Wishing everyone a Blessed Christmas and Joyous, Victorious New Year.



The historic record of the birth of Christ can be found in Matthew 1:18-25 and Luke 2:1-20.

Unlike any other baby, the one born that night in Bethlehem was unique in all of history. He was not created by a human father and mother. He had a heavenly pre-existence (John 1:1-3, 14). He is God, the Son—Creator of the universe (Philippians 2:5-11). This is why Christmas is called the incarnation, a word which means “in the flesh.” In the birth of Jesus, the eternal, all-powerful and all-knowing Creator came to earth in the flesh.

Why would God do such a thing? Why would he come as a baby, instead of appearing in power and majesty? Why make himself a true man and live among us, when he knew full well how terribly he would be treated?

It was LOVE! It was necessary, if you are to be saved!

Merry Christmas and happy new year to you too. Hope you had happy holidays.

I am hopeful that Iraq will get better but I just don't see it happening. We'll have to leave sometime - sooner or later, and the Iranians aren't going to let such a juicy target sit by without trying to interfere. I think we would have been better off as far as terrorism goes if we just hadn't gone in. There are all kinds of horrible countries - Libya, North Korea, Iran, Syria, Cuba, China, etc. that violate people's rights and kill lots of people. But we can't just expect to use force to solve these problems. We can't invade them all. We've attracted tons of terrorists to Iraq and every person we kill creates a family hostile to the U.S. - and in war, you can't avoid killing innocent people unintentionally. We've got to do more about our reputation abroad, and invading where there is no clear basis doesn't help it.

intersting, but in vietnam we were fighting a war to keep a country from being overrun, a fight that wasnt ours. THis is Iraq and there are a lot of similarities, but there are common elements in any war. The sooner we train the Iraqi's to fight and get ourselves out of there the better, but for now we're obligated to continue what we have started.

Good girl this guy RW is hopeless. He is one of the 7 Americans left in the U.S. that think Saddam was behind 9/11. His logic woud probably have thought that in WW2 when we were attacked by Japan we should have bombed Thailand because they are also Asian. I think he may be the most uninformed member on this forum of all sides.

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BLIND FAITH IN BAD LEADERSHIP IS NOT PATRIOTISM

There are so many differences I am considering writing a book on them. The primary difference is casualties. We have a little more than 2000 dead in disposing Saddem. Initial estimates of casualties were much higher. In Vietman we lost tens of thousands. Secondly, I suspect we will have only a small number of troops in Iraq by the end of this year-maybe only a division and some special forces on the ground. The leader of Iraq is in prison and will probably be sentenced to death in a few months. A democratic government is being formed. Vietnam never had a democratic government and still doesn't. We have essentially won the war and the insurgents are being beaten down to rag-tag bunch of thugs-they are in exponential decay and Iraq will eventually take care of the remainder. The insurgents do not have a great power like China pouring resources into Iraq. Maybe you are wishful thinking.

Do you keep up with current events. You make it all sound so rosy and sweet. Lets see where the casualties are in 5 years. Iraq is on the brink of a civil war and because of it could become a terorist state. I do not think we should have gone in but now that Bush has created this mess we need to stay. Afet special forces by the end of the year. Lets see and maybe Santa claus will land his sleigh there and give out presents.

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BLIND FAITH IN BAD LEADERSHIP IS NOT PATRIOTISM

That is what the democrats would like the public to think.

Then they could start surrendering just like they did in Vietnam and Afghanistan.

I'm new on this board, but I agree and disagree with many points. I dont think it's as black and white as each opinion wants it to be. You can say, do we remember pearl harbor? yes. Do we remember pearl harbor enough to make sure we are not atacked on our own soil again? you tell me. Many administrations have past, each with their own agenda and problems. Each campaining to have the answers to solve the problems of the previous administation, even before they ever encounter the problems themselves. Each claiming the other is totaly incompitent of running the country.
I have a son going to Iraq in a couple of months. I have a best friend who's son came back from Iraq on leave for 3 weeks. He was gun ho and joined because of 9/11, 18 years old, 1st tour. I have never seen a more patriotic kid as him. When he returned, It was a much different story. He is discusted
with the objective there. He goes out at night in a convoy to see if there are any insurgents shooting at convoys!!!!!!!! If they take fire, the next day they go back to the same place and bulldoze, or burn down any fences, houses or cover on that stretch of road, as the land owners protest and cry and are forced to leave. No..... nothing like vietnam here. He says that 60% of the attitude is: there are 3 kinds of people here: insurgents, mothers of insurgents, and future insurgents, (children) The guys fight, because some try to give the starving children their rations, and others say they are suicide bombers in the making and threaten them with their guns and harsh threats to go away. He said nobody believes in the objective of driving around looking for the enemy.(cant find the enemy), no veitnam comparisons here! and just want to come home. He had to kill a seemingly peacfull man at point blank range when he was told to put his hands in the air, and he pulled out a grenade and tried to pull the pin. Would not talk about another kill made. Pride from remembering 9/11? No, survival. I have never seen a young man make such a change, from patriotic want to be hero, to, claiming stratigic stupidity on a massive scale. Anyhow I'd love to hear some more stories from anyone you know from the front, and or feedback on my post, thanks

The Vietnam war was a U.S. vs. Soviet Union in the cold war (democracy vs. communism). This is more of a Bush vs. anyone that said I couldn't.

Although, the second we step out of Iraq, just like Vietnam, the "bad guys" take over the country.

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-Locke

Vietnam was about the spread of communism. Iraq is a conflict that on the surface is related to terrorism, but has oil at it's core. Yet the first step in a conflict that involves not superpowers but ideals.

For years noises have been made about iran in the media, and lately it is gathering momentum. Things rarley go off without a climax and it's not one I would like to see.

As for similarties, there are. Yet very few countries who have been "liberated" have not then had a civil war.

The paranoid public for the powers at be is comodity they would rather have than not.