Whats the atmosphere like in US? I live in UK

[Gold_Disk]

Just wondering what the general atmosphere was like in the US as I live in England. It on TV over here virtually all the time and most people are against it, especially the asians. Lots of protests and what have you.

Just wondered what it was like over there?

[drisley]

Pretty much the same, although most here are not against it. About 30% are and they can be loud.

[Tiretool]

Here in the southern US (Georgia) you don't see anyone protesting it. Might have something to do with the fact that I live in an Air Force town. The only protesting I see happening is on TV.

Everyone here is just hopeful that we can accomplish the mission without large loss of life. There's alot of praying going on here, especially since this is part of the Bible Belt.

[Force Flow]

Up in the North East here, there are some protest rallies, but they're pretty small (under 50 people per rally). Most people are hoping that there is a minimal loss of life. Others say we should just nuke Iraq.

So, there are two small percentages of extremests for the war and against the war, while the rest of us are just going with the flow, hoping that it it ends quickly with a minimal loss of life.

[Hot Rod]

In North Central Iowa.....no protests. We're pretty laid back anyway. We have a National Guard unit that was called up and is currently waiting in Wisconsin so there is a lot of troop support here because we know people that may be involved shortly.

[doctorgonzo]

Anti-war protests here are pretty consistent, but that is nothing new. For years there has been a weekly protest on a bridget between Minneapolis and Saint Paul; the only change is that it has grown much larger. There are also fairly large protests at the University of several hundred to a couple thousand students. There was a "support our troops" rally over the weekend with around 16,000-18,000 people, but some participants were bothered when it strayed from a pure "support our troops" rally and people booed a Muslim speaker who supports the war. Then there are the solitary protesters who carry around signs and say things like "We should invade France next" and so on. Pretty standard stuff, I would imagine.

[David_Jones]

Originally posted by doctorgonzo For years there has been a weekly protest on a bridget between Minneapolis and Saint Paul; the only change is that it has grown much larger.

What is all that about??

[Gold_Disk]

Very interesting, thanks for your replies guys. So what do they Americans think about the british supporting?

[homer15]

it's been pretty much the same, except instead of normal tv shows everyone watches the news now. and the way comes up in people's conversations routinely, but for the most part we are upbeat.

[Paul Victorey]

Ir's pretty much as normal -- some people gung ho about the war, some against, most neutral. It's funny how now suddenly everyone's an expert about Iraq, though, and can regurgitate all the litte factlets they hear on the news.

[Mac Medic]

For the British support we are thankfull, especially since Primeminister Blair had put his neck on the line over this one and not back down, that shows courage. The UK has always been the strongest US ally, and it will not be forgotten i'm sure.

[Hot Rod]

That is funny Paul. I know more names of towns in Iraq than I ever that I would or even cared to really.

[shazam]

I for one am most thankfull for British troops. Also the aussies that you do not hear to much about.

[doctorgonzo]

People have been protesting the sanctions against Iraq for a long time. It just evolved naturally into protesting the war, when it came to that.

[Tiretool]

Very interesting, thanks for your replies guys. So what do they Americans think about the british supporting?

I think I speak for most Americans when I say that we feel stronger with the Brits than with any of our other allies. Tony Blair has really gone out on a limb to support the coalition, even though many Brits don't feel we should be fighting Iraq. And let me tell you this... when all the smoke clears, Tony Blair will have a hell of a friend in the US. We won't forget his dedication.

[drisley]

I don't agree with Blair's domestic politics, but that guy has proven to be a true leader. He's got a Churchillian set of balls. If the Brits move to oust him from office over this, it will be a shame.

[Mac Medic]

Unfortunately it appears he may meet a churchillian fate.

[raftero]

i don't know anyone who does NOT support the war on terror in my part of the country,and we appreciate your country for standing with us. the protestors are a minority who get the publicity.most of their leaders really are experts (actors,directors,singers etc.)on world affairs and what should be done.

[suitcase]

Then there are the solitary protesters who carry around signs and say things like "We should invade France next" and so on. Pretty standard stuff, I would imagine.

That would only give significance to that INsignifcant country. We wouldn't want to do that.

[Gold_Disk]

Wow a lot of support for the Brits and especially Tony Blair. He has stood his ground and i admire that, he has also one a lot of people over. As for his fate, only time will tell.

[TimPoet]

For those who have no one they know in the war there is either some protest or a lot of questions I've noticed. For those of us who have a loved one in the war there is a special fellowship of concern and a yearning for swift, complete victory as far as I have found. Except for my mother she just worries a lot about her grandson.
EDIT: Re: Tony Blair, I personally am very grateful to see a man who knows the right thing to do and just does it despite all opposition. I will never forget his leadership.

[AlwaysUp]

There are times, even though I am a staunch supporter of our President, that he were but a fraction of a millimeter closer to an accomplished orator as Tony Blair is. I am not at all sure that President Bush, as fine a man as I believe him to be; could withstand the hoo-rah-rah that Blair has to contend with in the House of Commons!

[TimPoet]

I honestly think Bush has a speech impediment.

[penetrecion]

I honestly know no one who is for the war... a lot of folks who just want it over and are concerned about the ramifications that it may cause afterwards. I personally feel there is a better to handle the situation... if you want to get rid of a leader, assassination is a whole lot easier on the nation than going in with an army, although it is difficult to infiltrate muslim nations...

[seanc1930]

Yes but their is the minor little detail about assassinating foeign leaders being against the law ( least in the us)

i never really understood that, we can bomb the building where we think (hope?) saadaam is located and kill everyone in that building (honestly tho if they are all willingly in favor of saadaam good riddance) but we cant send someone over with a sniper rifle and cap his stupid @$$?


ohh well just my opinion i think thats a little odd

[piasabird]

There are lots of liberals in the world who think there is never any reason for a war. They would sit on their hands till Sadam nuked isreal or some other country he does not like. Imagine Sadam taking out tel aviv or some other city. (spell spell)

[TimPoet]

Penetrecion (what does your name mean anyway?), you must live in a very isolated part of the country, one that is extremely liberal.
Sean, Bush made it legal to assassinate people like Hussein, if I remember correctly. He rescinded President Ford's executive order.

[jbbrown211]

I think things here are pretty mixed. A lot of the same stuff, the media just beats everything to death though.

[mr krinkle]

Gold_Disk I am from Iowa,Almost everyone supports the troops but many blame the US and Bush for the Failed Diplomacy that has created so much friction among our allies and many here in the states.

[AlwaysUp]

Why do folks blame Bush for failed diplomacy? Didn't you, like me, watch our efforts in the United Nations? Did people honestly believe that inspections were ever going to disarm this dictator? If blame could be leveled, it seems to me that you would have to lay the Lion's share at the feet of those countries, Germany, Russia, and France for having special relationships with Iraq that were in direct opposition to the sanctions that unanimously were voted upon. Read between the lines, folks. I applaud Bush for having the fortitude to publically and diplomatically prove what we always expected the UN to be. A group of self interested parties that have no real world authority.