War with Iraq has begun

[Roca Wear]

president will be on t.v at 10:15
war has begun

first the air raid bells rang
then anti air fire started to happen
explosions were heard
lights in the sky of baghdad
ari fleisher came on t.v
pres will be on in 15 min

:(

[Alatar]

Yes i have been watching it since i got home.

This is not going to be a nice war, if there is such a thing as one. With the threat of weapons of mass destruction and the danger of the Iraqi populance attacking allied forces in the streets, i fear there will be many casulties.

my prayers are with all the soldiers fighting there, and the civilians in the line of fire.mecry:(

[Daisy Gamgee]

War is never nice..but many people would like to get rid of Saddam. DId any one see his appparent TV admnation...it wasn't even him.

Good ridance Saddam

[SindarinGirl]

Originally posted by Alatar
my prayers are with all the soldiers fighting there, and the civilians in the line of fire.mecry:(

:thumbs: Alatar!
We all hope for the best for our troops and the Iraqi people, despite what the rest of the world thinks of us.

[Roca Wear]

I THINK SADAM IS DEAD

[Bonos-Girl]

erm.....ok....and do you have any evidence? i have a theory that osama bin laden was never actually real but noone believes me...i thin he was made up by american "intelligence" as a person they could actively fight rather than trying to desroy an organistaion it is easier to concentrate on one person...

[Galadhrim]

Originally posted by SindarinGirl
We all hope for the best for our troops and the Iraqi people, despite what the rest of the world thinks of us.

I would just like to say, that despite the fact that many people don't support this war, I think everyone hopes for the best for your troops and the Iraqi people. I know I do. Plitics aside, people are people. Every life is precious. I hope this war ends soon, and with as few casualties as possible. My prayers are with everyone involved.

[Bonos-Girl]

Amen Galadhrim.

[Pil]

Why the rediculous laughing? :rolleyes:

It's an interesting theory BG. :thumbs:

I got really annoyed with the tv today...shouted at it...then switched it off. The american dude gave a statement at the white house. He was talking about the countries that had joined to coalition (sp?). He then went on to say how many billions of people that meant supported the war...as if everyone in the countries was agreeing with what their government/president/primeminister was doing! It got me so angry! :mmmm:

[Eowyn]

I've considered that theory BG....not sure....the tapes are easy to mock up....hmmmm......oh sugar the 'right honorable Blair' is on TV...trying not to laugh! 'right honorable'???? :huh: I can't say it without laughing.

okay he's just said 'I hope the Iraqy people hear this message' hmmm.......is there English that good Tony Bush?

[Galadriel]

I was listening to the Radio and they were asking people weather they supported war or not? One women said that it didn't matter what she thought because now she had to put her own opinions aside and support the leader cause he knows what's best. That was alarming for me to hear because we live in a democratic country and everyone should have opinoins no matter what the leader is doing.
Also Bush said that the war could take a long time, cost a lot of money, and kills some soldiers and he thinks that we houdl still support war? I mean that attack they did last night lasted two minutes and it cost 50 millions dollars for one attack. Imagine how much the whole War is going to cot. Also the radio and news has been saying that we should prepare for any terriost attcks that may happen in the following weeks because of retailation. I Hate all of war and nowto find out it may go on for a while and that there might be terriost attcks in retailation is really to much.

[Cuthalion]

We will have to deal with the consequences of this "war for the freedom of the world" PUAAAJJJ!! . We shouldn`t even hear things like that. Who is gonna disarm the US after this? Anyone? Didn't think so...

[Amoraq]

ughh, I can't stand this war. It's so crazy and pointless, all politics really. I do wish the best for the soldiers out there doing the fighting, but that doesn't mean I have to like it.
Originally posted by Galadriel
I was listening to the Radio and they were asking people weather they supported war or not? One women said that it didn't matter what she thought because now she had to put her own opinions aside and support the leader cause he knows what's best. That was alarming for me to hear because we live in a democratic country and everyone should have opinoins no matter what the leader is doing.
Also Bush said that the war could take a long time, cost a lot of money, and kills some soldiers and he thinks that we houdl still support war? I mean that attack they did last night lasted two minutes and it cost 50 millions dollars for one attack. Imagine how much the whole War is going to cot. Also the radio and news has been saying that we should prepare for any terriost attcks that may happen in the following weeks because of retailation. I Hate all of war and nowto find out it may go on for a while and that there might be terriost attcks in retailation is really to much.
I gotta agree, it really is too much. And it's very alarming that the lady thinks she has to support the war cause Bush know's what's best. Yeah right! People should keep their own opinions, especially during a war!

[Winyaél Greenleaf]

I agree. The war is pointless. I just hope it ends soon and there are as few casualties as possible, be it whether they are American or the Iraqi people.

[Celebrían]

Originally posted by Roca Wear
president will be on t.v at 10:15
war has begun

first the air raid bells rang
then anti air fire started to happen
explosions were heard
lights in the sky of baghdad
ari fleisher came on t.v
pres will be on in 15 min

:(

Creepy tie-in! I was totally freaked out when they announced that the President would be speaking to the nation (because I knew that was "it"). I hope this goes by quickly.........(as I know everybody does).

[Bonos-Girl]

did anyone see Tony Blair's speech before the ten o'clock news on BBC? he sais "their mission..." and paused and i was just dying to put in "if they choose to accept it".....grrr...i really hate him...if he thinks its such a good idea why doesn't he go and fight?

and why were they boimbing houses thought to belong to Saddam...he's obviously not gonna just sit where they're gonna bomb waiting to die......

[Alatar]

well he has to sit somewere doesn't he, and they Bombed a bunker there as well as a house belonging to Suddam. Wouldn't you be hideing in a 'secret Bunker' if you were gonna get bombed?

[Galadhrim]

I was just watching CNN, and they were showing some footage of the tanks headed for Iraq, and the reporter refered to them as "waves of metal, sweeping through the desert" and it was quite obvious he's really fascinated by the sight. Is anyone else bothered by this? I mean, this is war for goodness' sake, not a patriotic war movie...

[Galadriel]

I know. It seems that war gets way to much hype and that people think that it is sa good thing sometimes. So people suppor it so much its sickening to even listen to them. If they think that war is such a good idea they don't they go and fight.

[Orc]

Originally posted by Galadhrim
I was just watching CNN, and they were showing some footage of the tanks headed for Iraq, and the reporter refered to them as "waves of metal, sweeping through the desert" and it was quite obvious he's really fascinated by the sight. Is anyone else bothered by this? I mean, this is war for goodness' sake, not a patriotic war movie...

General Robert E. Lee once said: "It is good that war is so terrible, lest we should grow to love it."

As a soldier, I have found this observation to be very true. It is difficult to explain to anyone who has never had any military experience. There is a very special bond that deveopes between soldiers, and Shakespear's mention of a "Band of Brothers" is the only way I can really describe it. Your life is held in the hands of your fellow soldiers, your brothers. As a sergeant, I have 15 soldiers beneath my command, and I would do anything for each and every one of them, including giving my life to save them. I also have no doubt that they would pull my butt out of the frying pan as well. This is a very strong bond that by my experience, is not very commonly seen in the civilian world.

As soldiers, we train, practice and drill until our duties become almost instinctive. From an outside perspective, this takes an almost sureal appearance, as if the soldiers are mentally communicating with each other because everyone knows their place. Every soldier knows what to expect from the soldier next to him or her and it almost becomes an elaborately corregraphed dance, elegant, facinating and frighteningly deadly.

Undoutably this reporter had never seen anything of this magnitude and to his civilian experience what he was seeing was almost something out of a movie - his only frame of refrence.

:Orc:

[Bonos-Girl]

thats kinda what i like about Huw Edwards on ten oclock news...he seems slightly troubled about the entire situation, rather than getting all excited about tanks he seemed kinda sad...awwww.....

all they said on our news was that they bombed several houses thought to belong to Saddam and his friends and family...but i swear....he may be 'evil'...but he's not completely dumb......there is a "secret nuclear bunker" near i live...cept its really not very secret cos there are loadsa signs to it!! lol

[Arwen Elf]

Well, you see, there's this thing. . . it's called propaganda, and they want everyone to get it as much as they can. So, we have to look like we're doing a good thing and they have to look like they're doing a REALLY bad thing. So, that's how it goes. War does bring about morbid fascination. I just wish they'd kill Saddam and get it over with. But so far, it seems pretty clean. As clean as something like this can get. Sometimes I just wish the political leaders would just beat each other to death. That would solve it. . .lol

[Bonos-Girl]

i know.,.....its them who seems to think that war is such a good idea...whhy don't they go fight it themselves instead of forcing people to do their dirty work for them....

its like that board game called risk (its a good game...there's an LOTR version of it!!).....the soldiers are just the playing pieces that are being pushed around by leaders who don't even care what happens to them or whether they come back alive or not.

[Morgothian]

I think the war is a good thing and will bring justice and freedom to Iraq

[Celebrían]

Originally posted by Orc
General Robert E. Lee once said: "It is good that war is so terrible, lest we should grow to love it."

As a soldier, I have found this observation to be very true. It is difficult to explain to anyone who has never had any military experience. There is a very special bond that deveopes between soldiers, and Shakespear's mention of a "Band of Brothers" is the only way I can really describe it. Your life is held in the hands of your fellow soldiers, your brothers. As a sergeant, I have 15 soldiers beneath my command, and I would do anything for each and every one of them, including giving my life to save them. I also have no doubt that they would pull my butt out of the frying pan as well. This is a very strong bond that by my experience, is not very commonly seen in the civilian world.

As soldiers, we train, practice and drill until our duties become almost instinctive. From an outside perspective, this takes an almost sureal appearance, as if the soldiers are mentally communicating with each other because everyone knows their place. Every soldier knows what to expect from the soldier next to him or her and it almost becomes an elaborately corregraphed dance, elegant, facinating and frighteningly deadly.

Undoutably this reporter had never seen anything of this magnitude and to his civilian experience what he was seeing was almost something out of a movie - his only frame of refrence.

:Orc:

Very well said. Thank you for the post! :thumbs:

[Bonos-Girl]

yeah...its great to see things from a soldiers view, we can speculate all we want but i don't think we'll ever know what soldiers actually feel about it.

[Alatar]

Well as Orc said i belive that when the soldiers go to war they really are like Brothers, they care so deeply for each other they would make the ultimate sacrafice to save them, their life.

But when reading this thread i am constantly reminded about the Anzac legend that was formed in the Gallipoli Campain, were the Anzacs were renound for the freindships they held with there comrades and at the sound of a gun, rather then protect themselves they would help there mates. But it is great to see that with the constant change of weapons and warfare that the soldiers who in the end have to do the fighting are still so close to each other.

[Enelya]

believe me i dont want there to be a war, because that means people are gonna die, and loose members of their family, and thats bad. but the only way we're ever gonna get saddam and his sons, is war. thats how i look at it.

God bless America.

[Amoraq]

Yes, but if there has to be a war, at least it can be over quickly.

I've got a question though. Has anybody else seen the rumors that Saddam and his sons are dead and some of the soldiers are surrendering? The News has said something like that here but I'm not sure if it's confirmed or anything.

[Enelya]

I dont know, i heard that one of his sons was dead but i dont know how accurate it is though

[Amoraq]

mmm...If it was true, that'd be very nice. I wouldn't place too much hope on it though.

[Bonos-Girl]

i think it's probably just propaganda.....make it seem that they're actually helping in some way to get rid of saddam...

[Gwaihir]

Yeah, I hope this war ends quickly. I want nothing to do with it! :(

[SindarinGirl]

I went to a rally over the weekend with my Scouts to show support for our country, and our troops. Our Cubs led over 6,000 people in the Pledge of Allegiance. We met a survivor of Pearl Harbor, and the Governor of Virginia. It was incredible to see all these people from different ethnic backgrounds coming together as Americans, raising one voice to cheer for our soldiers and their families, without a single hitch.
Across town, a couple hundred people came together in a park to protest the war and call for peace. Violence broke out and the police had to use pepper spray, to stop the crowd from breaking windows as they started marching. Does this strike anyone else as very ironic?

[Celebrían]

Hmm...quite. I'm so thankful for all of the brave men and women of all of the coalition forces who are fighting to protect the world from terror. They are fighting so we (and the Iraqi people for that matter) can be free. God bless and protect them.

[Little Devil]

Well, with things are going now in the war, looks quite a while before it's over. They have said to have found a chemical factory that could possibly contain mass destruction weapons. All those brave soldiers who have died, fighting in a troubled world...

[Amoraq]

They found a chemical factory but there weren't any weapons of mass destruction there. I wish the war would end quickly...my best wishes for all the soldiers fighting. I don't support the war really, but I hope the best for the soldiers.

[Celebrían]

Me too! I don't like war by any means! Nobody does! But when it has to be done to protect citizens and the world from terror, I'm all for it. I know people fighting in Iraq, and I pray for their [all of the soldiers] swift and safe return, but I also know that all of those soldiers (of many nations) fighting in the Middle East have trained well for what they have to do and know the risks involved and are prepared to pay the ultimate price for your freedom and mine. So for them, what they are fighting for is not a vain cause, even if it means that they will lose their lives in the process. They know that this is a possibility every time they go into battle, and even with this possibility before them, they are unflagging in their duty and their courage. Just thinking about their bravery now overwhelms me.

[Gil Galad]

things will be worse after the war, just like in Afghanistan.

theres an old Mexican sayin that goes something like this
"revolutions come and go, but the people, the people keep suffering"

[Bonos-Girl]

i would just like to ask what may be a very veyr stupid question...but...erm...whats actually happening in Afghanistan...cos there was loadsa news about the bombing and stuff...and then it just kinda stopped...

[Gil Galad]

well from wot iv herd (theres not much media allowed in the country) things are very bad, aid agencies r finding it very hard to get help in (cos of the warlords who the Americans and English put in2 power) plus there were students protesting a few weeks ago and they got shot, so basically things have degrated to lotting and Anarchie

[Bonos-Girl]

wow. so this is what happens to countries that America chews up and spits out. i really hope that Iraq doesn't go the same way (i know its started to already...but things can change...).

[Gil Galad]

well the major world powers r likely to put more time in2 Iraq, since it got oil and well it wos big industry that got bush in2 power, and oil is very important to those poeple

[Bonos-Girl]

i guess....and maybe after Iraq they could go and fix Afghanistan (wishful thinkin unfortunately....)

[SindarinGirl]

A Yahoo search for "current news Afghanistan" will produce about 739,000 hits, which would indicate there is plenty of media in the country.
Try http://afghanistannews.net/ for the latest. I'm sure there'll be plenty there for you to blame and denigrate America for.

[Bonos-Girl]

i have enough to blame america for as it is....anyways searching for "current news afghanistan" will also come up with pages that are years old or lie....

[SindarinGirl]

BG, can you explain specifically what we did that bothers you so much that you feel that deriding the land I love, my home, is perfectly justified and acceptable?
If I posted that I believed (I don't) Afghanistan's problems were caused by illiterate, mysoginistic, culturally bereft Muslims grinding the country under their heels, I'd be branded as an intolerant bigot. So why is it acceptable for you to continually pour scorn on my country and people?

And yes, the internet is full of false information, that's why one should look into the topic of interest and think about what's presented and form their own opinions based on reports from valid news agencies.
I would wager that even removing the conspiracy theories, outdated material or hits that just coincidentally contain the three words entered, one would still find a decent assortment of valid, up-to-date information that would be at least as accurate as asking a question on a forum.
The link I posted for you to look at is one of the top ten hits, dated currently and takes its reports from a wide variety of news sources. Whether you choose to take advantage of the information that is available or just dismiss it without even looking at it for yourself, is up to you.

[Gil Galad]

well i think you have a good point SG, but at the same time ur argument is very flawwed, the top news agencies r more tehn likely the ones who r most corrupted by the ones who cause the problems.

there is no denying that Afghanistan wud be allot beter off if America never got involved in it, and then to try to fix teh problem they decided to go and make it worse, i dont blame america for the problems, but the the greed of some and the apathy of most toward the terible and , either thoughtless or evil (take ur pick), of there government is the main cause



and just so im not seen as puting america down, england russia, germany, france, italy( to a lesser xtent, it wos really only mousilini's regime and teh people wer powerless to stop it) the dutch spanish and portugeese(wit england and spain being the worst from the list) are all to blame for the great woes of the world, from americas displaced peoples (both the natives and the african americans), the strife between tribes in africa, the poverty and corruption of south east asia, and the attorcities caried out against teh aboriginal australians and the maouri of new zealand

[Bonos-Girl]

i don't continually blame america for every problem in the world by a long way. Neither do i thinik that my country is completely faultless. i think most countries in the world have things that they have done wrong, maybe america is more noticeable than most but there is no denying that America has done some pretty awful things in the past. also, when i say America i mainly mean the people 'in charge' rather than just americans who have not much of a say in the running of their country and therefore cannot be blamed as much.

anyway...i'm gonna stop this discussion about blaming america now cos i have a feeling i've had this discussion before and its not a good one.

[Gil Galad]

i think it all really comes down to apathy amongst the people