Rand Paul: Dick Cheney 'Wrong' About Almost Every Foreign Policy Decision

[bkepley]

We could have left him alone and prevented the rise of ISIS completely.

And let him continue to plot and activate mass killings of US citizens and officials?

[Dexter]

And let him continue to plot and activate mass killings of US citizens and officials?

As far as I know Saddam was not a threat to us when we decided to invade in 2003. I'm unaware of any plots that were in the works at that time.

[bkepley]

As far as I know Saddam was not a threat to us when we decided to invade in 2003. I'm unaware of any plots that were in the works at that time.

It would only take a short time and an actual open mind to disabuse you of this.  Google "Saddam terrorism" or "Iraq terrorism" if you have the guts.

[Dexter]

It would only take a short time and an actual open mind to disabuse you of this.  Google "Saddam terrorism" or "Iraq terrorism" if you have the guts.

Do you believe we're better off with ISIS?

[bkepley]

Do you believe we're better off with ISIS?

That is not an answer it is a non-sequitur.

[Dexter]

That is not an answer it is a non-sequitur.

I didn't find anything about Saddam planning to attack the United States. If that was the case I think we would have heard about it when the government was trying to justify the invasion. Feel free to point me in the direction of any information I'm unaware of. Everybody knows Saddam was a bad guy that had dealings with bad people. That doesn't mean invading Iraq was the best option. Do you think we'd be better off with Saddam still in power or do you prefer the way things are now?

[bkepley]

I didn't find anything about Saddam planning to attack the United States. If that was the case I think we would have heard about it when the government was trying to justify the invasion. Feel free to point me in the direction of any information I'm unaware of. Everybody knows Saddam was a bad guy that had dealings with bad people. That doesn't mean invading Iraq was the best option. Do you think we'd be better off with Saddam still in power or do you prefer the way things are now?

No I said I don't know what we should have done other than kill him.  You should also investigate the thread.

[musiclady]

ah, yes, the good old arm chair quarterbacks with 20/20 hindsight are always right.
Where were they when the buildings were falling down?  Most were hiding, including Rand Paul.... Where was the VP?  working his butt off.

THANK you.

The truth is refreshing!

[musiclady]

It would only take a short time and an actual open mind to disabuse you of this.  Google "Saddam terrorism" or "Iraq terrorism" if you have the guts.

He won't do it.  His mind is made up and the facts won't deter him.

[Dexter]

No I said I don't know what we should have done other than kill him. 

Right, and my argument is that we should have left him alone because he was able to stabilize the region. If we're not better off with ISIS that means we would have been better off leaving Saddam alone. We'd also be two trillion less dollars in debt and many people that died needlessly would still be alive today.

[Dexter]

He won't do it.  His mind is made up and the facts won't deter him.

If one of you would show me the information he's referring to I would love to read it. I'm not going to comb through Google results for 3 hours in an attempt to find whatever he was vaguely talking about.

[Rivergirl]

Rnnd just following in his daddy's footsteps.

[bkepley]

If one of you would show me the information he's referring to I would love to read it. I'm not going to comb through Google results for 3 hours in an attempt to find whatever he was vaguely talking about.

Well gosh Dexter...what should we do then?

[Dexter]

Well gosh Dexter...what should we do then?

You should show me the information that supports your statements above.

[EdinVA]

Not only that but I still don't know what should have been done other than kill Sadaam.

My only point is, in the heat of the situation, the decisions made sense.
No one is ever 100% right 100% of the time.
If you make 1000 decisions in a day, you will be 100% right on a few, 50% right on more and probably 30% right on even more.
If you are lucky, you won't have any that are 100% wrong.

Trouble is, you won't know until after the fact.

[Dexter]

Rnnd just following in his daddy's footsteps.

Can you blame him? His dad is pretty on point.

[Dexter]

My only point is, in the heat of the situation, the decisions made sense.

No it didn't. Why did we invade Iraq? Before you respond with "because Saddam is bad" I want to point out the fact that there are bloodthirsty dictators all over the world. Why Iraq?

[bkepley]

You should show me the information that supports your statements above.

Ok Dexter we totally f'd up after 911.  What should we have done instead?
 

[bkepley]

My only point is, in the heat of the situation, the decisions made sense.
No one is ever 100% right 100% of the time.
If you make 1000 decisions in a day, you will be 100% right on a few, 50% right on more and probably 30% right on even more.
If you are lucky, you won't have any that are 100% wrong.

Trouble is, you won't know until after the fact.

Well Dexter knows or seems to.

[Dexter]

Ok Dexter we totally f'd up after 911.  What should we have done instead?

We should have mourned those that lost their lives to ignorance incarnate and then realized that more ignorance will never erase the problems that caused 9/11. Extremism is an idea that is embraced by desperate and ignorant people. Dropping bombs won't make it go away. It makes the problem worse by creating even more desperate and ignorant people.

[sinkspur]

We should have mourned those that lost their lives to ignorance incarnate and then realized that more ignorance will never erase the problems that caused 9/11. Extremism is an idea that is embraced by desperate and ignorant people. Dropping bombs won't make it go away. It makes the problem worse by creating even more desperate and ignorant people.

Coulda, shoulda is easy in hindsight.

I notice you defended Ron Paul upthread. He believes we should NEVER engage in ANY foreign action.  To him, al-Qaeda has to be on our shores, with a fighting force, before we do anything.

Oh, and he's a gold bug now, hawking gold on FOXNEWS. 

The man is a loser and always has been.

[bkepley]

We should have mourned those that lost their lives to ignorance incarnate and then realized that more ignorance will never erase the problems that caused 9/11. Extremism is an idea that is embraced by desperate and ignorant people. Dropping bombs won't make it go away. It makes the problem worse by creating even more desperate and ignorant people.

In other words surrender is the best option? Only option?

[Dexter]

Coulda, shoulda is easy in hindsight.

Doing the right thing when it matters is rarely easy.

[Dexter]

In other words surrender is the best option? Only option?

Transcending ignorance is not surrendering to it.

[EdinVA]

Doing the right thing when it matters is rarely easy.

So, your prescription is, turn the other cheek, yellow ribbons all round... yep, that'll work