Americans - Has public opinion changed much on Bush and Iraq?

[kainedamo]

I don't know why the hell I think about this so much. I think American culture and politics is so damn fascinating. I think this period of time is fascinating aswell. It's a sort of Vietnam and Pearl Harbour, both at the same time.

I just want to know where public opinion currently stands on certain topics. Not to come off as offensive, but it is fairly clear to alot of people now what has happened over the last few years, and I just want to know if Americans in general know it or ignore it. When you talk about it with friends, family, co-workers, etc, what do they say?

So this is the way I see things. 9/11 2001 was Bush's lucky day. The American public were understandably angry, and Bush was all too willing to stand up and say "we're gonna fight back!". And fight back you did, going into Afghanistan. But we flash forward to today. Five years later. No Bin Laden. The fighting is as bad as it ever was.

Then came the whole "Iraq has WMDs!! We know for a fact that they do!!" from the mouth of everyone on the Bush administration. Here is something funny about that - not long before 9/11, the Bush administration said there weren't WMDs in Iraq. Funny how they changed their minds.

The move into the Iraq war is especially interesting to me - because the world at large, politicians and people alike, were not convinced that a war in Iraq was a good idea, and they were not convinced Iraq had WMDs. The inspectors weren't convinced. They wanted more time to search - but the Republican party didn't wanna hear it. The American people were all for the war too. And this is why I think the American people were all for the Iraq war, when nearly every other population of the western countries were against it. You guys were still sore about 9/11. Bush was the conquering hero in Afghanistan, so in the eyes of the American public, he could do no wrong. Blair was side by side with Bush the whole time, despite the fact that the British public were completely against it.

Flash forward to where we are today. It is an accepted fact that there were no WMDs. A matter of months after the troops landed, the war was ridiculously claimed as over. And yet, the violence continues everyday over there. It is pretty much civil war in Iraq. They are worse off than when Saddam was in power. The Iraq study group has declared the Iraq war a failure. Pretty much everything was badly planned and executed. From going there in the first place, to badly equipped troops, to getting out of the country.

The Patriot Act. Guantanamo Bay. This, and others, accepted and embraced by the American people. All for the sake of combating the "war on terror".

I mean, I just want to know how many Americans accept, because it is a fact, that they were duped. That they were lied to. That their government has made fools out of them. How many Americans accept that they were wrong?

In no way intended to be an American bashing thread.

 

[Gonking]

I don't know why the hell I think about this so much. I think American culture and politics is so damn fascinating. I think this period of time is fascinating aswell. It's a sort of Vietnam and Pearl Harbour, both at the same time.

I just want to know where public opinion currently stands on certain topics. Not to come off as offensive, but it is fairly clear to alot of people now what has happened over the last few years, and I just want to know if Americans in general know it or ignore it. When you talk about it with friends, family, co-workers, etc, what do they say?

So this is the way I see things. 9/11 2001 was Bush's lucky day. The American public were understandably angry, and Bush was all too willing to stand up and say "we're gonna fight back!". And fight back you did, going into Afghanistan. But we flash forward to today. Five years later. No Bin Laden. The fighting is as bad as it ever was.

Then came the whole "Iraq has WMDs!! We know for a fact that they do!!" from the mouth of everyone on the Bush administration. Here is something funny about that - not long before 9/11, the Bush administration said there weren't WMDs in Iraq. Funny how they changed their minds.

The move into the Iraq war is especially interesting to me - because the world at large, politicians and people alike, were not convinced that a war in Iraq was a good idea, and they were not convinced Iraq had WMDs. The inspectors weren't convinced. They wanted more time to search - but the Republican party didn't wanna hear it. The American people were all for the war too. And this is why I think the American people were all for the Iraq war, when nearly every other population of the western countries were against it. You guys were still sore about 9/11. Bush was the conquering hero in Afghanistan, so in the eyes of the American public, he could do no wrong. Blair was side by side with Bush the whole time, despite the fact that the British public were completely against it.

Flash forward to where we are today. It is an accepted fact that there were no WMDs. A matter of months after the troops landed, the war was ridiculously claimed as over. And yet, the violence continues everyday over there. It is pretty much civil war in Iraq. They are worse off than when Saddam was in power. The Iraq study group has declared the Iraq war a failure. Pretty much everything was badly planned and executed. From going there in the first place, to badly equipped troops, to getting out of the country.

The Patriot Act. Guantanamo Bay. This, and others, accepted and embraced by the American people. All for the sake of combating the "war on terror".

I mean, I just want to know how many Americans accept, because it is a fact, that they were duped. That they were lied to. That their government has made fools out of them. How many Americans accept that they were wrong?

In no way intended to be an American bashing thread.

totally agree with you.

 

[Crowforge]

Accepted but not embraced. 911 was no one’s lucky day. I never believed that there was any real reason to go into Iraq, but I knew we’d go anyway. We could get bin laden within a month if we tried but w had grand plans to reshape a nutcase-prone part of the world on the cheap. Not my president, Like most of the country I voted for that environmentalist robot.

 

[winky]

That seems to be a good assessment of the situation; however, if you're really interested in this subject, I'd recommend a book to you, that offers an interesting perspective on the 'War on Terror'. I'll give you the link, so you can check it out yourself.

http://www.lulu.com/content/239259

 

[Strong Guy]

I used to have a lotta respect for Americans before this but i was disgusted by some of the actions which the Bush administration had made on Iraq.They knew that the country didn't have any WMDs and yet they still bombed the country back to the stone age.I was also disgusted by some of the atrocities done by the American soldiers on helpless women and children.Ok,they wanted to retaliate but surely there was a better solution than going to war.It was also just a waste of money and lives considering the number of soldiers dead in Iraq.It just reminds me of 'Nam.

 

[The Overlord]

Accepted but not embraced. 911 was no one’s lucky day. I never believed that there was any real reason to go into Iraq, but I knew we’d go anyway. We could get bin laden within a month if we tried but w had grand plans to reshape a nutcase-prone part of the world on the cheap. Not my president, Like most of the country I voted for that environmentalist robot.

In a purely Machinavellian sense, 9-11 was Bush's lucky day. "When the realm is attacked, people will rally around their king".

 

[Arkady Rossovich]

I don't know why the hell I think about this so much. I think American culture and politics is so damn fascinating. I think this period of time is fascinating aswell. It's a sort of Vietnam and Pearl Harbour, both at the same time.

I just want to know where public opinion currently stands on certain topics. Not to come off as offensive, but it is fairly clear to alot of people now what has happened over the last few years, and I just want to know if Americans in general know it or ignore it. When you talk about it with friends, family, co-workers, etc, what do they say?

So this is the way I see things. 9/11 2001 was Bush's lucky day. The American public were understandably angry, and Bush was all too willing to stand up and say "we're gonna fight back!". And fight back you did, going into Afghanistan. But we flash forward to today. Five years later. No Bin Laden. The fighting is as bad as it ever was.

Then came the whole "Iraq has WMDs!! We know for a fact that they do!!" from the mouth of everyone on the Bush administration. Here is something funny about that - not long before 9/11, the Bush administration said there weren't WMDs in Iraq. Funny how they changed their minds.

The move into the Iraq war is especially interesting to me - because the world at large, politicians and people alike, were not convinced that a war in Iraq was a good idea, and they were not convinced Iraq had WMDs. The inspectors weren't convinced. They wanted more time to search - but the Republican party didn't wanna hear it. The American people were all for the war too. And this is why I think the American people were all for the Iraq war, when nearly every other population of the western countries were against it. You guys were still sore about 9/11. Bush was the conquering hero in Afghanistan, so in the eyes of the American public, he could do no wrong. Blair was side by side with Bush the whole time, despite the fact that the British public were completely against it.

Flash forward to where we are today. It is an accepted fact that there were no WMDs. A matter of months after the troops landed, the war was ridiculously claimed as over. And yet, the violence continues everyday over there. It is pretty much civil war in Iraq. They are worse off than when Saddam was in power. The Iraq study group has declared the Iraq war a failure. Pretty much everything was badly planned and executed. From going there in the first place, to badly equipped troops, to getting out of the country.

The Patriot Act. Guantanamo Bay. This, and others, accepted and embraced by the American people. All for the sake of combating the "war on terror".

I mean, I just want to know how many Americans accept, because it is a fact, that they were duped. That they were lied to. That their government has made fools out of them. How many Americans accept that they were wrong?

In no way intended to be an American bashing thread.

I have a overseas friend who lives in the USA,i often get letters and e-mails from him saying how angry he is at the government and Bush.Ill put some of my own thoughts here.

Bush indeed took advantage of the American people`s feeling after it was attacked,he thought that the whole Iraq situation would be done 1-2-3.He was wrong,he is no military leader,i heard he was AWOL from the US Air Force.

Bush`s stupidity and stubborness costed him valueable European allies and help,i can only think of Denmark and Great Britain who is still America...no..Bush`s ally in this mess.He also damaged America`s credibility,meaning it will take trust to rebuild relations in Europe.

The Patriot Act,is nothing but a law made by scared people,and disgusing it as "Patriotism".There is nothing really much to say on that.Guntanamo Bay is nothing but a front for the media,i doubt real criminals are held there.

America has been lied to,and only know are people questioning things..or relooking things.They are angry,the Democratic sweep proves this.

 

[Eddie Brock]

i still hate Bush
and i'm still against the war in Iraq
simple as that

 

[OverMyHead]

I used to have a lotta respect for Americans before this but i was disgusted by some of the actions which the Bush administration had made on Iraq.They knew that the country didn't have any WMDs and yet they still bombed the country back to the stone age.I was also disgusted by some of the atrocities done by the American soldiers on helpless women and children.Ok,they wanted to retaliate but surely there was a better solution than going to war.It was also just a waste of money and lives considering the number of soldiers dead in Iraq.It just reminds me of 'Nam.

Bombed Iraq?
Atrocities commites by American soldiers?

Why, yes indeed.

If you are pedophilist, and want to get away with it, you become a priest. If you are a murderer, you become a soldier.

 

[Strong Guy]

Oh yeah.I forgot.When we become soldiers and get sent to war,we get to shoot people and kill them and then say that we did that as an act of defence.

 

[OverMyHead]

And rape them too. Murderers becomes soldiers, it's a simple fact. Just a pedophilists become priests.

 

[Strong Guy]

How come the US are the only country allowed to go to any other country and then declare war on them.And then how come other countries are not allowed to do that?It's just something which i just can't understand.

 

[Orko Is King]

I think the reason why this is going on is that people feel they can't stop it, so they try to learnt o live with it.

 

[Strong Guy]

Well,they had better think of a better way to do rather than kill more and more innocent lives.
Not take away the contributions made by the US soldiers or anything,it's just that i think that they were sent to their death for something which was not worth it.

 

[Eddie Brock]

How come the US are the only country allowed to go to any other country and then declare war on them.And then how come other countries are not allowed to do that?It's just something which i just can't understand.

because America gets too proud of themselves and figures, "hey, they won't mind...besides, they need us for exports and imports anyway, so if they do mind, we'll f**k over their economy"

i'm American and i said it...so you know it's at least partially true

 

[Gonking]

I used to have a lotta respect for Americans before this but i was disgusted by some of the actions which the Bush administration had made on Iraq.They knew that the country didn't have any WMDs and yet they still bombed the country back to the stone age.I was also disgusted by some of the atrocities done by the American soldiers on helpless women and children.Ok,they wanted to retaliate but surely there was a better solution than going to war.It was also just a waste of money and lives considering the number of soldiers dead in Iraq.It just reminds me of 'Nam.

The history of U.S.'s foreign policy is full of atrocities like the war in Irak.

 

[souloffire]

I was also disgusted by some of the atrocities done by the American soldiers on helpless women and children.

How about the atrocities done to the American soldiers? Does that disgusted you as well?

 

[kainedamo]

How about the atrocities done to the American soldiers? Does that disgusted you as well?

I hate when people say that. Just because someone says American soldiers have committed atrocities doesn't mean they are a supporter of attrocities carried out on Americans.

 

[The Overlord]

Bush is a fool. A real leader could have done a lot more with the fallout of 9-11. Look at what FDR did after Pearl Habor, he was able to create a society where people felt they had a persosnal stake in the war and the government encouraged people to to conserve the nation's resources to help win the war effort. What was Bush's message after 9-11? "Go shopping". Idiot.

Bush should have been devoting his time to tracking down Al-Qaeda, but he managed to get the US bogged down in a Iraq side adventure that made Al-Qaeda stronger, not weaker. What a fool.

 

[Spider-Bite]

Bush is like a neutralizing agent destroying American patriotism, while claiming he wants to prevent flag burning at the same time. Go figure.

He's a hypocryte and a liar.

 

[hippie_hunter]

I have a overseas friend who lives in the USA,i often get letters and e-mails from him saying how angry he is at the government and Bush.Ill put some of my own thoughts here.

Bush indeed took advantage of the American people`s feeling after it was attacked,he thought that the whole Iraq situation would be done 1-2-3.He was wrong,he is no military leader,i heard he was AWOL from the US Air Force.

Bush`s stupidity and stubborness costed him valueable European allies and help,i can only think of Denmark and Great Britain who is still America...no..Bush`s ally in this mess.He also damaged America`s credibility,meaning it will take trust to rebuild relations in Europe.

The Patriot Act,is nothing but a law made by scared people,and disgusing it as "Patriotism".There is nothing really much to say on that.Guntanamo Bay is nothing but a front for the media,i doubt real criminals are held there.

America has been lied to,and only know are people questioning things..or relooking things.They are angry,the Democratic sweep proves this.

Wow, usually I would tell you that you're completely wrong and that you f**king know jack s**t about America. But damn, your practically spot on here

Although the AWOL thing was proven false and humiliated CBS.

 

[Addendum]

Razorblade Suitcase was a pretty good album.

 

[MaskedManJRK]

Essentially, Bush is slowly turning this country into a fascist state with his un-American laws and, unfortunately, we as a nation is just taking it up the ass and not caring.

It's truely saddening to see that this proud nation can be reduced to frightened little children willing to sell their souls to the devil himself for the illusion of safety.

 

[Fanticon]

The Democrats move in and say that theres gonna be a change. We'll see in '07. But all I hear is the same old thing from Bush in every single press conference. Heres what I see...I see a stubborn old man who can't face the fact that it was a mistake to enter Iraq. And not even a hundred close advisers to the president can make me him change his mind, nor will he ever admit defeat or fault. He's the president, and its not his job to look weak, so, "staying the course" is his way of shutting people up. Its a shame, but he's not the first president to have ever been faced with war, but he's probably the first to approve of it on false information, if we always went to war with false intel then this country would have been battered years ago with a new war every decade. Perhaps this is merely the start.

 

[Hades]

I think we're all doomed