In retrospect, I should have been more respectful towards him. But since I’m in contact with Iraqi civilians, I chose to poison the well. And if you don’t like it, well…bite me![/quote]
This is the great thing about freedom of speech - it allows sad, immature small men the chance to keep digging their own hole.
And the next time you want someone to respect your opinion on any given topic, remember this thread.
Although, outside a few supporters - which appear to be dwindling, even still - you’ve been a laughingstock for months, so I am not sure there is much respect to salvage anyway. But it is just a shame so many bright posters tried to engage you in good faith dialogue, when it is clear you never had any intention of returning in kind.
[quote]BrunoVaughn wrote:
I spent a year and a half as a contractor in Baghdad, Taji, and Basra. I’m thinking of going back again, not sure though. Stay safe.[/quote]
God bless ya man. Any stories you’d like to share along with Rogue?
Lixy it must really burn your ass to see that things in Iraq are improving and your side is failing in it’s efforts to impose an Islamist regime.
You are not the only person on this board who has friends who are Iraqi. Some of my best friends are Caldean and they are very happy to see the end of Saddam. They, like myself are very grateful to the people in the military who have made tremendous sacrifices in order to give the Iraqis a chance at a better life.
Your choice to poison the well is not based upon a concern for the Iraqi people. You don’t want people to learn things which contradict your propagandist rant. But that’s okay Lixy, I’m sure many of us would much rather see you here, trying to hijack a tread, than trying to hijack something else.
For my particular job, I spent the majority of my time on camps, so I was as safe as one can be, considering it’s Iraq. I’m really appreciative of individuals such as Rogue who go outside the fence on a routine basis, and this comes from someone who was enlisted for 4 years, pre-9/11.
When I was in Basra, there was one local that I use to take smoke breaks with (I know, smoking isn’t exactly T-Nation worthy, but so be it) and he mentioned to me that he felt many conflicts could be avoided if more (Iraqi) government work employed more Iraqi civilians. The company I worked for at that time employed many, but it was a drop in the water compared to how many people were just trying to survive there.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying those fighting against the coalition forces are only doing it because they are out of a job, in fact I’m a Republican who still supports our President and the war, but I would like to see the Iraqi government take a more aggressive approach to public works and such to potentially lessen some of the terror that is going on.
In retrospect, I should have been more respectful towards him. !
Because you think he deserves respect or because you showed a little too much of your hand?[/quote]
Because I shouldn’t make assumptions about people. For all I know, the OP didn’t support the war, and might be losing sleep over the whole carnage. I took that “our great nation” line in the imperialistic patriotic-fever sense, when it might have not been meant in that way.
[quote]etaco wrote:
That’s the trillion dollar question. What are the most likely outcomes when the surge ends and troop numbers are drawn down?[/quote]
That’s what interests me the most, and - in my opinion - what will ultimately decide the success of the whole operation.
And it has nothing to do with what each individual thinks of the 2003 decision to topple the Hussein regime. Whatever the outcome for Iraq in 5 years, 10 years, etc. it will be from the present situation towards either a stable democratic nation or a war torn, violent region.
Rooting for US failure just so you can go on forums and claim “I told ya so!” is beyond immature. It is to wish for the Iraqi civilians, and much of their neighbors, to suffer violence for years - even decades - simply so that you can indulge in the smug satisfaction of laying the blame at the feet of US foreign policy.
Hopefully Rogue will ignore the trolling and flamebaiting and concentrate on the serious questions.
This thread has (had?) the potential to be one of the most interesting one in a long time. I hope it doesn’t go off the rails into another shit lobbing exercise.
[quote]lixy wrote:
streamline wrote:
Aside from the fighting, what are you all able to do over there. Any good PR stories. What also do you do with your down time. Just trying to get a better picture of the life you all live while stationed in Iraq.
[quote]lixy wrote:
But since I’m in contact with Iraqi civilians, I chose to poison the well. And if you don’t like it, well…bite me![/quote]
‘in contact’ ? What’s that mean? Sending money to buy IEDs? Giving regular updates on the American public opinion? ‘Hang in there, guys! Americans will be pulling out soon, and you can bomb women and children AT WILL then!!’
[quote]pookie wrote:
I’d have a question about the political side of the effort.
Are you in a position where you can assess whether there is any political progress in Iraq? Do you feel as if the Iraqis are taking advantage of the relative peace provided by your efforts? Do you think they’ll have done enough during the surge for the stability to endure and grow after troop levels are reduced? Are there signs of social and civil structures being put in place?
Thanks for offering to answer those questions. It’s pretty amazing to be able to ask someone directly “on site” and not have to try and guess what the media has filtered out.
[/quote]
Rogue, I think this is the most important question on this thread, and I too would be interested in hearing your response.
[quote]Varqanir wrote:
Lixy, I’ve stood up for you on quite a few occasions because I thought your critics were unfairly bashing you when you were making valid arguments in a civil manner.
I’m sorry to say that you’re beginning to make me regret it. [/quote]
I have never regretted lixy bashing. He is a complete and utter asshole. Occasionally being civil does not make forgive his support for terrorism, hatred of women, gays etc.
We should either flame him continuously or completely ignore him. He is a poison to this site.
[quote]Zap Branigan wrote:
Varqanir wrote:
Lixy, I’ve stood up for you on quite a few occasions because I thought your critics were unfairly bashing you when you were making valid arguments in a civil manner.
I’m sorry to say that you’re beginning to make me regret it.
I have never regretted lixy bashing. He is a complete and utter asshole. Occasionally being civil does not make forgive his support for terrorism, hatred of women, gays etc.
We should either flame him continuously or completely ignore him. He is a poison to this site. [/quote]
Lixy illustrates how young educated Muslims think. I’m glad he’s here, because most Americans are benevolent by nature. Once they see who actually is on the ‘other side’, that violence is all they understand (which the Israelis understand), we can go from there.
Once Muslims learn to seperate religion from politics and daily life, as we have in the West, they’ll be ready for civilisation.
[quote]Headhunter wrote:
Lixy illustrates how young educated Muslims think. I’m glad he’s here, because most Americans are benevolent by nature. Once they see who actually is on the ‘other side’, that violence is all they understand (which the Israelis understand), we can go from there.
Once Muslims learn to seperate religion from politics and daily life, as we have in the West, they’ll be ready for civilisation.
[/quote]
By that logic, racists like rainjack confirm that Muslims are right to hate Americans.
By that logic, racists like rainjack confirm that Muslims are right to hate Americans.[/quote]
Rainjack isn’t a racist, he dislikes all individuals whether they a yellow, white, pink black or purple that demonize children and praise suicide bombers.
[quote]aussie486 wrote:
Rainjack isn’t a racist, he dislikes all individuals whether they a yellow, white, pink black or purple that demonize children and praise suicide bombers.
[/quote]
Agreed. RJ is an equal-opportunity bigot. Which is why we love him so much.