SUMMARY OF PARTICIPANT RESPONSES
(32 Responses)
“When Do We Send In The Troops?”
Owensboro Area World Affairs Council
December 4, 2003
No. & % who
Survey Question checked item
1. U.S. troop deployment is justified when there is
a threat to our nation’s security 25 (78%)
evidence of genocide 19 (59%)
an oppressive regime 5 (16%)
evidence of a program to develop weapons
of mass destruction 14 (44%)
a threat to American economic interests 6 (19%)
Additional responses offered:
an attack/imminent threat to America on
American soil by another sovereign nation 2 (6%)
when that economic interest is just 1 (3%)
none of the above 2 (6%)
2. We should have a policy regarding U.S. troop deployment. 8 (25%)
We should not have a policy, but make decisions based
on case-by-case circumstances. 20 (63%)
3. We should be deploy troops as necessary, without the
support of the United Nations or international coalitions. 15 (47%)
We should be not deploy troops without the support of the
United Nations or international coalitions. 15 (47%)
4. Tax money is better spent on international aid/development
than military action. 15 (47%)
Tax money is better spent when addressing domestic
problems than world problems. 8 (25%)
Additional Comments by Participants (random order):
U.S. troop deployment is justified with U.N. consensus and valid proof.
Our actions mean nothing unless those we are intending to help have the will to help themselves.
U.S. troop deployment is not justified for control of oil fields!
The attack on Iraq was based on lies and was totally unjustified. The United States has made the world much more dangerous because of its actions in Iraq.
Let’s support our troops with whatever it takes to get the job done.
I believe we should not have a policy. We need to go to war not because it is to our advantage, but we should help people that are oppressed.
Policy should include the need to respond to evidence of genocide. We have the resources and should help the powerless. Policy should not limit us to response only when it is an economic advantage – we have a duty as a “super power” in the global community.
As shown by reasons for invading Iraq, false “evidence” is created/used to justify deployment, thus none of these reasons (from the survey) should be used.
None of the reasons (from the survey) justify troop deployment. We don’t need to send in troops ever! Stop drafting foreign policy according to “follow the money.”
We need to spend tax money on all the things suggested: international aid/development, domestic problems, as well as world problems and military action.
How about spending tax money on both domestic and world problems? Thank you, World Affairs Council, for this forum!
U.S. troop deployment is justified when there is a credible threat to our nation’s security.
Who knows when there is a threat to our nation’s security? U.S. troop deployment is justified when – in conjunction with the U. N. – there is evidence of genocide and evidence of a program to develop weapons of mass destruction, including stopping programs of WMD in U.S. This should never be done unless Congress approves.
U.S. troop deployment is justified when there is evidence of a program to develop weapons of mass destruction IF those weapons are a definite threat to the U.S. IF the rationale was oil stabilization for us then we are simply stooping to the level of thieves. The invasion of Iraq was not justified. It made our situation as to terrorists much worse. We should have concentrated on eliminating the Al-Quaida in Afghanistan before taking on Iraq. We have made our situation much worse.
For those who disparage most of our (U.S.) military campaigns – what major nation over the past two centuries has a “more enlightened” history? For those who despise us – where is a “better” nation? Where??