet even my father disapproves of this war. Again, one of those freedoms we have.

Not all people who oppose the war believe that American soldiers are bad people. I fully support my soliders in that they are following orders. It is the orders I have a problem with.

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You know when I came back from Iraq I was standing in an airport waiting to go home on leave. I was in my DCUs and you know what, lots of older people came up and hugged me and shook my hand and thanked me for fighting overseas, but not one younger person even said hello, in fact many of them went out of their way to avoid me. What has our generation come to that we no longer respect the military?

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Touching story, really. But, as a "younger person" I avoid talking to people no matter what they're wearing. You can't mind read, you have no idea why--or even if--those "younger people" avoided you. Maybe you need to open your eyes to others' opinions.

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How the hell are we supposed to talk to them and repsect them if they keep decapitating unarmed civilians?

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Right. So because they're violent, we are justified in being so as well? Funny, I thought we were adults.

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You view this, again, from a lopsided, bias opinion.

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And you don't?

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Peace that is achieved through respectful treatment of the conflicting sides

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Which we are NOT receiving from our enemies. How the hell are we supposed to talk to them and repsect them if they keep decapitating unarmed civilians?

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we can't continue to tie ropes around Iraqi prisoners' necks. We can't strip Iraqi prisoners naked and allow people to take photos of them. We can't force them to simulate homosexual postions. We can't do this degrading thing s to a people and expect them to be at peace with us.

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Then how do you exepct us to be at peace with them? We are constantly attacked, and our UNARMED, INNOCENT civlians are PURPOSEFULLY TARGETED and BRUTALLY SLAUGHTERD. You view this, again, from a lopsided, bias opinion.

Quote: "peace only comes through two ways, War and Negotiations" What is your definition of peace? An atmosphere where one group of people has been conquered, and so badly oppressed/ exploited that they have no opportunity to challenge their one sided, elite-serving government? Is that what you envision peace in the middle east as? That's the only mutation of "peace" that we'll achieve through our Operation Iraqi "Freedom". There will never be mental peace amongst Iraqis as long as the U.S. is policing their country, and disgracing their prisoners. You must understand, that if we want true peace; Peace that is achieved through respectful treatment of the conflicting sides, we can't continue to tie ropes around Iraqi prisoners' necks. We can't strip Iraqi prisoners naked and allow people to take photos of them. We can't force them to simulate homosexual postions. We can't do this degrading thing s to a people and expect them to be at peace with us. Its absurd to expect them to be thankful of our military presence there. Presence which we claim will "free" them. I guess you could say that our Military's disgraceful actions are freeing the Iraqi people of any sort faith in America.