I am feeling exactly like I did when Baghdad fell... cognitive dissonance?

expatriot

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Sun Jan-30-05 12:02 PM
Original message

I am feeling exactly like I did when Baghdad fell... cognitive dissonance?

I know this post may thrill some freeper lurkers but the difference between us and you guys is that we are honest with ourselves and aren't afraid to analyze both our rationality AND our occasional irrationality.

I feel conflicted, of course I am happy that election day in Baghdad didn't end up in complete anarchy and carnage for the Iraqis' sake. And of course there will be more trouble ahead because of the Shia-Sunni divide, the Arab-Kurd divide, the US occupation, etc. but for the average US viewer of the news, it looks like an astonishing success amid a surprisingly low level of violence... in short, it gives the appearance of a justification for the Bush Doctrine.

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hollowdweller

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Sun Jan-30-05 12:06 PM
Response to Original message

1. I'll be happy if it all works out in Iraq and it will be a success for

Bush but I'm not optimistic that it will. Also even if it DOES all work out I seriously wonder if the figures are right and 100,000 Iraqi's really died if the majority will feel the whole thing was worth it.

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Psephos

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Sun Jan-30-05 12:10 PM
Response to Reply #1

3. I find it helpful to not combine * and Iraqis when thinking about it

In other words, whether or not it's a "vindication" of * is not what's important. He's just unwanted freight.

I am sincerely glad to see that things seem to have gone smoother than they might have. You have to start somewhere.

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Nitrogenica

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Sun Jan-30-05 12:09 PM
Response to Original message

2. Remember it is * who kept saying again and again

that the insurgents were killing us because they wanted to stop the elections. It hinted that once the elections happen, the insurgents would just go away (at least dumbed down that's what he is saying). I believe this is again his deceit at work. The insurgents don't want us there, plain and simple. Elections could be a step to help get rid of us. Suprising lack of violence?....gimme a break!

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Democrats_win

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Sun Jan-30-05 12:12 PM
Response to Original message

4. I agree. Remember, Clinton did the same thing in Yugoslavia

and didn't spend half a trillion dollars while getting 1400 Americans killed and tens of thousands injured. Nor did he torture hundreds in the process. At the same time our economy grew.

Hey, we're the United States, we can take over small countries and impose our ways because for 50 years we've spent more on our military than almost all nations combined.

Iraq is a story of greed and machismo over prudence. Expect gloating today, but they gloat at the expense of the injured and dead.

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Old and In the Way

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Sun Jan-30-05 12:42 PM
Response to Reply #4

13. This is another "Mission Accomplished" Day for this administration.

They've been lowering expectations for weeks and they've managed to meet them. Nothing's changed, really. Americans will continue to die, innocent Iraqi's will continue to die, 'elected' officials will continue to die. Real democracy won't happen until we exit Iraq....and that won't happen will the neocons are in charge.

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Joe Chi Minh

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Sun Jan-30-05 12:13 PM
Response to Original message

5. "...in short, it gives the appearance

of a justification for the Bush Doctrine". Even for the average US viewer, that's a big leap, isn't it?

But more importantly, do you think the figures touted, whether true or false, suggest that the Iraqis are now on the side of the US, against the insurgents? As certain people are won't to demur, "Just asking?".

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LynnTheDem

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Sun Jan-30-05 12:14 PM
Response to Original message

6. Tomorrow Iraq will continue unabated in violance.

The insurgency will continue, with the only change being an increase. A year from now, we will be Iraqmired and the insurgency will be going on strong.

Saddam statue toppling

Mission Accomplished

We got him

Sovereignty handover

election

Same shit, different pile.

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peacebird

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Sun Jan-30-05 12:16 PM
Response to Original message

7. i am thinking that the fighting will rebound violently in the coming week

Violence against people voting would turn off support among average Iraqi's.

The voting has happened. Once it is apparent that the situation for average Iraqi's is NOT improving and that the american occupiers are NOT leaving (or giving up control) I believe the attacks will start with renewed intensity.

Which will cause more Fallujah-type "solutions", which will cause more rage and violence, and so it will continue spinning into it's death spiral.

Wish I could be more optimistic, maybe I need some of that kool-aid.

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LiberallyInclined

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Sun Jan-30-05 12:16 PM
Response to Original message

8. exactly. who needs a universal healthcare program...

when our tax dollars are better spent deposing tin-horn dictators throughout the third world.

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toymachines

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Sun Jan-30-05 12:28 PM
Response to Original message

9. and keep in mind that everything you are seeing on tv was most likely

planned out a week ago and coordinated with bush so he can give a nice little meaningless speech.

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BuyingThyme

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Sun Jan-30-05 12:32 PM
Response to Original message

10. Remember that guy they paid to bang a shoe on the Saddam statue's head?

He's now doing election coverage for ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, etc.

What you're seeing on the news is COMPLETELY STAGED. They could have done this last week and it would have been EXACTLY the same. Yep, 72% and everybody's happy. Everybody's banging shoes.

Don't buy it. Never again.

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manic expression

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Sun Jan-30-05 12:34 PM
Response to Original message

11. The 'elections' are merely

an empty gesture. Things in Iraq will continue exactly as before. The newly "elected" body can do nothing about the situation, even ignoring the fact that they will be US pawns and will be at the occupation's bidding. Nothing will change, it is only a pleasant and meaningless distraction for ignorant Americans and supporters of the occupation.

This is exactly like the "handover" awhile back.

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GetTheRightVote

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Sun Jan-30-05 12:36 PM
Response to Original message

12. I do not believe it for one second, * lied to us all, just as * is lying

again about the elections with his puppet Media reporting it for him, never forget the past and what they have done in our own country so that we do not relive the past again. This elections are a front for * plans on conquering the middle east with a attack on Iran next, nothing * does is honest, nothing not even an election in Iraq. * even taught the Iraqians how to steal the election. I believe nothing that comes out of the news in this country or the WH, once you lie to me I believe you are always lying to me period.

:kick:

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