I am not so naive to believe WMDs had anything to do with it. A military base in the middle of the Gulf makes much more sense so that we are not entirely dependent on any one Middle Eastern nation as an ally. Same reason we own Hawaii, Guam, Wake Island and the bases in Japan as well as South Korea and so on, in which there are thousands of US military stationed, but we don't bitch about that cause its been so long. Call it imperialism, I am ok with that. Thats what it takes to be the most powerful nation in the world.
I appreciate your appreciation, (not sure if that makes much sense), but always remember, we are a 100% volunteer military force, so no sugar coating required, I would expect a similar response from a cop or fire fighter, risking our life is part of our job and we are all well aware of it. We do it to protect EVERYONE in America, even those who fight so hard to destroy it and undermine everything that our forefathers fought for, but that is their right. I believe that as a society, we are beginning to lose touch on what it means to be an American, we were not founded by peace loving hippies, or people who believed life should be fair, that is called socialism. We were founded by people who buster their *** to build a life for themselves with no help from anyone else, and they were willing to die and/or kill for what they created.
If you do anything, please, do not forget that. I agree with Wusabi on that point, *F* the rest of them, they are on their own, but to think we have done no good in Iraq is insulting to everyone.
I am not sure 650K is accurate, but imagine the millions that must have died before we got there at the hands of that psycho murderer Hussein while working on his genocide. Maybe we shouldn't have gotten involved in WWII either, but Kurds, Jews, eh, they weren't Americans...leave them to the tyrants.
PS- I like Sierra Nevada...as much as I hate SoCal, I love that beer, and its too expensive here, if it doesn't support a NASCAR, its considered an import here in the South.
I am done ranting about this, none of us will ever change the other's minds, but man, is it fun to try, better than tip toeing around trying to not offend anyone, that is just gay.