College Dems and Repubs spar over Iraq occupation
By: Rochelle McConkie
Issue date: 4/17/08 Section: News
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The College Republicans argued that the war has protected the country because there haven't been any terrorist attacks on American soil, ships or embassies since the war began in 2003, but the College Democrats said the war is diverting resources from the real threat in Afghanistan and acting as a recruit tool for al-Qaida.
"The war in Iraq has proven to be a triple blessing for al-Qaida," said Oakley B. Gordon, president of the College Democrats.
Gordon said the war has strengthened al-Qaida's support, diverted American efforts away from terrorists' core regions in Afghanistan and Pakistan and granted al-Qaida the convenience of striking at American forces without having to leave the Middle East.
Jessica Fawson, secretary of the College Republicans, said Afghanistan and Iraq are the same enemy. She said the United States has made progress in both wars by decreasing the number of terrorists.
Anastasia Niedrich, liaison for the College Democrats and the Queer Student Union, said this is not enough.
"If Saddam's gone, that's great, but we still have the Taliban," Niedrich said. "If one threat remains, we're not safer."
Niedrich, who works as a columnist for The Daily Utah Chronicle, said 74 percent of Americans don't feel safer because of the Iraq war, and the number of global terrorist attacks have increased from more than 1,100 in the five years before Sept. 11 to more than 5,100 from 2001 to the present.
Max Loveless, treasurer of the College Republicans, said there haven't been attacks on American soil since the war started, but before there were incidences such as the suicide bombing of the U.S.S. Cole navy ship in 2000, the Sept. 11 attacks, earlier bombings of the World Trade Centers and attacks on African embassies.
Viewing Comments 1 - 5 of 5
Gary Swenchonis
posted 4/17/08 @ 10:13 AM MST
What is it that some people cannot grasp the fact that Al-Qaeda regardless of if we leave the Middle east, will still attack America. They proved that fact in the 90's over and over again. (Continued…)
Llee
posted 4/17/08 @ 3:56 PM MST
4-17-08
Q & A's
Questions to be asked before drawing conclusions . . . .
Adding a few more awareness pieces for puzzling out and understanding the turbulent U. (Continued…)
John
posted 4/17/08 @ 4:15 PM MST
I agree with the previous comments. I also agree that Republicans are worse than Democrats. I mean, Democrats suck pretty bad too. I just think that Republicans are worse. (Continued…)
Llee
posted 4/17/08 @ 11:08 PM MST
Response to John
The longing for GENUINE political heroes and heroines grows stronger.
The feelings that you expressed resonate in a lot of people. (Continued…)
J.T.
posted 4/18/08 @ 2:31 AM MST
U.S. bases in Japan established following World War II allowed the U.S. to intervene in North Korea's invasion of the South in time to prevent a total conquest. (Continued…)
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