What are your feelings of legalizing prostitution so that it can be better regulated and taxed?
I appreciate your candid ananlysis of the Iraq situation. It just seems to me that there really is no true benchmark for success or what we are trying to accomplish anymore. I think most of the public feels this way. I think a compromise to a set timeline would be set benchmarks for withdrawal within the parameters of time limits. In order to maintain any support for this war, the people need to see that there is some end in sight and that the Iraqis are stepping up their efforts to work independently. Right now, that just isn't happening.
I think prostitution is pretty morally wrong, so I don't think it should be legalized. And it isn't a victimless crime either, as I think prostitution hurts women. I will admit that our current laws are pretty ineffective in combating "the world's oldest profession," and there is probably a better way to combat it.
To me, the benchmark is that we can begin to bring large amounts of troops home because the Iraqi Army/Police force has stepped into a primary role in critical areas.
I wish the hooker lady had put her records on the web for all to see, instead of giving them to a news outlet to be released in dribs and drabs.
It is very difficult to remain optimistic when presented the view of the war that the media is fond of feeding. But most of the blame for the difficulties we are encountering are a direct result of the media and the anti-war people. Terrorists feed on us fighting over the war. So with each senseless act they commit that increases further dissatisfaction with the course of the war, the greater their desire to commit bad acts. If everytime they committed a terrorist act (roadside bomb, suicide bomber, etc.) Americans grew even closer together and grew a greater resolve, the less likely they would be to do it again. Particularly if every act brought the promise of another 500 troops in the country, as well as more offensive attacks. Each time they hit us, we as a nation need to make sure, as one, we hit back, harder, faster, and smarter. The ONLY thing that will make them stop (short of eliminating every terrorist) is to react opposite of what they seek. But sadly, most of the Democrats and the media are all too willing to help the terrorist cause.
The part you are missing is that more troops = more resentment/fear of all out occupation. Like much of the third world, the Middle East has seen the pattern of the west occupying and exploiting. They also know we want oil and that they have it. I'm not implying that those are our true motives; however, if the Iraqis think that they are and act to push us out, we are only fueling the fire. They just don't trust us. Adding more Americans adds only more targets and creates new "freedom fighters" (in the Iraqi view) who think they are fighting to free their country from occupiers.
Mike, that presupposes all Iraqis see us as oppressors. While some obviously do, I don't think it is even a majority of the Iraqi population.
I am not sure we need more troops, but we need to use the troops already there more effectively.
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