You know what really gets to me?

[Mythsaje]

I hear the talking points about the war and the DSM, and that there was never a real after-saddam strategy and I want to scream. Today I heard something on Franken's show where it was said that they just didn't expect it to be as rough as it was.

How is that I--an avid reader and hopeful author--knew something that these so-called "leaders" failed to realize?

There's a big difference between taking territory and holding it. I said from the very beginning of this damn thing that it was going to be an unholy mess. And this was before Air America, or before I found DU. I was damn near the only voice of reason in a forest of cheerleaders...pounding sand down a rathole.

:banghead:

Does anyone out there share my frustration with this?

[BlueEyedSon]

1. The leaders ignored the experts and believed what they wanted

remember, the PNAC model is to be able to have MULTIPLE fronts, so Rumsfeld committed as few troops as he could to Iraq.

[acmejack]

2. Sure do!

No one would listen to a veteran. I predicted that they would not stand an fight but melt away & fight another day. They were so arrogant as to think the Iraqis had learned nothing from Gulf War first edition.

[Mythsaje]

3. Just primitive

sand-rats. How could they POSSIBLY learn something?

Self-righteous, self-serving, self-involved, scandalously selfish "leaders" who STILL haven't learned anything from history and the fact that insurgents always have an advantage. ALWAYS. Invading troops can't melt into the populace the way the insurgents can. All our troops can do is play catch-up.

Damn the ignorant bastards who set this up.

[paula777]

4. It is quite possible that they did understand that it would be this rough

but they just didn't care. They haven't lost one loved one from this war and they have only gained wealth because of it. They probably had the same gut instincts we had - they just didn't give a fuck because it wouldn't directly effect them.

[H2O Man]

5. There's the old saying

that it is much easier to start a war than to end one; generally, the people who start wars aren't able to end them.

[OldLeftieLawyer]

6. There's also a big difference ..............

....... between a "war" and an "invasion."

We're invaders. We're occupiers. We're sitting ducks.

You are not alone, don't fret.

[MichiganVote]

7. Answer: Elitism

[SmokingJacket]

8. I used to get pleasure out of being right.

Now it just pisses me off to no end. I want to slap people who express surprise at how badly Iraq has turned out. Maybe if you'd listened to ME and millions more just like me we wouldn't be in this stupid situation.

[Mythsaje]

9. Boy, have I been THERE n/t