Who Has Really Benefitted From The Iraq War?

[Amazon 7]

http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/view/56240

March 24, 2008

The sad story of the worst misuse of the United States military (otherwise known as the Iraq War) could be summed up in the following statement: Never have so many suffered such loss for the profit of so few!

The question is: Who has benefited from the Iraq War or What has been accomplished?...Have the American people benefited in any way from the ongoing conflict? Have the Iraqi people benefited? Unfortunately, the answer would be no on both counts. As for what has been accomplished by our efforts, military accomplishments have been puzzling at best and more often than not, the only result is more dead American soldiers.

To date, we the American taxpayers have spent $500 billion on Iraq. The total price of this war is now estimated to be $1 trillion. That is a big difference from President Bush's promise that Iraqi oil revenues would pay for the war and reconstruction. We were told that the financial burden of this war would be placed upon the Iraqis and not the American taxpayers. Of course, that was a lie which now threatens to bankrupt this nation.

Now we get to the real cost of any war...Those who lose their lives under their nation's flag. We have now lost 4,000 American soldiers in Iraq. Additionally, 29,395 soldiers have been wounded, many of those young men will live the rest of their lives with arms and legs missing. According to the Pentagon, there have also been some 70,000 Iraqis killed since 2003.

There is no question that Saddam was a monster, and he did posess chemical and biological weapons. Howeevr, those facts should have never been a surprise. After all, it was we who equipped and counseled him for so many years.

While Saddam was a Muslim, he was not a religious zealot or extremist, he was described by most as a secularist. He was a longtime enemy of the Shiites who control Iran, as well as an enemy of al Qaeda. It would seem that this man could have been used much as we did with another useful despot--Joseph Stalin. The Soviet leader was a murdererous dictator, but became our ally because we shared a common enemy in Nazi Germany.

Just as Stalin did, Saddam would have made a convenient ally considering the current blood-thirsty state of the Islamic world. Who better to fight barbarians than another barbarian? However, President Bush and his non-veteran war planners decided that Saddam must be toppled and killed...Eventually, the invasion of Iraq and the persecution of Saddam will be remembered as the biggest military blunder in U.S. history.

Of course, the Iraqi people did not live in an ideal society under Saddam , but they did have running water, electricity, jobs, and they could go to the market without fear of being blown to pieces by a radical Muslim suicide bomber. Saddam ruled with an iron fist, and as a result there was no terrorism in Iraq. It has become apparent that Iraq can only function with an iron-fisted dictator at the helm. Despite the daily bombings and kidnappings, and a radical Shiite government now in place, Bush still tells us that Democracy is taking hold in that country and that somehow the Iraqi people are now "better off."


So we know that the American and Iraqi people have not benefited from the war. So who has?

It is no secret that Vice-President Dick Cheney left his job as the head of Halliburton to run in 2000. It is also no secret that Halliburton has received $16 billion in no bid contracts since the beginning of the war. Of course, Halliburton is not the only company now operating in Iraq. In fact, in December 2006 The Washington Post reported that there were 100,000 contractors working in Iraq (that figure did not include sub-contractors). Just as Gen. Douglas MacArthur once declared World War II to be: "an engineer's war," it would be fair to refer to the war in Iraq as a 'contractor's war.'

Another fact is that in 2000, we placed two oil men into the White House. Since the start of the Iraq War, the price of oil and gasoline has been steadily increasing, as have the incredible profits of the oil industry. In 2005, Exxon Mobil Corporation set a record as the first publicly traded company with quarterly sales over $100 billion. Could it be only a mere coincidence that when these two oil men were elected a barrel of oil only cost $20, and today that same barrel goes for $105?...While the bushbots rush to defend their leader and refer to selective price indexes, our economy is collapsing.

Our military has been stretched to the breaking point, the national treasury has been raided. Thousands of our young men have been killed and injured, while fighting under absurdly restrictive rules of engagement. It is obvious that the American people have in no way benefited from this war. Nor have the Iraqi people who now live under an oppressive Shiite regime, and risk life and limb to simply purchase their daily provisions.

However, big business has benefited greatly from this war. Of course, they have done so at the expense of American lives and taxpayer dollars. We the people are in fact supplementing companies such as Halliburton, Blackwater, and DynCorp to name only a few.

These sad facts are out there and available to everyone. It is maddening to me as a conservative to see that so few of my brethren choose to speak out about this ongoing outrage.

[434 2]

That article was a complete surprise!

By the way, thank you very much! We in Europe made big money to so far, but now we are also going to pay for your stupidity! Make sure Obama getting the oil price as high as possible and as quick as possible! We need high oilprices to get out the last availeble resources at best price as possible!

[Belgian_Draft 0]

And if we hadn't gone into iraq and overthrown Saddam, all the bleeding-heart liberals would be complaining about Bush and his buddies conspiring with a known monster (Saddam) just to keep al Qaeda away from the oil.
Bush is without a doubt the biggest idiot to sit in the White House in a long time, but I'll give him credit for having the balls to make a decision and to stick by it, (I don't agree with most of them, but that is moot)
unlike the moron who occupied the White House for eaght years before him.

HAMMER:
Originally employed as a weapon of war, the hammer nowadays is used as a
kind of divining rod to locate the most expensive parts adjacent the
object we are trying to hit.

[Amazon 7]

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unlike the moron who occupied the White House for eaght years before him.

tsk tsk tsk... ITs so unbecoming of men who are jealous of other men who are getting laid and getting blow jobs...

[Megatron 0]

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Bush is without a doubt the biggest idiot to sit in the White House in a long time, but I'll give him credit for having the balls to make a decision and to stick by it

So you commend him for imposing his reckless, uninformed decisions on the world?? The only thing worse than a fool is a fool who doesn't know he's one.
Clinton had his flaws but I would take him (or anyone else for that matter) over ol'dubbya any day.

[kelpdiver 2]

Couple problems with this article.

1) rise in oil prices. The rise in demand by China as well as developing nations were going to happen, regardless of US actions. The inability of supply to grow as fast as demand is no surprise. And of course, the article was written during the oil bubble, now the price is only about double what it was in 2000.

2) cost of removing Saddam is not cost of making Iraq into a democracy or stable nation. We're paying a lot more for this latter goal and occupation that we would have if we had left with Saddam in 2004.

[vortexring 0]

You'd give someone credit for making a decision and sticking to it!? Well, that's great. Credit where credit is due, eh? What if some mong made a decision to murder everybodies first born children, and stuck to it as well? Yeah, credit to the mong; He made a ballsy decision and he stuck to it.....I'd re-think your statement!

'for it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "chuck 'im out, the brute!" But it's "saviour of 'is country" when the guns begin to shoot.'

[vortexring 0]

I'd seriously love to see how things would be now if we hadn't invaded in 2003.

I wonder!

How would the situation be in Afghanistan too?

'for it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "chuck 'im out, the brute!" But it's "saviour of 'is country" when the guns begin to shoot.'

[stitch 0]

Military contractors.

"No cookies for you"- GFD
"I don't think I like the sound of that" ~ MB65
Don't be a "Racer Hater"

[akarunway 1]

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And if we hadn't gone into iraq and overthrown Saddam, all the bleeding-heart liberals would be complaining about Bush and his buddies conspiring with a known monster (Saddam) just to keep al Qaeda away from the oil.
Bush is without a doubt the biggest idiot to sit in the White House in a long time, but I'll give him credit for having the balls to make a decision and to stick by it, (I don't agree with most of them, but that is moot)
unlike the moron who occupied the White House for eaght years before him.

Another Bush word? . "EAGHT" LOL

I hold it true, whate'er befall;
I feel it, when I sorrow most;
'Tis better to have loved and lost
Than never to have loved at all.

[Belgian_Draft 0]

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You'd give someone credit for making a decision and sticking to it!? Well, that's great. Credit where credit is due, eh? What if some mong made a decision to murder everybodies first born children, and stuck to it as well? Yeah, credit to the mong; He made a ballsy decision and he stuck to it.....I'd re-think your statement!

Your question is totally irrelevant since Bush never made a decision to murder everones first born children, or anything even close to that.
It's a stupid question.

HAMMER:
Originally employed as a weapon of war, the hammer nowadays is used as a
kind of divining rod to locate the most expensive parts adjacent the
object we are trying to hit.

[normiss 801]

not if they're fat bitches with whistle blower, evidence hiding in anticipation of burying you in the future blow jobs!

He had HORRIBLE taste in women!

[vortexring 0]

It isn't. You said: 'but I'll give him credit for having the balls to make a decision and to stick by it, (I don't agree with most of them, but that is moot)'

What credit? It isn't moot. You might as well give any mong who makes an utterly wank decision credit then.

'for it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "chuck 'im out, the brute!" But it's "saviour of 'is country" when the guns begin to shoot.'

[akarunway 1]

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You'd give someone credit for making a decision and sticking to it!? Well, that's great. Credit where credit is due, eh? What if some mong made a decision to murder everybodies first born children, and stuck to it as well? Yeah, credit to the mong; He made a ballsy decision and he stuck to it.....I'd re-think your statement!

Your question is totally irrelevant since Bush never made a decision to murder everones first born children, or anything even close to that.
It's a stupid question.

I'm sure his direct actions caused the deaths of quite a few Iraqi first born. edit to add: What is a kid worth in barrels of oil nowadays?

I hold it true, whate'er befall;
I feel it, when I sorrow most;
'Tis better to have loved and lost
Than never to have loved at all.

[Belgian_Draft 0]

Quote

It isn't. You said: 'but I'll give him credit for having the balls to make a decision and to stick by it, (I don't agree with most of them, but that is moot)'

What credit? It isn't moot. You might as well give any mong who makes an utterly wank decision credit then.

It's a stupid question because you are adding hypotheticals to the situation.

HAMMER:
Originally employed as a weapon of war, the hammer nowadays is used as a
kind of divining rod to locate the most expensive parts adjacent the
object we are trying to hit.

[Darius11 12]

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but I'll give him credit for having the balls to make a decision and to stick by it, (I don't agree with most of them, but that is moot)

Being stubborn and impervious to facts is not really a virtue. Being able to admit a mistake and taking necessary action to correct it is.

I'd rather be hated for who I am, than loved for who I am not." - Kurt Cobain

[Belgian_Draft 0]

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You'd give someone credit for making a decision and sticking to it!? Well, that's great. Credit where credit is due, eh? What if some mong made a decision to murder everybodies first born children, and stuck to it as well? Yeah, credit to the mong; He made a ballsy decision and he stuck to it.....I'd re-think your statement!

Your question is totally irrelevant since Bush never made a decision to murder everones first born children, or anything even close to that.
It's a stupid question.

I'm sure his direct actions caused the deaths of quite a few Iraqi first born. edit to add: What is a kid worth in barrels of oil nowadays?

You mean indirect actions. Just as the indirect actions of every leader who has ever been in a position of authority during a time of war.
How many barrels of oil is a kid worth? You should know that as much as I do. After all, you enjoy the benefits from that oil as well.

HAMMER:
Originally employed as a weapon of war, the hammer nowadays is used as a
kind of divining rod to locate the most expensive parts adjacent the
object we are trying to hit.

[vortexring 0]

Quote

Quote

It isn't. You said: 'but I'll give him credit for having the balls to make a decision and to stick by it, (I don't agree with most of them, but that is moot)'

What credit? It isn't moot. You might as well give any mong who makes an utterly wank decision credit then.

It's a stupid question because you are adding hypotheticals to the situation.

No. Going by what you said implies you'd give any daft fucker who makes a ballsy decision credit, if he sticks to it. Even if you don't agree with it!

'for it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "chuck 'im out, the brute!" But it's "saviour of 'is country" when the guns begin to shoot.'

[Belgian_Draft 0]

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but I'll give him credit for having the balls to make a decision and to stick by it, (I don't agree with most of them, but that is moot)

Being stubborn and impervious to facts is not really a virtue. Being able to admit a mistake and taking necessary action to correct it is.

Only if the person feels it was a mistake. Bush didn't. Many others didn't.
I thought it was a mistake, but that doesn't mean it was. You thought it was a mistake, but that doesn't mean it was either.

HAMMER:
Originally employed as a weapon of war, the hammer nowadays is used as a
kind of divining rod to locate the most expensive parts adjacent the
object we are trying to hit.

[434 2]

You can ask the world if it was a mistake? Only Romania, Georgia and som few other miniput states will say it was a good move. Oh I forgot England!

[Darius11 12]

Well when you constantly hear about the reason for war, and then its own administration years later admits that the reason that we were given (WMD)did not exist I call that a mistake.
Now if Iraq becomes a democracy that’s great, but I don’t think our troops, our tax dollars, not to mention our prosperity should be risked to bring democracy to other countries.

The reason war was justified was imminent threat.

I'd rather be hated for who I am, than loved for who I am not." - Kurt Cobain

[happythoughts 0]

I always wonder why any criticism of Clinton will immediately
be met with a response of "Blowjob!". Even if sex wasn't mentioned.

I have never criticized his inability to maintain a mature long-term relationship with the First Lesbian. I really don't care.
(I actually understand and agree.)

I have always criticized his many errors as a president and gave detailed examples.
The response is always "penis".

This is going to be the format for Obama criticisms.
"Obama shows a bad health example to young people by smoking."
"Racist!"

Some people can't logically discuss.

[Belgian_Draft 0]

I have already witnessed first hand an instance of a person who voted against Obama because he is black being called a racist by some who voted for him for the exact same reason.
I voted for him hoping for change. So far I'm not seeing any, but I still hold hope.

HAMMER:
Originally employed as a weapon of war, the hammer nowadays is used as a
kind of divining rod to locate the most expensive parts adjacent the
object we are trying to hit.

[kelpdiver 2]

Quote

I voted for him hoping for change. So far I'm not seeing any, but I still hold hope.

He does have to take office, first.

For those of us interest in net neutrality, his Administration will dramatically change the stance of the Feds. Though at the same time, he suggested delaying the DTV cutover (bad), it will be nice having a President that is very competent with technology.

[Belgian_Draft 0]

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I voted for him hoping for change. So far I'm not seeing any, but I still hold hope.

He does have to take office, first.

For those of us interest in net neutrality, his Administration will dramatically change the stance of the Feds. Though at the same time, he suggested delaying the DTV cutover (bad), it will be nice having a President that is very competent with technology.

I was thinking of his cabinet nominees. Same ol' Washington insiders.

HAMMER:
Originally employed as a weapon of war, the hammer nowadays is used as a
kind of divining rod to locate the most expensive parts adjacent the
object we are trying to hit.