ABOUT WORLD BLOG

NBC News World Blog aims to provide a dynamic look at world events and trends -- both big and small -- from NBC News correspondents, producers, and bureaus around the world. Online entries -- from text to video -- will explore news events and how they are shaping our world.

Regular contributors include NBC News correspondents, producers and staff based in bureaus across the world and on assignment.

Click here to read more about the journalists behind NBC News World Blog.



Iraqis hope the state of their union improves

Posted: Wednesday, January 24, 2007 1:37 PM
Filed Under:

By NBC local journalist in Baghdad*

President Bush’s State of the Union address happened very early in the morning in Iraq, so few people saw it and it was not covered in Wednesday’s newspapers. But Iraqis were aware that the important speech was taking place, and of course have strong feelings about the points regarding Iraq. (VIDEO)

In an attempt to get some reaction from local Iraqis, our crew interviewed people about their thoughts. We spoke to 68-year-old Khaddar Khafajee. Last year his nephew was killed when his house was bombed. He has suffered many losses and has strong views about Americans and Bush.

"What have the Americans done to benefit Iraq?" asked Khafajee. "They have done nothing but killing and demolishing."

But Khafajee also had to admit, "Without the American army here, massacres would take place in Baghdad and other places in Iraq. It would be civil war."

Khafajee’s view is shared by many Iraqis, who feel let down by what they view as failed promises from the Iraqi government and Bush.

As for the increased troops here, Iraqis hope it will make a difference. They pray it will work. But this is the last chance. Many believe that if this fails it will be a disaster, a catastrophe. It will mean Iraq will descend into hell.

* The names of local journalists are not being used to protect their identity.

MAIN PAGE

Email this EMAIL THIS

Comments

Let them fall. You cannot possibly believe that the citizens of Iraq cannot tell us who's involved in these attacks. They harbor these people in their homes and neighborhoods and can see who has weapons. But, they continue to do absolutely nothing to assist our soldiers in the clean up. Bring our people home.

Al, Denver, CO (Sent Wednesday, January 24, 2007 3:18 PM)

Make no mistake about it, our nation was attacked on 9/11 and there are still many people that would love to destroy us. These Terrorist are the same as those murdering their own in IRAQ.The Iraq Civil war that is gathering steam was started by one MUHAMMAD around 648 A.D. Muhammad died so suddenly that there was confusion as to who would be the next ruler of the Islamic state.to this day, part of that confusion remains, The Islamic world is divided in part because of this issue (Shia vs. Sunni).we did not realize that MUHAMMAD was waiting even from his grave to give us this problem in Iraq. If John Kerry would have been the President on 9/11 His party would have done the very same thing that Mr Bush done and that was to take the war off USA soil and back to the middle east where the Terrorist came from. there is no way anyone would have dreamed that after Saddam was taken out and freedom look so bright that a civil war would begin over religion or political parties that are called religion,Could it be that this "Gabriel" was preaching a false religion to Muhammad? Could Gabriel have been a deceptive demon or Satan himself? so that we would have this problem 1400 years after MUHAMMAD??. The evil Mahmoud AhMADinejad President of Iran stated that he has more than 400,000 Suicide Bombers to murder U.S Troops in Iraq all he has to do is send them across the border from Iran.....This Mad man wants to wipe the Jews and the USA OFF the map!!After us will the Arabs be next? Persia has always hated the Arabs or is it just the Sunni Arabs?

fred evans, arrington,Tn (Sent Wednesday, January 24, 2007 3:50 PM)

Then, I suggest we pull out of Iraq and let Sunni's and Shia's fight each other. I am so sick of most Iraqi people blaming America for their problems. Their problems began way before America was ever involved. At least we never gassed over 100,000 of their own people like their own leaders have. I also would like to point out to the Iraqi people that they can complain all they want about how we treat Iraqi prisoners... but at least they don't have to read about their wounded/captured soldiers or civilians getting shot execution style in the back of the head. And yet, we still kowtow to the Iraqi people, bend over backwards to be politically correct. We put up with our own people calling us horrible things and disrespecting the troops that are there. I say it's time to stop with political correctness. I say it's time America showed the people of the world that we don't care what they think. America was respected in the way they handled WWII, I think it's time we took the same hard approach we did then. America has become a bunch of whiny, scared children. No wonder no one in the world respects America.

Snarla (Sent Wednesday, January 24, 2007 3:50 PM)

Promises have failed because the Iraqi people are intimidated by the extremists (who are mainstream there). Iraq has one last chance to give 100% to their new country. This was is about HATE and brainwashed generations. The US cannot end that.

L. Brown, Durango, Colorado (Sent Wednesday, January 24, 2007 4:06 PM)

The Americans had good intentions, and we still want to help the Iraqis have a secure and flourishing democracy. The problem was caused by eliminating the government and infrastucture. This left a vacuum for sectarian fighting and old blood feuds to reign free. There were never enough troops to secure the country, so many fighters and then al-Qaeda crossed the borders to fight Americans and help the people of their persuasion (Sunni - Shia). Someone must bring these factions together so they can all work for the good of the country. The three factions should have equal representation in their government so no one faction has dominence. They should share equally in the oil revenues and once the violence can be stopped, the Americans would help fix the infrastructure, electricity, water, etc. If the Iraqis are reading this, we are asking to please stop the violence so the country can get back on a good track.

Jane Doe, New York, New York (Sent Wednesday, January 24, 2007 4:53 PM)

Really, one elderly man's story is suppsed to represent the opinion of all Iraqis, or even a majority...not likely. Yes, the situation is awful, yes, we pander too much to the world community, and yes, people are dying. But giving up now would be condemning millions in the Middle East to death. If the US bows out civil war will follow and it will spill over the borders. The whole world will lose.

J. K. (Sent Wednesday, January 24, 2007 4:58 PM)

President Bush was untruthful because he wanted to invade this Iraq for reasons still not known. We should not be there. AND if he is so sincere about Iraq, let him send his daughters, Cheney's daughters, and everyone else's children there.

A. Washington, Terre Haute, IN (Sent Wednesday, January 24, 2007 5:04 PM)

Ripple affect? Vietnam chilled when U.S. bugged out in 75. No civil war, peace sufficed. Waste of good lives with bad(owed)dough and insult to democracy to continue this Viet]cough cough hem hem expensive Iraqi debacle. People, the military should be brought home to their families and friends. U.S.A.F.s belong to the people or do they really belong to the White House? Iraq has enough history and suffering to correct and clean up this lubricated invaded mess.

Jocko McCloo (Sent Wednesday, January 24, 2007 5:21 PM)

Unfortunately, America has made yet another investment in a situation where the returns don't justify the costs. If we leave now, we lose money, time, and effort. If we stay, we lose more money, time, and effort. When are we going to get it right? The only benefactors from this mess are the few contractors who have screwed American taxpayers by doing shoddy work with local labor, and pocketing the majority of the money. We're stupid for allowing our leaders to raise our costs to live, our taxes, and medical benefits and then throw billions of dollars away reconstructing Iraq. The place still looks like hell, and a simple water faucet or septic line leaks as if they were perforated on purpose. This country needs to eliminate the politicians who foster such blatant mismanagement of our money. To hell with the Iraqis. Let them die for the sins of their fathers, we have our own problems here in our country where there's no respect for authority, the average student is mathematically challenged, and can't read. Add to that the poor victims of Katrina who have also been burned by mismanagement of funds and bureaucracy,and the thousands who are homeless or too poor to feed even simple food to their young. Terrorism will not and can not be overcome in Iraq. Everywhere that we have established a so called democracy, terrorism still thrives. Lets start rebuilding America, and help only those who help themselves. Terrorism can't be won the way we are doing it. We need to nuke some of those places off the map. Let the trigger happy bastards mess with us after we've incinerated Mecca and other Muslim strongholds with WMD's. We are past the point of being good Americans. No one respects us or fears us. It's time to return to old times and secure the respect that most of the free world had for us then.

Rene Melendez (Sent Wednesday, January 24, 2007 5:40 PM)

Do you want your son or daughter to come home in a metal box.?? Get out as quick as possible & let those fake religious addicts kill each other off. The various bad zealots will once again roam freely in Iraq & who knows what.?? That they died for Wall St., Big MIC & NON military in the Washington administration. If USA is ever attacked with WMD, those responsible will receive the fury of NUKES. Its better to kill few million now and avoid killing many millions in the future. USA must take immediate action to convert to other sources of energy in all areas. All USA citizens must be ready to serve in some type of defense force, because of a crazy religious movement that won*t stop, until killed.

Rambo LEMAY (Sent Wednesday, January 24, 2007 5:41 PM)

I pray for the people of Iraq to be strong valiant end to suport there new Gov. end our us army, so they can be a free country,and enjoy life and there beuty. but the only way they can do this is buy trasting a laving good, teach there children Love not HATE,to the IRAQI people, like to tell then that most American are very good people,full of compation and love,our Gov. has done the best for there country, our Pres. is a good Pres.so don't let this extremist intimidat you, be strong and good will prevel.

Dinorah Goettig St. George, Ut. (Sent Wednesday, January 24, 2007 5:54 PM)

The current quagmire in Iraq is the result of poor planning and poor leadership. It is unfortunate that many innocent civilians have been dying. It is also unfortunate that our armed forces, while doing what they are told are caught in the middle of this too. From my point of view our leaders failed to realize that we are dealing with a population of people who, for centuries have been poised to to kill each other. The clash between Sunni and Shi'ia is as old as Islam and it simply will not go away short of genocide. Many people simply say "let them have at each other" but that is not the American way. We cannot simply let Iraq fall into an ethnic-cleansing despair, but we seem to lack the brutality necessary to enforce that. That's right, I said brutality. Saddam Hussein kept Iran at bay and did not allow his country to fall into sectarian violence because he was "nice", he was a brutal dictator. His style of brutality was the only thing many of these people knew and Iraqis seem as if they don't know how to deal with western style democracy. I agree that a troop withdrawal is at hand and we should begin to hand the reigns of power to the Iraqi government as soon as possible. If the new Iraq is to exist, it has to learn how to do so on its own. If they want the US to stay, we should do so if it's to PROTECT Iraq from an outside force, lets say, Iran (similar how we forced Iraq from Kuwait in the first Gulf War). We have domestic issues that need attention and the money spent on this conflict could be better spent here. It is sad that many here (and abroad) seek the destruction of America, I just hope that when another attack happens we, as Americans,pull it together and not apart and play the blame game. I saw the smoke, smelled the acridity in the air on sept 11th, oh yes, I remember that day all too clearly. We were shocked as a nation and did something about it. Now we have to finish the job.

Dan Powlesland, Toms River, NJ (Sent Wednesday, January 24, 2007 5:54 PM)

I agree with President Bush that it would be a huge mistake to pull our troops out now. This is a critical time for America and our position on the war on terror, we must stay the course and finish the job. Failure is not an option!

J Cabrera, Payette ID (Sent Wednesday, January 24, 2007 5:55 PM)

I agree with snarla. I don't think we should pull just yet, but I'm tired of the way this battle has been confronted. And I'm tired of all the anti-american and anti-war sentiment. People need to stop their blubbering. I was there - in Iraq. The leaders in Washington have tied our hands. On one occassion me and my squad were hit with 13 mortars and we were not allowed to return Artillery Fire due to the risk of destroying a concrete water duct in the sector we received fire from. The whole mess has turned into a political whirlwind where we now worry more about who we're going to offend than how we're going to get the job done - we're more like the UN than the US. President Bush wants to send more troops - GREAT! Send more troops - send us all over there... but untie our hands. What good is an M-16 in a combat zone when it has a trigger lock??? And as far as the Iraqis are concerned... those people need to want to be helped. And so far, other than the Kurds (God Bless them), they (as a whole) haven't shown a lot of support for our troops. But, we're in there, and I agree with President Bush, we need to finish the job. So, I say we go back in and warn the people of Iraq that they better pull their heads out of their collective _ _ _ and pull together or suffer the conequences of our wrath. Let's make it for real this time, let's make it personal, and let's roll through Iraq like Zeus' War Chariot, avenge the lives of our fallen brethren and claim victory for the millions of thankless Iraqis too scared to fight for themselves! And in so doing, show our own panty-waisted society that Americans are still a people that know the meanings of Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity, and Personal Courage - old values that are dying as fast as WWII Vets.

Sean, Idaho Falls, ID (Sent Wednesday, January 24, 2007 6:08 PM)

Our government has failed the US people by not listening to us when we repeatedly tell them to systematically pull our troops out of Iraq. There is no way to win this unpopular war, and the Iraqi people DO hide these insurgents who seem so bent on destroying any hope of democracy in that region. And, as the gentleman's comment before mine states, the Iraqi people do nothing to help our soldiers identify and get rid of these terrorists. There is no solution, Mr. President, not yours, not the congresses', not the presidential hopefuls. Just start the withdrawal and call it a push.

Jim, Sacramento, CA (Sent Wednesday, January 24, 2007 6:23 PM)

Thank you for not running for President, John Kerry we need you in the Senate so or soldiers get the care they need when they return from terror attacks on the front line--get Hillary helping the troops win so we can all fight terror and not worry about homeland security. Go Bush go--lead us to justice and strength for a better passport to USA.

Susan ss (Sent Wednesday, January 24, 2007 6:27 PM)

Before we go out and save the world I think we should be trying to save our own country. I think we are focusing too much on the devestation of other countries and are overlooking are own people. My god we have citizens here who have worked everyday of their lives and have no health insurance, cannot afford medications and must chose between eating or not dying. Also we need to control our borders too. We are being taken over by Mexico. Let's focus on US and when we get ourselves under control then, maybe try to save the world.

K.D. N. Greenbush, NY (Sent Wednesday, January 24, 2007 6:51 PM)

America has done nothing to help Iraq? We wouldn't be there if they had the courage and strength to stand up against their prior leadership and take control of their own country. They allowed their leaders to threaten this country and they should have expected a strong response. America has paid a dear price in the loss of its citizens and currency in an effort to give Iraqis a chance to build a better country for it's people. It is time the Iraqis become a civilized nation and take responsibility for themselves. If they want a better life then they should start working together, in a positive manner to rebuild their country and quir attacking the very people that are there to help them. Their actions as a nation say little for them as a people.

Tony Stubblefield (Sent Wednesday, January 24, 2007 7:47 PM)

The Middle East will always be a vacuum until they get the fanaticism under control. Bush's intention was to surround Iran with democracy (Afghanistan and Iraq) and pull the plug on Iran politically without firing a shot--people here don't realize that almost 70% of the population in Iran is young, bright and supports the U.S. (in most instances). They like capatilism, they drink Coca-cola, but until they rid their government of fanatical leaders the Middle East will continue to live in unrest. Make no doubt about it, Iran and Syria are the problems and the Saudi's aren't far behind. Just ask our men on the ground in Iraq--they're not killing uneducated suicide bombers...they're killing well-trained Persians and Arabs equiped with high-tech gear running para-military style attacks. If we pull out of Iraq, we WILL see those attacks here in the U.S. We must win in Iraq, unfortunately there is no clear-cut goal for victory because the Iraqi people won't stand up and unite.

Jake (Sent Wednesday, January 24, 2007 7:59 PM)

Bush's biggest mistake was overestimating the Iraqi people's will to take a stand for a free Iraq. The blame sits at the feet of his father who should have finished the job during Desert Storm. This is not a Bush-bashing session, but it's unfortunate that all of the strong leaders that stood along side the U.S. during the first invasion were tortured and murdered upon our abrupt departure, along with their families. There are just not enough Iraqis left with any vision, know-how, or the guts to stand up. Maybe there are, but the bright ones are simply outnumbered. I support the idea of a non-religious, military dictatorship to keep the peace while we continue to build the country's infrastructure, construct public schools, etc. It may take a generation or two, but that's the only alternative if we don't want to throw out the entire barrel because a good portion of the apples are bad. See Hiroshima and Nagasaki for that strategy. No one wants that, so let's dig in and, like it or not, realize we're in this for the long haul.

Justin, Houston, TX (Sent Wednesday, January 24, 2007 8:22 PM)

Reading through comments such as written by Fred Evans shows the ignorance of the ordinary american.Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11.FACT! Before the war there were no terrorists in iraq.FACT! But now thre are. Where are the promised weapons of mass detruction? None found! The war in iraq is the imperial ambitions of the US. To get their hands on and control the wealth of iraq. That they have achieved. It has nothing to do with religion. Let the ordinary Joe wake up!

Zacky Foley, London, UK (Sent Wednesday, January 24, 2007 8:44 PM)

Your cannot change people. If they choose to hate and kill one another over color, race, religion, they will continue to do so and we cannot continue to put our troops in harm to resolve something that cannot be done.

Susie, MDR, CA (Sent Wednesday, January 24, 2007 10:53 PM)

Iraq is becoming another vietiam. these people have never been able to live together. the only differece now is another faction is in power.

LAD Pensacola Fl (Sent Wednesday, January 24, 2007 10:57 PM)

Fred, You shouldn't assume that Islam is such a horrible religion because it has a schism. Christianity has just as many schisms, if not more. Do each of them not think that they are the right one? Did England not imprison and kill anyone who didn't belong to the Church of England? To this day you hear whispers like, "Well, he's a Catholic...so..." or "They're pentecostal!" Christianity is far from perfect. And this is 2000 years later. Do you blame Jesus for that? When the King of England created his own religion so he could divorce his wives, was that Jesus' fault? The war that the prophet started back then was against Pagans in Mecca, not Christians in England or New York. And to Snarla, Though it is horrible that our soldiers die over there...Iraqis read everyday about their soldiers/civilians being shot execution style. Countless bodies are dumped across the region every month, bullet riddled, with holes drilled in their kneecaps or heads. They have lost many more lives than we have. It isn't fair to say that they don't deal with that just as much as we do. If you look at the break down of law in New Orleans after only a few days, what do you think America would look like if suddenly a foreign force overthrew our government and didn't have enough troops to keep us in check? Would we just hang out? No, we would band together through our similarities, not our differences. Church groups, gun clubs, neighborhoods would look out for themselves and each other. America is not perfect, Christianity is not perfect. it took us more than 10 years to come up with a constitution that worked for us after the articles of confederacy failed. That was before machine guns and rpgs and internet videos. How can we expect any country to be more perfect than we are? For the constitution starts out, "In order to form a MORE perfect Union" http://tlocfym.blogspot.com

T. Mitchell (Sent Wednesday, January 24, 2007 11:47 PM)

nuke the friken place - this is a holly war against Christians and it's time for the Christians to fight back - make the middle East GLOW

witheld (Sent Thursday, January 25, 2007 12:23 AM)

There is a saying that, "you can take a horse to the river, but you cannot make it drink." We have done so much for Iraqis. We pent billions of our money building their homes, to find them in ruins. If they (Iraqis) cannot convince us that they are doing something to build their own country, there is no reason for us to be there. We support our troops 100% and they deserve better; a pull out.

van D. R, New Braunfels, Tx (Sent Thursday, January 25, 2007 12:56 AM)

I say we leave Iraq, and knock out the towers in Iran. Then come back and surround the southern part of Iraq, isolating it from Iran, and cut them off with a starvation embargo. We simply went after the wrong person (Saddam). At least, there was civil obedience. The Shites have killed more Sunnis than Saddam killed Iraqi Shiites. I hope that they both get high scores!

Picklechops (Sent Thursday, January 25, 2007 1:38 AM)

I cannot believe that many of us Americans are still blaming the Iraqis. We invaded a country on the false pretext of WMD and 911, and causing one of the oldest civilisations on earth to succuum to such misery and humiliation. Yes the country was ruled with Saddam's iron fist, but what the hell has Bush accomplished? If we invaded Iraq for oil, where the HELL IS THE OIL and low gas prices? LIES LIES LIES ... bound with the bloody hands. I am sorry to say, but as a deep believer in karma, we are going to be doomed because now every other country hates us. Just travel around the world (which I did), and you will be asked 'ARE YOU PROUD OF YOUR PRESIDENT?' I never answered. State of the Union proved that our president is not only a 'flip flop' like he had called the Democrats in the past, but he is putting out a desparate plea to salvage his war plans - i.e. the biggest robbery that never took shape. Sad but true... we will meet our demise.

Eddie, California (Sent Thursday, January 25, 2007 6:37 AM)

Who's involved in the attacks? CIA, mussad and M-16 silly unlearned folks. The powers of the North and West want civil unrest in Iraq its been apart of the plan all along. Wake up and smell the coffee.

Aaron Johnson, Marion Indiana (Sent Thursday, January 25, 2007 7:51 AM)

The success or failure in Iraq clearly depends on the actions of the Iraqi leadership including Al Maliki. The Iraqis have long been an oppressed people and especially the Shiites and the Kurds. They do not have a clear understanding of democracy but do understand strength and power. Stength and power should come from the Maliki government and those who support him. He must give the same ultimatum to his people that President Bush gave the terrorist and nations that harbor them: "you are either with us or with the terrorists". Then Maliki must back up his statement with force eliminating the opposition through massive arrests and eliminations. Those who oppose the government must be eliminated or jailed much like the U.S. has done with terrorists. Now is the time for Maliki, with his Iraqi supporters, and U.S. assistance to put Democracy on hold and get control of militias and sectarian violence. He should issue an ultimatum to his people that says that anyone caught with any weapon (besides AK-47s which Iraqi law permits) will be subject to harsh consequences including death. Give the people a 1 or 2 day notice and then go after them with a vengence. The Iraqi army and police should lead this effort with assistance from U.S. personnel. Anyone in the Iraqi army or police who shows any favoritism to any group should be arrested and tried for treason. How can democracy work with a civil war going on. Now is the time to put democracy on hold, go after the opposition, and for the government to act with a strong show of force and intolerence to any opposition. Then once security and peace are restored work on strengthening the democracy.

SD West Virginia (Sent Thursday, January 25, 2007 8:41 AM)

There are no easy answers to Iraq as James Baker alluded to and as Colin Powell knew so well so many years ago. The greatest resource of our nation or any nation state dedicated to taking care of its people is its willingnes to do the tough right thing when everyone says it is not popular, too costly or wrong. Our young warriors are fighting and dieing daily to uphold that principal and to defend us in Iraq from potential harm at home. This is a unprecedented fight of historical proportion that no cookie cutting recipe by the must knowledgeable of the knowledgeable could have planned for...Rather it is a long and evolving conflict between right and wrong between survival with some quality of life or the fear of death at home at any moment. Since 9/11...remember 9/11 we have been safe for a reason and have enjoyed the fruit of the sacrifice of our senior leaders and young warriors that are giving it all...Public diplomacy takes time and we need to be doing that but we also need to push back the wave of death that confronts us now and in the future by a movement bent on our eventual destruction for being nothing more than who we are...There are people that want to kill us that are not rational not receptive to our liberal or coservative natures, who want nothing more than to see us perish. I for one support public diplomacy, increased efforts to provide capacity development to nations before that become pools of terroristic dissent but again we need to fight the fight now so we can take the lessons learned in Iraq and apply them whereever so we can have peace.

JJP (Sent Thursday, January 25, 2007 8:52 AM)

It is very interesting to see the differences in opinions across this great country."United we stand , divided we fall" is a motto we should all stand with. We should be helping not just the Iraqi population but anyone else in the world that needs it. Lead by example and do it with good intentions, an iron will and a resolve to finish what we start. Evil must be destroyed so that the rest of us, war mongerers as well as passivists,can live in peace.Talk is cheap. Get up off of your materialistic butts and get to work helping to keep us all from being flushed down the toilet. This earth is one big cab ride to all of our individual ends . Lets enjoy the ride together.

mike- Delran N.J. (Sent Thursday, January 25, 2007 9:54 AM)

Bush first lied to the people of U.S. and went to war with Iraq. Now he seems to be lying to the Iraqis telling that America is fully behind them and and will always be.

Josh, Hershey, PA (Sent Thursday, January 25, 2007 10:22 AM)

My wish is that each of you who spend time listening to the media and reading websites such as this one would look up the military website - mnf-iraq.com and read about the wonderful things that are happening in Iraq. This website is updated daily by those in the know of whats going on. You can even send encouraging messages to our troops on it. Please look it up and maybe some of your opinions would change about us helping the Iraqi people. We are hearing only the devastation by our media and blaming our government for trying to help people have what we enjoy here in our country. Are the victims of Hurricane Katrina any different than the Iraqi's? Most are waiting for handouts instead of doing anything to help their own situations. Until both get some nails in their teeth and start taking charge of their own situations will they ever get out of the quagmire they are in. I would much rather die as an Iraqi for trying to bring stability to my country than being blown up by a suicide bomber while shopping. And who is it that is holding the victims of Katrina hostage in a FEMA trailer but themselves? Even illegal immigrants can figure out how to survive in the good ole USA! As Americans, let's start concentrating on the greatness of this country and try and read more good things that are happening by starting with the site I mentioned above. We are a blessed nation run by a President with a heart.

Shoe Girl, Indiana (Sent Thursday, January 25, 2007 11:19 AM)

All the stupid comments above, regarding how wonderful the US is to Iraqs and others. None of them can't put in their heads that the only reason our young soldiers are dying in Iraq is for the oil and to save Israels butt. Why not spend those billions spent making wars to help the young people in America whom don't have health insurnace, food to eat, rebuild New Orleans and send people to universities to became the future scientists, doctors, engineers. Thats how all those billions should be spent. If there was no oil in Iraq we wouldn't be there, plain and simple. I new from the very begining that Bush would be bad news for the US. You don't need to be aducated or a scholar to figure that out. Before long we will be in another quagmire in Iran and Syria. Bush and his gang should be impeached from office, and thye rest of his gang tried for leing to the American people to to justify going to war.

Paolo Santucci, FL. (Sent Thursday, January 25, 2007 1:01 PM)

When I read all the comments from the US citizens, I call it the 'exhibition of ignorance'!! Let us get certain basics right. Saddam was not a religious fanatic. Saddam nationalised the oil and the Texan oil companies had no access to this oil. Unless Saddam went, US's ambition to have unlimited access to the Iraqi oil would never materialize. I can read idiots commenting on Saddam as a terrorist and being a threat to the US! Saddam had no ties with Iran and Syria, branded as axis of evil. Baghdad used to be as great a place as Paris under Saddam, modern, multi cultural, peaceful, plentiful. Saddam was brutal to the ones who acted against the national interest (doesn't justify his atrocious killings). Look, that is what the Americans and the current Iraqi Govt is doing - cleaning the streets of Baghdad by killing hundreds of 'terrorists' - it is all who you consider as terrorists. Al-queda was scared of Saddam, Iran was scared of Saddam. America should have kept Saddam in Iraq under its control, giving up its ambition to its oil (stealing?). What were the Americans doing to Idi Amin, Mugabe, and so many others who have only impoverished their population? Guys, go and read before u start rattling!! Read the history, Muslim brothers would kill the father and each other to regain the power, this cult of violence will never stop. Iraq will be finally consumed by Iran and u will see all fundementalists walking freely weilding guns! This is the price you pay for the black gold of Iraq!

Ram, Caernarfon, United Kingdom (Sent Thursday, January 25, 2007 1:20 PM)

With the collapse of the Soviet Union ethnic rivalries were once again brought to the forefront and the killings went on as if they never stopped. What makes us(BUSH) think that we will overcome the problems besetting Irag and lead them into Democracy. It is that arrogant and egotistical thinking that is getting our youth killed and maimed, breaking up family life and affecting future generations. We may be able to stop or control the violence in Iraq by sheer force, but the moment we leave the killings will continue just as the Shia and Sunnis' have been doing since around 750AD. We went to Iraq under false pretenses and now the Iraqis lives are worse then they were under Hussein.

Viet Vet, Idaho Falls, ID (Sent Thursday, January 25, 2007 2:21 PM)

Yes its true it was Bush s idea to invade Iraq, but all but one senate members voted to go too, so they are as much to blame as anyone. Now I would bet if Bush had know what was gonna happen he wouldnt have went in there ethier. So now that we are it would be hard to just pull out and even the demos and that one republican voting with them should realize that. But what would you feel like if you were over there and got jammed in a corner and call for help and there was no help, because we didnt send more troops. So whose hands will that blood lie on. Why cant we all just get along and quit with hate of demos and republicans. And hope and pray no one else has to die.BUt I believe that more will die with less troops and I dont see another way around it unless you want wind back the clock to day one And Clinton should of did more before it got out of control. But for him to have done nothing and now put all the blame on someone else is wrong. Concord Ca

J (Sent Thursday, January 25, 2007 3:37 PM)

Nobody, including the militants, wanted this. Bush went into Iraq in order to make amends for his father who didn't finish the job. He also wanted to kill Saddam because of his sponsorship of the plot to kill George H.W. Beyond Bush's personal vendetta, his advisors thought they could create a honeypot to attract the terrorists to Iraq and keep them from focusing on NY, DC and the rest of the US. Well, they may have taken out the Baathists and created a honeypot, but it is now totally out of control and is growing exponentially. And initially the terrorists were focused on our men and women but, after finding them difficult targets who shoot back, they now kill everyone else. OK, if they want to kill everyone else let them. Let them kill each other till the end of time. Even if we walked out today, the terrorists would need to stay in order to support their factions. Didn't we see a lull in terrorist activity during the Lebanese civil war where all the world's terrorist went in order to support Sunni or Shiite militias? Let's arm the Kurds to the teeth, WMDs and everything, set up a perimeter following the entire border ten miles deep, patrol it day and night with airpower, and kill everything that moves within it. Didn't a no fly zone have the desired affect in the Balkans?

DJC, New York, NY (Sent Thursday, January 25, 2007 3:53 PM)

Experts told you that the Iraqis would not stand up together. The 'Nation' of Iraq was pushed upon them by the Europeans. The three factions have been separate for over a thousand years...Iraq as a nation has existed less than 150 years. Too bad our President and Congress ignored the experts and cherry picked evidence to 1) justify the war 2) convince the American people it would work.

Sean, Torrington CT (Sent Thursday, January 25, 2007 6:20 PM)

Snarla says "At least we never gassed over 100,000 of their own people like their own leaders have." Well, we may not have gassed them, but that about how many deaths we have caused by going there in the first place!!

Cheri, California (Sent Thursday, January 25, 2007 6:47 PM)

Do people really expect to clean up a country that has been at war for thousands of years, over night? Just look at our own country. RASISM, HATRED,POVERTY, still remain within our own little towns. I hear about a shortage of troops and laugh. There are plenty of troops available right in our back yards. Prisons full of people. They could have the chance to prove their worth or loyalty to our beloved counrty. Why not use and Pardon prisoners who will fight for freedom, or we could just keep spending millons on feeding, educating, and rehabilitating. I see so many opinions but no solutions.

coda , MtPleasant Utah (Sent Thursday, January 25, 2007 6:50 PM)



SEND A COMMENT

PLEASE READ: All comments must be approved before appearing in the thread; time and space constraints prevent all comments from appearing. We will only approve comments that are directly related to the blog, use appropriate language and are not attacking the comments of others.

Message (please, no HTML tags. Web addresses will be hyperlinked):

Your name, city and state (John Doe, Seattle, Wash.): 

 Your e-mail address (jdoe@msnbc.com):

Your website (it's okay if you don't have one):

Remember me? (We'll keep it private)

TRACKBACKS

Trackbacks are links to weblogs that reference this post. Like comments, trackbacks do not appear until approved by us. The trackback URL for this post is: http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/trackback.aspx?PostID=40875

ON LOCATION

More World Blog

Recent Posts:

Archives:

Categories:

Syndicate This Site

Add World Blog to your news reader:
live.com xml
myyahoo msn
bloglines newsgator
google

External Links

Interactive

Fight for Iraq
Learn more about the ethnic, religious and political power plays in and around Iraq during a briefing of the region led by NBC’s Richard Engel.

DAILY NIGHTLY

The Daily Nightly
The blog of "NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams" features a daily post from the broadcast's anchor and managing editor, as well as contributions from correspondents and producers around the world. Go behind-the-scenes and learn how news is gathered and produced for the broadcast.

MSNBC Weblogs