Reflections on the Iraq War

[peter grimes]

Or maybe your education was simply not complete in regards to the topic:

http://www.amazon.com/Werwolf-National-Socialist-Guerrilla-1944-1946/dp/0802008623

http://books.google.com/books/about/The_last_Nazis.html?id=iqKfAAAAMAAJ

Biddiscombe argues that the group was poorly led, armed, and organized, and that it was doomed to failure given the war-weariness of the populace and the hesitancy of young Germans to sacrifice themselves on the funeral pyre of the regime.

Yes, this was an armed uprising - but do you think it rises to the level of native Iraqi resistance that the US Occupation experienced? Based on this description, I'd say No.

But this still misses the most germane point: that the Bush Administration LIED and SCHEMED in order to send hundreds of thousands of US military people on an adventure that killed hundreds of thousands of non-US people, and accused critics of being "unAmerican" at every turn.

The Iraq War will hopefully be known in the future as the Last Great Hoax.

 

[Dachs]

I believe they would be at war. Saddam and Iran hated each other. And with all their resources being pooled into the war effort, they wouldn't be able to develop nuclear weapons.

Why would they have fought a war in or after 2003 when they were completely uninterested in doing so between 1988 and 2003? What would have changed?

 

[Gary Childress]

What does "Iraq war yes or no" mean?

 

[Borachio]

It means, I guess, given the context: "Do you think the Iraq war was worthwhile, or not? (with the benefit of hindsight)"

 

[Patroklos]

my thoughts:

1) At the time I supported the war, but that's because Bush and pals essentially lied to me as well as the American people.

2) The war was a huge mistake.

3) What people (Americans in particular) fail to point out is the loss of IRAQI lives. Everybody is criticizing the deaths of American troops, which is great, but I happen to be of the opinion that Iraqis are people to. Far more Iraqis died in this war than Americans; they have a right to be upset.

Is that why I provided comprehensive sources detailing Iraqi civilian casualties?

The follow on observation is that if you care about Iraq lives at all you should have been all about this war both in foresight and hindsight.

 

[Gary Childress]

It means, I guess, given the context: "Do you think the Iraq war was worthwhile, or not? (with the benefit of hindsight)"

Context? What context? The first post is pretty non-descriptive. For all I know the quesiton could be, "was the Iraq war a mistake, yes or no."

 

[ace99]

Why would they have fought a war in or after 2003 when they were completely uninterested in doing so between 1988 and 2003? What would have changed?

I wouldn't think the nuclear programs in either country would be impacted by war anyway, if anything it would serve as greater encouragement. Iraq's nuclear program dates back as early as the 1970's. Iran's (civilian) nuclear program was similarly started by the Shah in the 1970's but fell into neglect during the Islamic Revolution, it was after the war around the early 90's that Iran resumed interest in nuclear activities.

 

[caketastydelish]

America took sides with iraq during the Iran-Iraq war.

 

[Borachio]

Context? What context? The first post is pretty non-descriptive. For all I know the quesiton could be, "was the Iraq war a mistake, yes or no."

OK. OK. Then take a look at the voters. Does that give you a clue?

 

[MobBoss]

America took sides with iraq during the Iran-Iraq war.

Well, so did most of Europe and more than a few Arab states.

 

[Gary Childress]

OK. OK. Then take a look at the voters. Does that give you a clue?

Maybe they all voted wrong!

 

[Azale]

What does "Iraq war yes or no" mean?

It was meant to confuse you. Mission Accomplished.

 

[Dachs]

I wouldn't think the nuclear programs in either country would be impacted by war anyway, if anything it would serve as greater encouragement. Iraq's nuclear program dates back as early as the 1970's. Iran's (civilian) nuclear program was similarly started by the Shah in the 1970's but fell into neglect during the Islamic Revolution, it was after the war around the early 90's that Iran resumed interest in nuclear activities.

Ex-freaking-actly.

 

[Gary Childress]

It was meant to confuse you. Mission Accomplished.

 

[NickyJ]

Why would they have fought a war in or after 2003 when they were completely uninterested in doing so between 1988 and 2003? What would have changed?

Not all countries can remain in a continuous state of war. Plus, Iraq was in shambles after the Gulf War. They needed time to recover from that war.

 

[Ajidica]

Ad populum brah.

No, more like your opinion would be criticized by everyone because it is wrong.

 

[Berzerker]

both wars were a disaster, bush-clinton-bush make carter-reagan look brilliant

 

[Dachs]

Not all countries can remain in a continuous state of war. Plus, Iraq was in shambles after the Gulf War. They needed time to recover from that war.

But, see, the problem is that there were no real indications whatsoever that either Saddam or [Rafsanjani/Khamani'i] was even interested in war. There were no real grounds for it. There was no real widespread support among the population. It just wasn't there. You're inventing a war crisis, even a war mentality, out of whole cloth.

 

[ace99]

Not all countries can remain in a continuous state of war. Plus, Iraq was in shambles after the Gulf War. They needed time to recover from that war.

Leave alone the fact that 12 years had passed (three presidential terms!) since the Gulf War without any indication that the Iraqi military would be in any condition to prosecute war at anytime in the near (or distant future) or had the inclination to do it. The same goes for Iran.

 

[NickyJ]

But, see, the problem is that there were no real indications whatsoever that either Saddam or [Rafsanjani/Khamani'i] was even interested in war. There were no real grounds for it. There was no real widespread support among the population. It just wasn't there. You're inventing a war crisis, even a war mentality, out of whole cloth.

Leave alone the fact that 12 years had passed (three presidential terms!) since the Gulf War without any indication that the Iraqi military would be in any condition to prosecute war at anytime in the near (or distant future) or had the inclination to do it. The same goes for Iran.

Hmm. True. I concede.