Casualties Post 9/11 Attacks

[BlueStreak]

Originally Posted by icenine

Bush lacked wisdom. A much wiser President would not have invaded Iraq as a response to 9/11. Although I do not recall many Americans saying "no do not do this" at the time.

My favorite "literary" (he was actually a real Russian general) character right now is General Kutzuzov, who was in charge of the Russian Army during the 1812 French Invasion. The winter and fires set in Moscow have taken a huge toll on the French Army, which was beginning to dissolve after the defeat at Borodino. The Czar, German Generals with the Russian Army, and everyone else is saying chase after the French army and destroy it...but Kutzuzov refuses. He is old and tired, and knows that the weather and geography of Russia has already destroyed Napoleon's forces, and that a pursuit would only lead to the wasted deaths of Russian soldiers and possibly the collapse of the Russian Army. He is shown as being wise while those around him think he is weak or foolish but Tolstoy looking back at him 50 years later makes him out to be the hero.

We needed someone like that in 2003.
I think we will look back at Obama's decision to not to follow through on his "Red Line" as a very wise decision also. I think it is obvious who would be in charge of Damascus now if we had taken the Syrian government down.

Exactly, Robbin.

P.S. Sounds like some interesting reading.

[icenine]

Originally Posted by BlueStreak

Exactly, Robbin.

P.S. Sounds like some interesting reading.

You do not know what you are missing if you have not read War and Peace.
The Maude or Constance Garnett translation.

[Dondilion]

Efforts to renew James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act.

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer...-renewal.html#

[Zeke]

Any leader who doesn't respond as if military intervention is a last, final, desperately-tried-to-avoid-it resort isn't a leader I desire to follow.

There are guys that are amazing as war time folks (Patton, Halsey, Stormin' Norman) but those guys didn't make the decision to go to war. I believe in the need for these kind of folks but not until AFTER the call is made.

To make the call, I desire a different type of leader.

[donquixote99]

Originally Posted by icenine

I think it is obvious who would be in charge of Damascus now if we had taken the Syrian government down.

Regarding that, the recently reported presence of Russian advisers with Assad's forces suggests to me that the ISIS guys now pose a greater threat to Assad than other rebel groups have previously.