Show of Hands

people who branch off from other people*

Lemme rephrase. We arm people, who fight people, who split, one turns psychotic and turns on the other, now we arm the other to fight the psychotic people, Smh

You don't read up a lot on history do you?

We need to though, if Isis has free Reign we open ourselfsup to attack

Carter, I think we've spent enough money and man power in the Mid East. I would rather see us close our borders and take care of our own country. There are other countries out there that can take charge of the Mid East for a change.

Yep. This friendly group today could split into enemy sub-groups tomorrow. Middle East conventional wisdom.

Except the history of Kurdish people contradicts that. Read the book 'the miracle of the Kurds.' In Northern Iraq they even name streets after cities in America. Kurds love the west and democracy, that will never change.

I wrote a short comical creationist roleplay story on a country called Twerkistan once for a forum I was a part of. A native dance was the Twerk and that is how the dance came into our culture today.

It was enjoyable.

Yes.

And how do we know those arms will stay with the Kurds?

That is a bold assumption.

Kurdistan has always been by Americas side.

Kurds = pro America. They actually fight for their freedom unlike people here who just complain.

Kurdistan isn't a country.

Really, since WWII.

I'd disagree. The problem is that precision bombing works against legitimate nations but not cave-dwelling terrorists. We used it to great effect during gulf storm. It was a decisive victory.

Desert storm*

You have no idea who the Kurds are...

I spent a year in Iraq. I know who the Kurds are. I also know that there are bad eggs in every group and historically they have been the ones to gain control and fight against us with our own weapons that we gave them a few years earlier.

We never were at war with either of those countries you mentioned in the 80's and 90's. We did help the Afghani's and Iraqi's by supplying them with weapons. It worked out well for us in Afghanistan because it almost bankrupted the USSR.

"historically they have been the ones to gain control and fight against us"

Absolute BS. I don't believe a single word you have said. Kurds aren't Baathists or Sunni, who were the main belligerents.

Libertylover seems like a pretty confused person.

Confused? Have you looked into our history at all? We armed Osama Bin Laden. We armed Saddam Hussein. Arming "Rebels" has never worked out for us long term.

Really? We've been arming the Kurds since the 1980s and they haven't turned on us and don't intend to. So go back to playing Call of Duty.

Congressman, may I ask how long you served in the military? Because as a veteran I find your Call of Duty comment very offensive.

You're the only one thinking 80s weaponry can be used well against our aircraft again. No. Just no.

How much ISIS weaponry has hit the US? Not a single bullet.

Rotavele, I'm not sure what your point is. You make a great point for us doing nothing, which is what we really should be doing in this situation.

The last century is ricockulous.

The Kurds love America. Pick up a damn history book.

Never when it comes to the Kurds who love America and freedom.

But it backfired in Nam. Face it: Obama lost this thing, can't admit it, and won't do what is necessary to win because of kissing ass to liberals.

Or he wants to aid the caliphate by letting Ebola in the US and allowing ISIS to grow. The Kurds' only hope is 2016. No wonder they love America-- they're bending over and waiting 2 more year's like us-- they understand us.

It is our war.

SOZ - exactly.

Unfortunately it is our war, as it was American imperialism and our protection of oil interests in the Middle East that allowed ISIS to gain power.

If you don't think ISIL has their eyes set on us, you're living in a fantasy. It is our fight. If not now, it will be when they are stronger.

MICH - see, that's the problem with how this group has been hyped. No one really thinks this band of 30-40K could really do much in the way of hurting the US directly through invasion. They're clearly not as powerful as say china or russia, hell

In an all out war, I'd put my money on El Salvador vs ISIL. Would they LIKE to overthrow the US? Absolutely. Do they have a chance in hell of succeeding? Absolutely not. It's not our fight, but they want us in it. Why? Cuz US intervention in the ME

Is the best recruiting tool they have.

They may not be able to beat us but they can hurt USS hell of a lot and still lose

Could be surplus gear. May not be issued but still in supply.

It would probably make sense that we would send them potentially inferior surplus gear when you think about it.

I'd rather it go to the Kurdish than our police forces.

Congressman; smartest comment yet!

Glad you know not to have a strong opinion when you know nothing about it. Takes a big man to admit that. I hope you look into the Kurds. Very interesting group of people who have been nothing but oppressed yet are still alive and well.

If we become an anarchic war zone I, a liberal democrat, will support you having the right to whatever firearms you deem necessary.

who the fuck do you think you are!? that you could choose to support or not support my rights. get a grip on yourself.

Haha you're damn right I do. It's called living in a democracy. We all determine each others rights. The point was meant to indicate the difference between war torn Syria and the US.

I dont usually agree with you congressman but, you are spot on with this one.

I think there is a large percentage of people that probably couldnt tell you the difference between the groups you listed.

Wasn't it the Taliban that fought Soviets in Afghanistan in the '80's?

Yes. And what correlation is there between Taliban & Kurds? None.

We provided weapons and financial support to the Taliban to help them defeat the Soviets. We thought they were on our side. Fast-forward to 2001...

I don't think we ever really thought the Taliban were good guys, it was an enemy of our enemy situation that helped us defeat the soviets who were a tremendously bigger problem at the time.

No it was the Mujahadeen that fought the Soviets the Taliban came later

Kurds are neither Taliban nor Muhajadeen. They are the Kurds. Their history runs parallel w/others by virtue of geography, not ideology.

Taliban history:
www.infoplease.com/spot/taliban.html

Kurdish history timeline:

www.infoplease.com/spot/kurds3.html

Why would we ever go to war against the Kurds?

It so far has been the only way to *get* anything into the hands of Kurds rather than everyone else on other side. No one in area will permit anything to get into Kurdish hands becuz they are pro-American warriors of repute.

its still funny. reminds me of the movie "spies like us."

Ya because so far that's slowed them down and left 4 journalists beheaded

They can't behead journalists when they are dead

Ya tell me how that works out for you

Yeah cuz Vietnamese & Koreans labeled American "the Great Satan" & stated categorically, followed by documented actions, that their intent was to fold USA into their califate or behead all who resist. We should just mind our own business.

Yeah, thats the thing, they didn't but we bombed them anyway. Whts ur point?

Vietnam was a completely different situation. The Kurds are fighting for there freedom against a glorified terrorist group with a flag. In Vietnam we were wrong because we fought against the group that fought for freedom.

Also South Koreans don't hate us we still have troops there and a great relationship besides Japan they are one of our top allies in Asia

The Kurds aren't fighting very well. And while all this is going on, we're throwing money that we don't have straight down the drain, putting us a little more into debt because this will be a drawn out war. While we're bombing them, its easier...

...for them to recruit new fighters because their homes and such get destroyed. So we're forced to rely on the "body count" tactic like in Vietnam. This is just another pointless war.

...defeat ISIS with us giving air support, I'm okay with it. I just worry about the weapons being sufficient.

Kurds are only historically profoundly pro-America freedom-lovers, other than Israel, in entire region. Only faction reliably worthy of strong support & they are fierce & skilled warriors.

They might turn on us. They want a nation, and we may disagree with them about it in the future.