"Damn it Geoff, doesn't it strike you as a little phony to kill tens of thousands and then say, "ooops, guess the basis of the war was based on faulty intelligence..." SERIOUSLY what the hell is wrong with you people?!

Can you pass this off as a goof up?!"

I wouldn't characterize the invasion, occupation, then transfer of power to temporary govt, then ratifying a constitution, and election of permanent govt in Iraq in three years of country with a population of 25 million as a "goof up".
Instead the words I think of is a level of bureaucracy competence that is rarely seen on the face of this planet. Stunning achievement. Awe inspiring. And Wow! {and they did this despite their herds of lawyers- more wow!]

You could choose to diminish this achievement but I don't think it is justified by the facts.

Here's another "thing" if "serious people"/experts say something [anything] is impossible [or cost trillions, or kill millions] and when it's done and/or being done, shouldn't this cause *some* pause in the endless beating the drum of doom?
Or is Doom drum beating is in some way *helpful*?
I'll beat the Doom Drum if anyone can explain to me how it saves US soldier's lives and/or saves tax dollars. I'll need lot's details and diagrams if you got them- because I'm obviously pretty slow in understanding this.

"Fine, you get off dismissing me as an America hater- great, I have specifically stated several times that I honestly believe America is the best thing to ever happen to humanity... I believe America is the best hope for humanity's future. That does NOT mean I have to shut up when I think America is REALLY screwing up...

Do you HONESTLY believe I hate america...? I LOVE America... I just hate seeing America hurt itself... You will not find anyone that has more respect for what america has done for the world... "

Just for the record. I didn't say Robert was a America hater, nor told him to shut-up, nor recall discussing this particular topic before and dismissing him for being America hater [or any other reason]. Though it is possible I might have not responded to some particular post he has in mind, or I may have at some point in time dismissed/been skeptical some reference he offered having something to do with this topic.

The fact of the matter is I wasn't even thinking about RL when I posted the above post. In fact there wasn't much thinking involved- far less than is typical. I read it, thought it was fairly amusing, then thought maybe cause some here to find it amusing and that was about it.
BUT I will try to keep it mind that RL loves America. Really loves America, and if America was a woman he would be having mad passionate love to her nite and day. Because he loves her- and the Statue of Liberty is a super hot babe.
:)