I’ve watched some congressional testimony yesterday and today watched our President speaking about matters in Iraq. Bush would like us to continue paying much of the large amount we pay to fund building up Iraq. He claims it’s a very small bit of money in the overall scheme of America’s budget. America’s ambassador to Iraq claims to have Iraq pay more of their own money towards their own service is happening to a small degree now and should occur more in the future, but he’s really trying to take it slow in my opinion.
America is in the middle of its own financial crunch. No matter how small, spending less on Iraq would be best. Billions saved is BILLIONS SAVED.
Our President presents his case as if not doing everything the way he sees it will result in America’s destruction. I can’t say I agree. I especially feel it is time for Iraq to pay more of the bill.
Democrats Want Iraqis to Use Oil Surplus
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I think it’s time to press Iraq to foot as much of the bill as our legislators will press for Iraq to pay.
Also, Bush feels that more done in Iraq will result in a nation that basically runs lock-step with whatever suits America’s interests. I think Bush is a bit misguided in that assumption. America has helped build-up and pressed for the creation of several Muslim nations during Bush’s term in office. I suspect they will prove to be MUSLIM NATIONS rather than proponents of American interests. They certainly are not upholding Christian interests, given Muslim converts to Christianity are persecuted and Christians in places like Iraq are literally running for their lives!
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April 10th, 2008 at 2:07 pm
Ditto…Iraq needs to start footing the bill and selling us oil at below market value to help offset the cost of our continued military services.
April 10th, 2008 at 2:16 pm
Actually,
In studying the issues for awhile, I’m still wondering what’s the practical benefit of us even being over there. It seems like we’ve thrown ourselves into a situation that we’ll have to maintain indefinately (i.e. stabilizing government, politics/elections, etc). Part of me also wonders considers how the money we’re using is being invested over there with a western mentality when in the middle-east it’s an entirely different perspective. But I could be off…
IndependentConservative reply on April 10th, 2008 at 2:51 pm :
Gxg - It depends on the perspective.
From a Christian perspective, the one that matters most to us, I’ve got a hard time giving you a practical benefit. When Christians are running from there in droves. (I hoped evangelism might flourish, but the very opposite has occurred.)
From the American perspective, the practical issue is that terrorists might gain foothold and control of a nation that America already removed a guy from who is known for filling “mass graves”.
Gxg--G2 reply on April 10th, 2008 at 3:33 pm :
Well, glad to see I wasn’t the only one who felt the same.
Sad many are still hoping for peace, as it was already promised they’ll be warlike/hostile (terrorists involved or not) till judgement day.
Genesis 16:10-13. I know of the “stop the terrorists” argument, but that seems questionable to me at times, as I was under the notion that their goal wasn’t to simply gain control but cause civil unrest/disruption. With that in place, we could stand predominately in control but still be on the losing side since they’d be content merely taking people out/demoralising bit by bit.
Gxg--G2 reply on April 10th, 2008 at 3:35 pm :
Do you have any verification of the Christians leaving in droves, as I have friends there who do ministry and are intentionally staying alongside other Christians to Preach the Gospel in the midst of the madness
IndependentConservative reply on April 10th, 2008 at 3:46 pm :
Posts about persecution of Christians and them leaving Iraq in mass numbers.
Persecution of Christians in Iraq.
Iraqi Christians Seek Protection from Islamists
Also see this CBS News report: Vicar: Dire Times For Iraq’s Christians
April 10th, 2008 at 2:20 pm
The geopolitical stakes are too high. As with other commodities oil is not priced according to any “special” designation. The price is set on the market, by OPEC, and YES the US dollar strength. There is not some special way to differentiate between Saudi oil, Alaskan oil, or Iranian oil once it is on the open market. However, by increasing oil production and output in Iraq the extra revenue generated by that host country SHOULD be used to fund Iraq. The one issue with this is that OPEC may then decrease output in relation to the increased output by Iraq.
Kyle
IndependentConservative reply on April 10th, 2008 at 2:45 pm :
Kyle, they’ve got $30 billion on ice already. And they will make much more.
They have money to pay more themselves now and should pay more ongoing.
April 10th, 2008 at 9:14 pm
Sadly, I really think that the persecution of Christians is only going to get worse, not just in Iraq, but in many other Muslim countries. After all, the Koran itself commands Muslims to: “Fight against such of those who have been given the Scripture as believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, and forbid not that which Allah hath forbidden by His messenger, and follow not the Religion of Truth, until they pay the tribute readily, being brought low. ” (Surah 9:29)I really wish the U.S. government would put pressure on the Iraqi government to actually protect those who follow Christ, but I doubt it’s going to happen.