If you had a son who enlisted in the marines

[MikeWaters]

No one besides SU willing to make the case for why Iraq is worth dying for?

Any reasons besides "duty" and "prestige"?

[NorCal Cat]

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

Norcal, just out of curiosity, what's preventing you from enlisting?

i assume there are some things you consider more important than risking your life in Iraq, right?

Chronic lower back problems since the age of 22 for starters.
Oh yeah...there's also some little kids I sort of have an obligation to also.

[MikeWaters]

Part of the reason for the poll's use of "son" is because I think it is easy to make an abstract decision in sending over other people to die and kill. It's harder to do it when it is yourself or your loved ones.

I can see fighting movements that are trying to take over liberal democracies like fascism and communism, and islamo-fascism--to the extent that they are real threats to freedom and democracy. You could say "that was worth dying for." But would you say the same about standing in the middle between Sunnis and Shiites? Is sorting out muslim factionalism worth your own blood?

I'm not saying it is an easy answer to everyone. However, I really do rebel against the dogmatic notions in the GOP that this thing in Iraq is for the very survival of liberal democracy. This is demogoguery and no one in the GOP, outside of Ron Paul, has the guts to say it.

[MikeWaters]

Originally Posted by NorCal Cat

Chronic lower back problems since the age of 22 for starters.
Oh yeah...there's also some little kids I sort of have an obligation to also.

Being alive to be a father to your kids is more important to you than putting your shoulder to the wheel in Iraq? Me too. I am with you 100% on that.

[NorCal Cat]

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

No one besides SU willing to make the case for why Iraq is worth dying for?

Any reasons besides "duty" and "prestige"?

You already gave one hell of a good reason in your original post...if for nothing else, we have the moral obligation to the people of Iraq.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Originally Posted by NorCal Cat

Chronic lower back problems since the age of 22 for starters.

That would explain a lot, actually.

[smokymountainrain]

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

No one besides SU willing to make the case for why Iraq is worth dying for?

Any reasons besides "duty" and "prestige"?

It's impossible to say whether it is/was worth dying for. Why? Because it's impossible to know what problems Sadaam Hussein may have caused in the last 3-4 years since he was found and going forward if he were alive and ruling Iraq today.

[MikeWaters]

Originally Posted by smokymountainrain

It's impossible to say whether it is/was worth dying for. Why? Because it's impossible to know what problems Sadaam Hussein may have caused in the last 3-4 years since he was found and going forward if he were alive and ruling Iraq today.

that's a rationale for removing Sadaam from power or killing him. It's not a rationale for staying in Iraq for 100 years starting in 2008.

[smokymountainrain]

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

that's a rationale for removing Sadaam from power or killing him. It's not a rationale for staying in Iraq for 100 years starting in 2008.

agreed. I guess I misunderstood the original question.

[hyrum]

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

No one besides SU willing to make the case for why Iraq is worth dying for?

Any reasons besides "duty" and "prestige"?

Oil. We're addicted to it.
If Iraq now becomes unstable it could lead to problems with Iran, takeover of Kuwait again, etc.