Why dont we learn from the past e.g. we initially funded Al Qaida, armed Saddam, etc?

Answer 1

It was policy. "The enemy of my enemy is my friend." Iraq was fighting Iran, who held American hostages for about 14 months. So we backed Iraq. bin Laden was fighting the Soviet invaders in Afghanistan, and the Cold War was still going on, so the CIA funneled weapons, training, and money to them. The problem with this policy is that, once the "enemy" was defeated, we just left both to their own devices.

As interesting as the US supplying weapons and biological agents to Iraq was, we were also selling weapons to the other side, Iran (our enemy), and funneling the money from that to the Contras in the hopes that they would overthrow the democratically-elected Sandinista government of Nicaragua.

Those who don't learn from history are doomed to repeat it.

For m1a1mikegolf:
Report: U.S. supplied the kinds of germs Iraq later used for biological weapons
http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2002-09-30-iraq-ushelp_x.htm
How did Iraq get its weapons? We sold them
http://www.sundayherald.com/27572
Records Show US Sent Biological Weapons
Germs to Iraq
http://www.globalpolicy.org/security/issues/iraq/attack/2002/1001germs.htm
Did the United States Supply Saddam with Biological Weapons in the 1980s?
http://hnn.us/articles/1283.html
There is a bunch more, including a list of biological agents sent to Iraq in the '80s that's in the Congressional Record (Senate - September 20, 2002) called HOW SADDAM HAPPENED. Look it up here: http://thomas.loc.gov/

I couldn't find any Fox news sources. Sorry...

Answer 2

When did you stop beating your wife?

When you ask your question it shouldn't have connotative meaning built into it... such as that we are somehow repeating a mistake.

And if you remember when we were at war with Iraq the first time we were blowing up T-80 (IE Russian) tanks and shooting down MiGs. Russia armed Saddam... we gave him some sat recon for his war with Iran (our enemy) but that is about it.

And they weren't Al Qaida when they were fighting the Russians in Afghanistan. They didn't start that group till well after we gave them their SAMs to blow up Russian helios.

But ultimatley someone who was once your ally can become your foe... just look at Russia and the event post WWII. Just becasue we were once friendly with Saddam does not make it impossible for us to be enemies later.

Answer 3

What is really, really sad is the fact that you actually think that the US funded Al Queda and that we 'armed Saddam.'

Hint: ever notice how all of the people who claim we armed Saddam cannot actually point out any specific weapon or ammunition we supposedly gave him?

And anybody who is stupid enough to think that we funded Al Quaeda needs to read a history book or two.

Answer 4

That's because world history teachers never get nominated far president only a bunch of corporate cronies and ideologues!

Answer 5

You know what is a sad thing? We don't learn from the past. When we do, its usually too late.

Answer 6

Do you know what "Beating a dead horse" means?