Reply #23: I'm new here

[el_chalupa]

and don't understand something. The other day I posted opinions similar to yours in a respectful, polite fashion and was having an intelligent discussion when every one of my posts was deleted. I didn't break any of the posting rules and never received a response from the admins. I'm wonder if your posts will be removed as well.

I do agree with much of what you say. I don't believe things just because some people of my same political bent want them to be true. I want democrats to be more level-headed than many things I read here. I want us to be rational and objective with our politics. I want us to be able to engage in intelligent discussion instead of drifting off into hateful rants. It's the only way we are going to progress as a party and provide a net benefit to our nation and the world. I expect us to be the better party. I want us to have higher standards in politics, rhetoric, and civility.

I don't believe we are intentionally targeting civilians. I believe that our men and women over there are going to great pains to avoid civilian casualties whenever possible. I also believe that historically speaking, when compared to other conflict of this scale, coalition-induced casualties are lower than any other comparable war in modern history. I look at things from a very practical standpoint. I compare the ideal vs the attainable. Ideally, we would never have had to go there. No innocent Iraqis would ever die, by our hands, Saddam's hands, or by extremists. Saddam would have decided to behave like a civilized person and treated his people with respect. Everyone in the middle east would suddenly "get it" and stop engaging in violence. None of these things are attainable though. You have to compare different options and situations and weigh the cost and benefits of different choices.

Anyway. Just wanted to post my musings.