Why We are in Iraq.

I am interested in hearing everyone’s opinion of why we went to war in Iraq. I have done quite a bit of reading and listened to numerous interviews about the subject, and these are the conclusions I have drawn.

We were told Iraq possessed WMD’s that could have been handed over to terrorists to be used against the US, Great Britain, Israel, and others (including Spain and France). Although no concrete evidence has been published, I do believe these weapons were in Iraq before the war and were either hidden underground in the desert or taken out of the country, either to Syria or Iran. I don’t think even the most liberal Democrat, if totally honest, can dispute the frequency with which these borders are crossed and how easy it would be to smuggle weapons across them.

After hearing many arguments on the subject, I believe the primary reason we had to go to war in Iraq was to give the United States a strong military presence in the center of the hotbed of terrorist activity. Our presence in Saudi Arabia had been weakened tremendously as they were attempting to rid themselves of the US military. We were almost to the point of being kicked out of the Middle East. Iraq is central to the countries that are responsible for most of the terrorist activities that go on in the world today. These are of course Syria, Iran, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia. By having a strong military presence in Iraq, we are capable at striking back at any of these nations if elements within them are supportive of any type of attack on the US. We are now able to hold these nations accountable for their actions.

Before any liberals begin attacking with the standard “we went to war for oil” defense, consider these two questions. Since we began the war in Iraq, how many terrorist attacks have taken place within the borders of the United States? Isn’t it to our benefit to fight most of this war abroad rather than on our own soil?

 

This is one battle I want to fight on the away field versus home field. It is a lot easier for a terrorist to get into Iraq rather than the USA; so they are all invited to dance in Iraq with the US Military.

The Bush camp may never admit it, but this makes the most sense. The rest of your post I agree with too.
:usaflagwa :laflagwav :lsug:

 

We're in Iraq looking for WMD's! oh.......... my bad


We have no business in Iraq right now. We could have taken Saddam out at any time. In the mean time, OSAMA is snacking on chips and cookies in the desert somewhere.

We must use all the U.S. military force to find OSAMA. He killed 3,000 Americans! Saddam is a VERY BAD man but he NEVER sent "his men" over here to kill 3,000 innocent Americans.

 

Come on Crawfish,
You can't tell me sadam did not offer safe harbor for osama and his officers?

You can't tell me that sadam did not try to assassinate one of our ex presidents? I don't care if you like Bush 41 or not, you try and assassinate one of our Presidents you pose an eminent threat to our Country.

You can't tell me that if osama would have asked sadam for ingredients for a dirty bomb or VX gas to sneak into our backyard, he would not have hesitated providing those WMD to be used against us?

You can't tell me that sadam was not paying rewards to suicide bombers blowing up innocent civilians in Israel? I know Israel is a long way from BR, but if sadam could get an al queada operative to pull off a suicide bombing in downtown NY, LA, Pittsburgh, NOLA etc... He would pay their family a handsome reward, right?

You can’t tell me sadam and his party did not believe it was their unalienable right and obligation to maintain power of their country and kill us (Americans). Not that, that is bad to think, but when you believe this and have take constant actions to achieve these goals he becomes an eminent threat to his fellow country men and us as a nation.

You can’t tell me the only terrorist we are fighting in Iraq are Iraq Nationals?

You can’t tell me that militant Islamic terrorist from all over the world have flocked to Iraq to fight?

You can’t tell me, you and your family are not much safer because we are fighting terrorist in Iraq rather than in NY or NOLA?

I wish I had more time to craft a more thoughtful response but I just don’t have the time.

Please do not ever post again the statement that sadam NEVER sent men to our country to kill Americans. He most certainly sent men to our country to try and kill President Bush. And he has, and would have, continued to support terror against our country and our citizenry both home and abroad.
:usaflagwa :laflagwav :lsug:

 

Drink that kool-aid.

We have no business in Iraq right now. Bush made a big mistake. No WMD's.

We need to find Osama

 

IN response, BB, the 9-11 commission has proven that there was never a link between Saddam and Osama. In fact, it has been shown that they did not like each other and no proof of Saddam giving aid to Al-Qiada has ever been put forth.


The attempt to assasinate Bush Sr. did not take place in the US. It took place in Jordan, I believe. Even though this act was very serious, it was NOT an imminent threat on the US, rather a threat on the LEADERSHIP of the US. Had it been sucessful, there were (are) procedures in place for the continuous flow of leadership and certainly not an act deserving of full-scale war. (Re WWI). Bill Clinton retaliated against Sadddam for this act.



Saddam paying the families of suicide bombers in Israel has absolutely nothing to do with the US. It is a matter between he and Israel, if they chose to act on it. Even in the unlikely event of him paying the families of anyone who commited an act of terrorism on the US it is not worthy of a full scale war.


If we were not fighting in Iraq, would the Islamic terrorists be coming from all over the world to fight us there?


No we are not any safer here in the US because of what's going on if Iraq. The safety measures being implemented here are not affected in any way by what is happening over there. We can implement them whether we are over there or not. Because we are over there, we are now more likely to have terrorist incidents here and at the cost of the loss of some of our freedoms and money that could be used elsewhere.

I don't recall of any Americans that were killed in Iraq or anywhere else as a direct result of Saddam being in power except in the 2 wars we've fought with him. Do you?


I don't know how old you are but perhaps you are unaware that it is because of US support that Saddam came into and remained in power. We supported and armed him in the Iraq-Iran war. It is because of US (and its allies such as France and Germany and Russia and Britain) technology and support that he was able to obtain the WMD that we supposedly went to war over. The US never had a problem with him using gas against the Iranians. As a matter of fact, before the 1st Gulf War, Saddam considered himself to be a friend of the US. Syria has been proven to be more a supporter of terrorism than Iraq ever was. Why don't we go after them?



The fact is we are over there now and we can't just up and pull out. The anti-Kerry people think that is what he'll do if elected. Even he knows we can't do that. But Bush has no plan for getting us out. To continue on the way we have been is to just waste lives. We have to have help and we're not gonna get it with W in power.



Regardless of what anyone thinks, we never had any business getting involved over there. Afghanistan yes. Because the people who attacked us and those that supported them were there. But Saddam was no threat to the US or anyone else (except his own people, who now resent our presence more and more with each passing day and terrorist action) with the measures that were in place to contain him. In my opinion and in the opinion of many others, the world is not a safer place without him. For proof, just look around and read the news.

 

Syria has been proven to be more a supporter of terrorism than Iraq ever was. Why don't we go after them?



As I posted earlier, I believe we are in Iraq to eventually take on Syria and Iran if needed. Hopefully, it will never come to that, but if it does, we must maintain a strong military presence in Iraq to stage any sort of campaign against those nations.

Yes it is true we backed Iraq in the Iraq-Iran war. At the time, they appeared to be the lesser of the two evils. It is also a fact, as reported by the 9/11 Commision, the Clinton Administration paid $10 - $20 million ieach year in bribes to the Taliban. There was also a propsal to offer a $250 million bribe to attempt to find the whereabouts of bin Laden. Every administration is forced to make decisions that look good on a short-term basis. It is almost impossible to predict the long-term outcomes.

 

Exactly the reasons we should MOOB!!!!!

 

I think Bush probably wanted to go to Iraq long before 9/11. It started with Saddam's attempted killing of W.'s father. The UN controversy with all the problems Saddam was giving them just made W's case that much stronger. And after 9/11 - Bush figured he could use this to take people's attention away and move in on Iraq. Having a strong presence in the Middle East was also probably a part of the decision too. Anybody that says we went to Iraq for oil is ignorant. How long have we been in Iraq? I don't think this is Vietnam, and I don't think it is time to start pulling our troops out of Iraq yet. So, I'm not worried that Bush doesn't have a plan for it yet. Kerry's plan would probably mean prematurely lessening our presence in Iraq.

And the fact that Saddam is in power because of the US is no big suprise. The US has supported many people that they thought would do a better job than the (previous) governments. It was the same deal with Fidel Castro. I have no idea what that has to do with George W. He had nothing to do with putting him in power or him having the ability to make WMD's.

There have been WMD supplies like chemicals and such found in Iraq. I don't think its terribly hard to believe that there were WMD's in Iraq at one point.

 

Osama is on the run hiding out in caves like the vermin that he is. He won't stick his overly long nose out during the daylight for fear it will be blown to hell. The only thing he's snacking on is fear. That is if he's even alive. The dude was a candidate for the grim reaper long ago.