Was the Iraq war the right thing to do??

[aulbjerg 0]

All we hear in Europe (Denmark) is that most Americans think it was a mistake...
And that we never should have started the war...
What is your opinion??

---
BLUES - Jacob
D-601, Denmark

[Botellines 0]

No, it was not. It was an unfair war to protect american interests at best or some american´s interests at worst.

[nacmacfeegle 0]

Deposing Saddam Houssein was the right thing to do, however, it should have been done with the support/approval of the UN.

Defending the rights of the 'little people' is a noble cause, its application in this instance is puzzling as many other brutal and inhumane regimes exist quite happily and still do business with our (UK included) governments.

The whole WMD issue is a farce and I'm not even going to talk about it here, on this thread.

--------------------

He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me. Thomas Jefferson

[pajarito 0]

Quote

All we hear in Europe (Denmark) is that most Americans think it was a mistake...
And that we never should have started the war...
What is your opinion??

A poll on dz.com is not anywhere near an accurate representation of U.S. opinion as a whole on this topic.

[rehmwa 2]

Quote

it should have been done with the support/approval of the UN.

Who thinks that was even remotely possible under any scenario?

...
Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

[nacmacfeegle 0]

"Who thinks that was even remotely possible under any scenario?"
Bush and Blair, they did ask for approval (twice?), but didn't get it.
Then they used the UN resolution as a justification for action, thats taking the law into your own hands in my book.

But like I said, deposing SH was the right thing to do, if only a cast iron justification could have been tabled.......ah but we've all been here before, and I don't see any point in re-opening those arguments.
Not now, its five to five on friendly friday.....
Have a good weekend all, cool beers, and gin and tonic await me, and anyone else who happens to be passing by Auchenblae..

--------------------

He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me. Thomas Jefferson

[quade 4]

See http://www.pollingreport.com/iraq.htm

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[TypicalFish 0]

No, in my "one vote" opinion, it was not. We could debate why that is so for page after page, but for me it comes down to a few simple points:

America is NOT safer, the only thing the war has done as far as Al Quaeda is concerned is galvanize the Muslim world to their cause. It has been their best recruiting tool in years. Not to mention that Iraq will be another Afghanistan once we pull out.

Though I think EVERYONE can agree that Saddam and his two sons were bad men, there was no real reason from the standpoint of a threat to US security to remove them. The HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS of dollars spent on the war should have spent on securing our homeland FIRST (and for those of you who think it already secure, I will not even dignify it with a response; I can see the port of Long Beach out my window and could probably tell you a dozen ways to get multiple containers into this country), then we could have the luxury of going after Saddam, et al.

We have stretched the resources of our military to the point where it cannot effectively do it's job without drawing on additional resources (by the way, I support a draft if one is required to keep my country safe).

As a side note to the above, I think that we have also given our "unstoppable" military a black eye on the world stage; if you think it is lost on planners in North Korea, China, and Iran that we are having difficulty occupying a small backwards country without an effective military of it's own, you have another thing coming.

Our unilateralist attitude has hurt our diplomatic negotiation position. Having given the world a look at our "f%$# 'em" attitude, I do not think we are any longer in the place to negotiate as effectively as we once were.

And finally, American soldiers, who put their lives in harm's way to defend our way of life, have DIED in the desert for a cause that has only made our situation worse.

Again, just my "one vote" take on it.

Edited for spelling.

"I gargle no man's balls..." ussfpa on SOCNET

[billvon 2,997]

>Who thinks that was even remotely possible under any scenario?

France and Germany both said they were OK with a deadline (30-90 days) with the use of force after that if he did not comply with clearly listed objectives. We invaded a few days after we heard that; I think there was a bit of a panic that we might not get our war.

[billvon 2,997]

>A poll on dz.com is not anywhere near an accurate representation of
>U.S. opinion as a whole on this topic.

Agreed. There are a lot of very vocal pro-war people on this board; it's easy to forget that most americans now do not think we did the right thing in Iraq. From CBS news two months ago:

----------------------------------------------------------

(CBS) One year after the declared end of major combat in Iraq, Americans have new doubts about the war and doubts about what the Bush Administration has said about it.

Just 32 percent, the lowest number ever, say Iraq was a threat that required immediate military action a year ago.

Less than half, 47 percent, now say the U.S. did the right thing taking military action in Iraq, the lowest support recorded in CBS News/New York Times Polls since the war began.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/04/28/opinion/polls/main614605.shtml

[skydyvr 0]

Quote

All we hear in Europe (Denmark) is that most Americans think it was a mistake...
And that we never should have started the war...
What is your opinion??

According to your own poll, you in Denmark must be hearing the wrong thing.

(It's known as propoganda)

I believe the American population is divided evenly on this question.

. . =(_8^(1)

[DJL 235]

It was the right thing to do. SH is guilty of crimes against humanity. It was for the wrong reasons (excuses) and I'm pissed at this country's leadership for making us look like a bunch of jack-asses.

"I encourage all awesome dangerous behavior." - Jeffro Fincher

[quade 4]

Quote

I believe the American population is divided evenly on this question.

Your beliefs may be based on non-current data.

According to most polls, most people in the U.S. think it was a mistake.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[skydyvr 0]

Quote

According to most polls, most people in the U.S. think it was a mistake.

You mean the exit polls at screenings of F911, right?

. . =(_8^(1)

[quade 4]

Quote

You mean the exit polls at screenings of F911, right?

No. As I've posted before . . . see http://www.pollingreport.com/iraq.htm and read all of the polls. Individual polls maybe somewhat biased, but if taken as a whole, I think you'll see that the majority of Americans think the war was a mistake.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[Nightingale 0]

nope.

we needed to get the backing of the UN, and, IF invasion was warranted, it needed to be a global effort.

At the time we went to war, we didn't have the appropriate information. We should have waited for the UN.

I don't believe one country has the right to invade another when that country hasn't attacked it. IF it was some kind of "human rights effort" (and we all know better), it should've been with the support of the UN.

[jdhill 0]

Q,

Based on the data on the link you provided earlier... looking at all the different polls, it is statistically even (within the margins of error).

If I were framing my decision purely based on GWB's stated justifications, I would vote no. Given the totality of the Iraq question, and history over the last decade, I vote yes... and we should have done it several years ago.

J

All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing. - Edmund Burke

[jdhill 0]

Quote

country hasn't attacked it.

Iraq had been shooting at US and British aircraft for the last 12 years... How long do you shoe at flies before your get the fly swatter?

J

All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing. - Edmund Burke

[quade 4]

Quote

Iraq had been shooting at US and British aircraft for the last 12 years... How long do you shoe at flies before your get the fly swatter?

That's hysterical. The only reason they were shooting at us is because we were trying to enforce no-fly zones over their country. Forget the resons why and just imagine some other country (or in this case group of countries) trying to enforce a no-fly zone over the U.S. -- Hell, I'D take a pot shot at them ever now and then too!

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[skydyvr 0]

Quote

No. As I've posted before . . . see http://www.pollingreport.com/iraq.htm and read all of the polls.

Interesting, thanks for posting it again.

It looks like the results depend on how the questions are phrased, directing poll responders about which aspect of the war to consider. The most interesting question to me was:

"Do you think Saddam Hussein was personally involved in the September 11th, 2001, terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon?"

I can't believe 41% of the populace answered yes to this question just last week.

. . =(_8^(1)

[jdhill 0]

But the beloved UN authorized the no-fly zones... Why? Because SH liked to have his aircraft shoot his population.

And they were rarely pot shots, they were SAM's, and not the shoulder fired kind. Hell, they even threated to fire on a UN sponsored U2 flight.

J

All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing. - Edmund Burke

[Gawain 0]

Quote

All we hear in Europe (Denmark) is that most Americans think it was a mistake...
And that we never should have started the war...
What is your opinion??

Your news reports in Europe are incorrect.

It was the right thing to do and I'm glad we did so, even after we appealed to the UN and the UN chose to do nothing.

The world stood by in Rowanda. The US stepped in too late in the Balkans (while the world stood by). The US took a leadership role where everyone wished the UN would on Iraq and stepped in (while the world would've stood by). The UN and world (mark my words) will flail and stand by in Sudan. I hope the US will not let Sudan be another Rowanda.

It's the same old story but this time I hope the US doesn't go back to sleep.

So I try and I scream and I beg and I sigh
Just to prove I'm alive, and it's alright
'Cause tonight there's a way I'll make light of my treacherous life
Make light!

[quade 4]

Again, regardless of the original intent of the no-fly zones, he was only shooting at U.S. aircraft because they were over his country. We'd do the exact same thing.

I'm not apologizing for him, but I certainly understand his actions in that case. What is surprizing is that he -didn't- do more.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[billvon 2,997]

>"Do you think Saddam Hussein was personally involved in the September
>11th, 2001, terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon?"

>I can't believe 41% of the populace answered yes to this question just last week.

Why? It's a connection that was strongly inferred by the White House for months leading up to the war. Heck, in his letter to Congress declaring his intent to wage war on Iraq, one of the reasons he listed was:

"acting pursuant to the Constitution and Public Law 107-243 is consistent with the United States and other countries continuing to take the necessary actions against international terrorists and terrorist organizations, including those nations, organizations, or persons who planned, authorized, committed, or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001."

I can understand how people might be misled.

[quade 4]

So, ya wanna place any bets on what Iraq looks like in a year or two?

I think it's FAR TOO EARLY to claim any sort of success in humanitarian terms (and in terms of finding WMDs . . . I think we can call that a total failure).

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver