0
POPSA distant "ally" As I've said before, when the dust settles, Iran and Iraq will be closer allies than the US and Iraq...
3
POPSSupport the troops... ...Mr. President... and Mr. McCain... put your money where your braggadocio is... Will it cost? Sure .. .but expenses at in-state "state" schools aren't outrageous. And even if it is expensive -- 36 months active duty should be enough to earn any enlisted man a college degree: it helps them, and helps the country (which is sorely short of educated people...) Helping an entire generation get an education is a good thing: probably one of the best ways the government can spend its money ... and which group could be more deserving?
2
POPSMajority seems to get it... While I'm sure this is just 'one result' it would seem the tide is turning: people are realizing that private decisions -- like a person's choice of a mate -- should be respected by government.
0
POPSSadr exerts religious influence This is the problem -- Sadr has more control over his followers than the government has over it's citizens ... it's been like this for decades, under Saddam. It isn't going to change in the near future...
0
POPSNo nation... There is no nation-state when religious offiliation trumps nationalism... Not that either form of dogma is "good" ... but for the political process to work, people have to believe they are first part of a nation... For many Iraqis religious affiliation defines their identify...
1
POPSThe Waste on drugs The federal war on drugs has been a disaster from so many perspectives it boggles the mind. Can you think of a better way to spend $500 BILLION? Not to mention filling our jails (more than 70% of people in jail are there on drug related offenses - most of them minor)...
0
POPSal-Sadr ... Negotiating from Iran Sadr continues to play the political/religious card to his advantage... Forcing the government to deal with his (illegal) organization/militias will simply empower him in the eyes of the populace