I can't help but wonder would there really be this much of a divide on DU about military action

[joshcryer]

16. I think it's OK to try something and fail, than to do nothing.

There are many failures, many, one may argue even most. Humans are infallible. If you don't try to do good, you are crap. I have failed so many fucking times in life trying to help people out. From trying to fix someones car and making it worse to giving someone rent money only for them to spend it on something else and get evicted anyway.

No one can expect full infallibility, but it is completely heartless to advocate doing nothing, even in the face of potential failure or even blowback.

I have a very relevant anecdote. I steam cleaned my brothers house tonight, the carpet reeked of dog piss from the dog they had. I got about 80% of it out but after 6 hours I gave up. Urine is impossibly difficult to remove from carpet. I fucking failed. But why not spend my time doing something I know how to do (and did professionally at one point)? Because of the potential for failure? Fuck no, you do what you think is right, I saved him hundreds of dollars, it'll smell a lot nicer in a day or two, once things dry.

Yeah, OK, that's not comparable to Presidential level decisions. But Presidents get it wrong, too, and I frankly don't see "do nothing" as an excuse to "don't be wrong." Because, you know what? People like you would say the President was wrong if it really went wrong. Say the entire Kurdish population was wiped out. You wouldn't bat an eye to criticize the President then. And if you did? If you didn't give a fuck if the entire Kurdish population was wiped out? I have no reason to respect your moral or ethical judgement. None.