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In reply to the discussion: Please understand, any U.S. military action in Syria means that we're being dragged into a proxy war [View all]scarletwoman
(31,893 posts)82. Indeed! And this post illustrates it beautifully:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=3623555
(the quoted text is from the 1991 Gulf War)
Complete thread here: You think I want to send my son to die in Kuwait?
(the quoted text is from the 1991 Gulf War)
Among our stated objectives are the defense of Saudi Arabia, the liberation of Kuwait and restoration of the royal family, and the establishment, in the president's phrase, of 'a stable and secure Gulf.' Pesumably these generous-hearted goals should win the cooperation, respect and gratitude of the locals. Indications are, to the contrary, that our involvement is increasing Arab contempt for the U.S.
In this newspaper a few days ago Geraldine Brooks and Tony Horwitz described the reluctance of the Arabs to fight in their own defense. The Gulf States have a population almost as large as Iraq's but no serious armies and limited inclination to raise them. Why should they? The Journal quotes a senior Gulf Official: 'You think I want to send my teen-aged son to die for Kuwait?' He chuckles and adds, 'We have our white slaves from America to do that.'
At a recent meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council, the Arab states congratulated themselves on their verbal condemnation of Iraqi aggression but spoke not one word of thanks to the American troops who had crossed half the world to fight for them. A Yemeni diplomat explained this curious omission to Judith Miller of the New York Times: 'A lot of the Gulf rulers simply do not feel that they have to thank the people they've hired to do their fighting for them.'
James LeMoyne reported in the New Yok Times last October in a dispatch from Saudi Arabia, 'There is no mass mobilization for war in the markets and streets. The scenes of cheerful American families saying goodbye to their sons and daughters are being repeated in few Saudi homes.' Mr. LeMoyne continued, 'Some Saudis' attitude toward the American troops verges on treating them as a sort of contracted superpower enforcer...' He quoted a Saudi teacher, 'The American soldiers are a new kind of foreign worker here. We have Pakistanis driving taxis and now we have Americans defending us.'"
(my bold)
In this newspaper a few days ago Geraldine Brooks and Tony Horwitz described the reluctance of the Arabs to fight in their own defense. The Gulf States have a population almost as large as Iraq's but no serious armies and limited inclination to raise them. Why should they? The Journal quotes a senior Gulf Official: 'You think I want to send my teen-aged son to die for Kuwait?' He chuckles and adds, 'We have our white slaves from America to do that.'
At a recent meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council, the Arab states congratulated themselves on their verbal condemnation of Iraqi aggression but spoke not one word of thanks to the American troops who had crossed half the world to fight for them. A Yemeni diplomat explained this curious omission to Judith Miller of the New York Times: 'A lot of the Gulf rulers simply do not feel that they have to thank the people they've hired to do their fighting for them.'
James LeMoyne reported in the New Yok Times last October in a dispatch from Saudi Arabia, 'There is no mass mobilization for war in the markets and streets. The scenes of cheerful American families saying goodbye to their sons and daughters are being repeated in few Saudi homes.' Mr. LeMoyne continued, 'Some Saudis' attitude toward the American troops verges on treating them as a sort of contracted superpower enforcer...' He quoted a Saudi teacher, 'The American soldiers are a new kind of foreign worker here. We have Pakistanis driving taxis and now we have Americans defending us.'"
Complete thread here: You think I want to send my son to die in Kuwait?
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Please understand, any U.S. military action in Syria means that we're being dragged into a proxy war [View all]
scarletwoman
Sep 2013
OP
"Actions have ends." Maybe you forgot that 2 years ago, in 2011, Obama began saying "Assad must go"?
scarletwoman
Sep 2013
#61
Thanks. After our last exchange I decided it was time to come out with an OP.
scarletwoman
Sep 2013
#14
One of my favorite quotes - and now it's in this thread twice! (see post #30)
scarletwoman
Sep 2013
#34
Well, Israel has the nuke card - maybe they figure that gives them some leverage with the Saudis.
scarletwoman
Sep 2013
#10
Israel is the ultimate target, and the Islamists will work at it until Israel is removed.
FarCenter
Sep 2013
#16
The Saudis are just fine with Israel. Israel gives them added leverage with the U.S.
scarletwoman
Sep 2013
#18
Willie Peter, napalm, DU--all tools of the trade in our benevolent military.
Jackpine Radical
Sep 2013
#31
It was read by Commandant David M. Shoup who left after JFK's assignation and refused to be
AnotherMcIntosh
Sep 2013
#43
It's good to see your interest. It may be worthwhile to borrow a book from your library system,
AnotherMcIntosh
Sep 2013
#58
The PNAC may no longer exist as a formal organization (above ground, that is),
scarletwoman
Sep 2013
#54
Iran could have an atomic bomb by mid-2014, according to David Albright, former UN weapons inspector
DhhD
Sep 2013
#97
The Islamic leadership of Saudi Arabia will be behind our troops. Far behind.
AnotherMcIntosh
Sep 2013
#44
I don't do facebook, so I'm very glad you posted you fb post here - great post!
scarletwoman
Sep 2013
#69
Our leaders make the choice - it is the rest of us who get "dragged" along.
scarletwoman
Sep 2013
#118
I think more us understand this than you think although between the media and the republicans I can
liberal_at_heart
Sep 2013
#104
You make some good points, and I thank you for the time & energy that went into your post.
scarletwoman
Sep 2013
#116