And they don't help at home?

[Wingates_Hellsing]

Billions of dollars to banks who spent it recklessly. Awesome. Good allocation of funds.

Some of it was spent questionably, I'd say. Millions allocated to bonuses for senior guys and I believe I've heard of some lobby or office renovations, and while the renovations are kinda dumb, and the bonuses make about as much sense as movie directors getting paid for 5 or 6 different jobs, it's still millions amongst billions. Besides, we didn't give them the money so that they could that they could buy calculators and label makers we gave them the money so that they'd stay in business albeit with the caveat that they cut the shit that got them where they were. Which was way more than a few overprices statues and odd industry quirks.

How would it be the worst idea ever? Our troops are alive, they're home and we'd have money to rebuild our country while all of the groups over there blast themselves apart. If they try to come and mess with the US, then they have one hell of a gift box on the front step waiting for them.

Because we'd be dumping a fragile, but gradually stabilizing situation into utter chaos, reversing everything we've accomplished so far and strengthen our enemies greatly. You say this as if the returning troops would spend all day standing along the borders waiting for ski-masked guys with AKs to come prancing over the hills like some low-rent red dawn and it just isn't so. Keeping potential threats out of the US and capturing those that get in anyway is only half the battle. The other half is eliminating the problem at it's source, which, in these particular cases, consists of areas in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan (The Pashtuns occupying an area which is partly in the latter two). We aren't talking about an enemy that's just going to stop trying to kill us because we gave up fighting them nor are we talking about an enemy that's only our enemy. Anyone they have reason to disagree with is just as much a target as any of us and if they aren't stopped by someone they're going to go on killing everyone and amassing power. Call me crazy if you like, but I don't think our troops lives are more important than the lives these people will take if left unmolested.

[Hobbs]

Wingates said it best. While your proposal, Dale, seems good and I have no doubt that the families of our deployed brethren would applaud it, the proposal is, at best, a short-term alleviation. The Islamic terrorists have a 100 year plan to grow in power and territory. Pulling out now would be a bad idea, in the long run. You seem to be going for instant gratification, that is, getting you a solution that makes you happy now. We're trying to win the fight in Afghanistan and Iraq so that we can be happy that our borders and interests aren't threatened in 50 years.

[crashhelmet]

You know... I really hate this argument. Whenever we give foreign aide, people bitch and moan about how we're pouring money into others when we need to spend it here on our people and economy. At the same time, these same people bitch and moan about the money we do put into the people and economy.

WAHHHHH Socialism!!!!! WAHHHHHHH Stop the bailouts!!!!!!! WAHHHHHHH!!!!!!!

Just STFU already

CH