Does anyone remember the reason why we started a war with Iraq?

Question

Was it because they had WMD's....well that was a lie!
Was it becasue Saddam was linked to Osama....well that was a lie!
Was it because the terrorists of 9/11 were Iraqi...NOOOOO, the terrorists were mostly from Saudi Arabia.

So why the hell did we go to Iraq? I can't think of the reason!

Answer 1

Why Iraq Isnt Working



Although our justifications for invading Iraq have continually shifted to better suite our political interests, I will focus on the two most prevalent reasons and completely ignore the original, weapons of mass destruction charge. This leaves the waging of a global war on terror and the dissemination of Democracy throughout the Middle East.



We have heard the President declare that, We will fight them over there so that we will not have to fight them here. As a Military Intelligence Analyst who began researching Al Qaeda prior to the 1998 bombings, I have to ask the question, why Iraq? It is well known that Iraq was the most secular nation in the Middle East and was by far the least likely to harbor or support Wahhabist terrorists. The countries that we know to be sympathetic to Al Qaeda are Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Jordan, Syria, and Iran. Pakistan not only has a history of state-sponsored terrorism but also manufactures nuclear missiles. So despite Saddam being a bad guy, he was a bad guy who has about as much love for Osama Bin Laden as he has for the United States and was about as dangerous prior to the invasion as say Cuba, or perhaps even Jamaica. Is this to say that actual terrorists arent in Iraq? Unfortunately no, following our invasion, Wahhabist clerics and terrorists moved into Iraq in order to fill in the enormous leadership gaps we created in the turmoil of warfare. So after Rumsfeld decided to fire the entire Iraqi army, who incidentally maintain their own firearms, someone moved in to take control of this enormous unemployed gaggle and shape them into Mujahadeen trained insurgents.



The second reason given is a long range vision which was presented to Bill Clinton by the group, Progress for a New American Century and included such members as Donald Rumsfeld, Condoleezza Rice, and Paul Wolfowitz. This vision involved the establishment of a Democratic government in the Middle East which would act as a catalyst to the dissemination of democracy throughout the region. This is a delicate operation which involves setting the example and demonstrating the virtue of Democracy to people who have been ruled by the rod from the beginning of time.



This idea may sound noble; however, we would expect its proponents to understand the complex issues that would need to be addressed. Americas freedom was not brought about by a dozen disgruntled colonists flinging tea into the harbor. It took years of diplomacy, debate, and eventually, an organic desire to fight for our own sovereignty. Bush senior believed that after Saddam was defeated in Desert Storm, the people of Iraq would rise up and overthrow him. This clearly did not happen. It seems a bit optimistic to believe that after the forced removal of Saddam, that they would immediately embrace a democratic system of government which was about as familiar to them as totalitarian regimes are to us.



The greater obstacle is not the efficacy of our approach to either of these objectives; it is the attempt to carry them out simultaneously. It is in the vast contradictions which arise when trying to hunt down and destroy terrorists at the same time that you are attempting to provide an example of the freedom, justice, and virtue of Democracy. It is in this dissonance that we are pushed farther and farther away from our actual, indisputable objective; to decrease terrorism and its effectiveness in the World.



It is hard to demonstrate the justice inherent in a democratic system of government while adopting a policy of unlimited detainment of suspected terrorists and torture via extradition. While we are preaching about freedom to the Iraqi people they are reading headlines which describe searches without warrants, cell-phone surveillance, and automated data-mining operations involving millions of innocent Americans. These two objectives are clearly working against each other, you simply cannot play good cop and bad cop at the same time; we come off as a heavy handed schizophrenic. Both the CIA and the State Department have come forward and acknowledged that our decreasing image in the World has lead to more terrorist activity and a seemingly endless pool of young disenchanted recruits.



We are constantly told that our hope lies in the new Iraqi government and their newly formed Iraqi Army. The government, in their first bout of elections, elected the most religiously fundamental candidates into the Parliament. Many of the Iraqi soldiers interviewed by AP journalists claimed that at least 30% the Army was actually loyal to the fundamentalist clerics and were instructed to join the Army for the free firearms and training. A couple of Iraqi soldiers exposed the T-shirts hidden beneath their military jackets which had the Insurgent leader, Cleric Al-Sadr's face printed on them. They stated that they were simply waiting for the clerics to call them back and issue new orders. Meanwhile, After Abu Musab al-Zarqawis death, it was discovered that his cell-phone contained the numbers of several top officials within the Iraqi government. With the soldiers loyal to the Clerics, and the government communicating with Al-Qaeda, the rosy news from the rose garden just doesn't seem all that reliable. Is it even surprising that the CIA just decommissioned their Bin-Laden task force? The government is further decreasing its efforts to catch the terrorist Mastermind responsible for the September 11, attacks.



The objective of Al-Qaeda was to instill fear into Americans. They have been far more successful than even they thought possible. Over the course of just a few years we have changed our character. We have traded in our freedoms for what was supposed to be increased security. History has taught us that once we give up our individual rights to the government, we will never get them back. It took a corporate port scheme and a hurricane to demonstrate how little we actually received in return. Worst of all, now more than ever we are talking about patriotism, freedom, and Democracy, yet because of fear we have begun to give up rights which once helped define our greatness. At a time when so many are quick to decry that We support our troops! We are quick to receive our petty tax breaks and quickly forget that it is our tax dollars that provide the real support for our troops, not the hollow gesture provided by plastic yellow stickers.

Answer 2

Don't be so naive - Bush came out with a strong Idea - zero tolerance to terrorism - the left media and bleeding hearts made the message disappear..
All those warmongering muslim countries that support terrorism were going to understand the USA and any free democracy were going to stand up against these death loving thugs. Iraq, Iran, Syria,just to name a few would get a clear message that USA will not cower from them. In 1981 Israel attacked Iraq's nuclear power plant - in 1992 Iraq sent scud missiles over to Israel saying that it had chemicals - What about the chemicals used to kill Kurds in Iraq- a lot of the weapons were smuggled to Syria - If no one stands up to these lunatic musllim counties -hell bent on all destruction then we will all eventually be wearing turbans and burkas- the muslims have a plan and that is to disperse and multiply throughout the world which they are succeeding at and to get rid of infidels.

So if bush went first to Afghanistan then Iraq that's ok by me - we could have finished up this war if there were less bleeding hearts and not worry whether we are torturing the Iraq's with dogs while they behead innocent people - the only thing these people understand is power.

Answer 3

If i am rite US said that there is wmd and that it could use it against US ,so to stop the we have to pre emptively attack them and get them stripped off the wmd.

But the above reason was wrong and was also not the told by the UN also,once they did not find any WMD s in Iraq.

The actual reasons could be many.

One Saddam is a a very strong leader and with the amount of oil in his country he can build a very strong economy.
He has shown the world how to survive even with so many sanctions.US dont like any country progressing other than themsleves

Another reason the control of Oil which is very strtegic.

Another reason is to give a message to all Arab nations a message that better stick to trading in $s rather than going into Euros(there was a move by arab league to switch into Euros as it was more stable)

Another reason is to give Iran a message.

Another reason is to show off the weaponories and fighters bombs to the world to attract more buyers for the military hardware.After the first gulf war there was lot business for the US fighters missiles etc.A second one could boost it as its weapons were not getting enuf exposure after the first gulf war.

Lots other selfishes reasons also.. Not metioning all of them

Answer 4

WMD's were a lie? I guess Saddam gassed the Kurds with what? WMD's were found, but I guess according to the liberals anything made before 1991 doesn't count. I guess saving a country that have mass graves and suffering due to it's regime isn't a good enough reason. I hope if we ever had to live like that, someone like GWB would come along.

Answer 5

first we just released a staement showing they had nerve and mustard gases those are in fact WMDs also of course they had WMDs we sold them to them remember we helped Saddam take power in the late 70's early 80's. secondly we went to "war" (no declaration of war has been signed) because King George the First didnt get his **** done the first time so junior had to help his old man out. There was no reason to go to "war" with Iraq we just needed an *** to kick. also why are you so sure the "terrorists" were from Saudi Arabia. Yeah thats who they showed us but do you really believe that these 19 guys with trainning in smaller aircraft could hit a target with such presicion? I think you should ask yourself who benifits from this "war" *cough cough*Halliburton *cough cough* King George the Second *cough cough*.

Answer 6

well i remember what they told us, but the real answer is never that simple. America is an imperialist nation, with nothing but unilateral policies that threaten other nations and their security (essentially making us the real rogue nation and danger to society). Our goal (and by "our" i mean america's leadership since WWII) is to stay on top by any means necessary. Iraq was "important" for our imperialist goals because of its location in the middle east. we need to control the middle east because it's resources will dictate who has the money, and thus the power. granted that's pretty damn simplified, but its more truthful than any of that bullshit about 9/11, freedom, osama, wmd's and all that other trash thrown at the american public to cover up what was essentially and aggresive attack on par with iraq's invasion of kuwait, germany's invasion of poland, and on and on. it is another step in a constant struggle for control of the world and the assurance of this nations survival. i don't agree with any move the administration made, as their are always peaceful alternatives among civil humans... unfortunately, there are none to be found in the ranks of our leaders.

Answer 7

Because Bush thought they had WMDs even though they didnt they lied so they could threat Iran or some other country. S the cause of the war was really a series of lies. And Bush wanted to look cool.

Answer 8

I think it was a way of getting people's minds off of Osama Bin Laden and to make a grab for oil. The reason was as you said, some junk about weapons of mass destruction that has since been disproven. What are they still there? Because this is your generation's Vietnam. Be thankful they are not doing the draft yet, and for heaven's sake, remember to vote for somebody who stands for YOUR beliefs next election, if you are able to vote.

Answer 9

We are at war with Terror not Iraq technicaly we aren't at war at all. We went to Iraq to take Saddam out of power, get rid of the terrorists, and make Iraq a democracy

Answer 10

i think its pretty obvious... OIL.
the fact that American oil companies got monopolies over the reserves and upon invasion that's where the military went and protected is evidence enough on what the real reason for going to war with Iraq was
PS prettymomma you seem to think that Iraq had something to do with terrorism in the US. They didn't..... Just another piece of propaganda set forth to the American public before the invasion

Answer 11

B/c Bush is the oil man/wants to collect his $$$$$$$$$. He had to fake out the war with Osama so they could both get 1/2 0f the profit.


$$$ Hungry Bush