[ScottC]

Are we?
Are we ready to take on nations?
Does the public realize this is not going to be stratecic strikes with cruise missiles while we sit thousands of miles out of range?
The actual depth of the responce to 9.11.01 is unknown, at least to the public.
Emotions are in control right now. Hate, rage, sympathy, remorse... I think many are overlooking the total picture of a war.
Airstrikes, ground assaults, nations across the world banning together to attack, invade and overthrow another nation(s).
A war needs manpower. We have reserves, but what is the resilience of our opponents?
We've been promised by our President, our Nation, Nato, and Foreign powers that the root of this attacking evil will be eliminated. It will take more than a guided missle driven down a chimney in some foreign land to accomplish this.

I'll be ready. This country provides my family and I with protection and promotion. I will protect, provide, and promote my country.

[organicreefer]

yes we are ready.america has slipped in a few catagories,but in war ,we are still #1.we are ready to take on a superpower such as china even,if we had to.we are still a GOOD twenty years ahead of afghanistan,and we can crush them without too much trouble,its just we probly dont want to CRUSH them.there is a reason they attacked with airliners,they dont have any other means of attacking us.just pray that pakistan doesnt get icbm's too soon something they are very close to ,i beleive.

[mrok12]

Friends,
It is a valid point that organicreefer has stated in the prior post. Pakistan is a threat, China for that matter is also a formidable advisary. Although our heads are blodied and our pride is wounded we must always error on the side of prudence and restriant. It is important to realize that we are a hated nation perceived as "bullies". That we throw our power around. We have gotten a wake up call now. I am behind our commander and chief PRESIDENT BUSH. I pray that he acts with prudence and not passion in this matter. We must not sink to the level of those who attacked us by in turn killing the innocent. I do not beleive the American people are ready for what may lie ahead.

MROK12

[Firefish]

I was ready when I joined the Marine Corps in 1992 and I'm ready today! I don't know what some people expect! Maybe America should just say "Bad on you terrorists, dont let it happen again!" or should we just wait until Osama comes to America for a vist and then arrest him. We could always send a Seal team in to pick him up but then you're certain that Osama would kill himself along with who ever is around him at that time, sending more Americans to their death for that slime bag. If America takes a passive attitude with this attack then you can assume these attacks will become a regular event! Sooner or later America will be at war with the Middle East, question is...how many Americans must be murdered before poeple start "feeling" comfortable enough with war to end it! The way I see it, war is imminent, so is the loss of innocent life! If some people have a problem with that then shut off the tv and bless America for caring about the future of your family and your familys protection. IMHO, If you are not supporting the President and his resolution then you're not thinking about the future welfare of your family. They will not stop attacking untill America looks like Afganastan (sp? I dont care enough about it to spell it right!) Not a flame, just an opinion...

[schrocat]

Originally posted by organicreefer
.we are still a GOOD twenty years ahead of afghanistan,and we can crush them without too much trouble,its just we probly dont want to CRUSH them

Dude....We had running water before 1981.
They have a minimal military presence, which is busy fighting a civil war only 30 miles from its capital FOR YEARS.
The Taliban is to blame...not the Afghani people.

Surgical strikes on a Taliban government that doesn't allow unilateral dismantling of it as a power....good.

Wholesale carpet bombing of Afgahnistan...bad.

I hope we use this as an opportunity to create a global anti-terrorism task force with offices in every Middle East state...and that we sieze the moment and make THEM pay for it (fiscally).

Remember how fast the Saudi's crumbled when we were right on Sadams porch? The pressure on SOMEBODY over there to stop the Gulf war (leaving Sadam intact) was pretty effective...doncha' think?

We need that region to allow our presence for some time...to remove terrorist cells which exist today, and to monitor, infilitrate, and foil, the terrorists of tommorow. Carpet bomb Kabul and any positive public opinion or sympathy for our people will vanish...with little achieved.

Anybody who thinks we need to level Kabul couldn't possibly have seen a picture of the place.

[PerryinCA]

Haven't read eveything being posted (limited net time) but here's my thoughts...

I think technologically and intellectually we have the ability to knock the offending people into the stone age. There is really not much comparison. Its not going to be a cakewalk though. The Afgahnis are not going to rebel against Osama the same way that the Iraqi did against Hussien, especially after the way they saw us leave them to suffer the horrors of the malicious dictatorship. Bush seniors abandonement of those people was not a smart thing. Also, the rebel encampments are likely numerous and spread out. Cutting off supplies and utilities (ala Kosovo) likely isn't going to help much.

Another thing is that we really don't want to P.O. all of the muslim nations. A full frontal assault is sure to do just that. I think to do it right, we are looking at a guerilla type warfare remniscent of Vietnam (in terms of fighting). Would definitely be a ground war, and on thier turf. Lots of causualties.

And lastly, I joined the USMC in 98. I can honestly say that I believe that groups like Mothers Of America, and other humanist groups have killed the military's ability to properly train our troops, soldiers, sailors..ect. They are so limited to how hard they can push you. I honestly do not think that anyone is ready for battle even after the training they give you (I am speaking fighting-ability wise, not mentally). Perhaps even mentally, they just can not, in any way make people prepared. They weren/t even allowed to touch us. Imagine that, we are supposed to be ready to fight to the death, and yet they give us no tolerence for pain (physical). The 'fight' for equal rights for both sexes makes it even worse because they they have women to worry about and its not PC to run them into the ground. I think that the US ground forces, while advancing technologically are growing complacent. Most don't think they will ever see combat because wars have become video games.

Am I ready to fight? Sure, if I get called up I do my duty to the best of my ability....to the death. But I don't think the people of the US understand how ugly this will get if we send ground forces in there. This is thier turf. We learned from 'nam that a situation like this can't be taken lightly, yet people are screaming "send in the troops NOW!" anyways. I think we need to gather the proper intel before going and making a rash descision causing more US and/or innocent Afghani casualities than needed.

Are we ready for war? The burning hatred I have toward the terrorist who backed and plotted this horrible ordeal tell me absolutely, but if I think about is subjectively, I have to wonder. There are alot of things involved here, and if something goes wrong, the proverbial floodwaters come rushing.

These terrorist are scattered around the world, and it will take a unified global action to rid us of them.

-Perry

PDS sorry if my thoughts are scattered, in a hurry to get to work, and I tend go off on tangents.

[SeaBean]

Get to know the Taliban and life in Afghanistan. This site is graphic. This is a temporary site for www.rawa.org which had to change servers due to massive hits.

http://rawa.fancymarketing.net/gallery.html

SeaBean

[drlowz]

This great country of ours is prepared for anything it faces no matter what it is. We do relize the effects it will take on us but that is what make this place so great. You dont see people trying to do whatever it takes to get into other countries. This is the greatest place on earth.