war in iraq!!opinion on imperialism?

Question

aside from alll of the other issues surrounding the war, what is your opinion on "operation free iraq?" don't you think its a little(VERY) self-righteous of us as americans to barge into another country and force our way of life on them??? WE may think its wrong to opress women, but thats part of their culture, right?? Basically, my question is, do you agree with americans going into iraq to change their way of life, and to impose our way on them?

ok! i said ASIDE FROM ALL OTHER ASPECTS..im just asking for opinions on imperialism..not oil, not bush being a MORON, not nuclear weapons JUST IMPERIALISM..and i know that they all tie into one anotherr, but im just wondering about that one issue...thanks

Answer 1

Supposedly we invaded Iraq because they had WMD or would develop WMD and attack us some time in the future.

When I was in grade school I beat a kid up because he said he was going to get his brother and beat me up. I figured it was self defense.

I got in a lot of trouble and my parents had to come get me from school. The Principal joked with my dad that another kid was going to hit me so I hit him back first.

So, as far back as I remember, this pre-emptive self defense thing has been wrong.

Answer 2

It would be Imperialism if Americans took what they conquered.

All the Iraqi's would be killed or rounded up and Mexicans would be pumping the oil directly into US supertankers if the US were a true imperialist power.

The problem is that the US is too nice to a lot of countries that don't deserve it.

More directly to the question:
What is wrong with self righteous?

Whether you like it or not American ideals are becoming pervasive on Earth. This is not a bad thing, it means the spread of capitalism, law, wealth and education. some recipient cultures have a harder time adjusting ot the 21st century way of doing things, but ultimately US foreign policy is about serving American Interests.

It so happens that US interests serve more international citizens than any other. Someone has to dictate to the world, better you than the alternatives.

Do not be so naive that you think the world is a magical cuddly place where problems solves themselves. It is a chaotic sandbox where the biggest kid calls the game.

I say this as a non American, so I don't believe I have a political axe to grind.

You have my leave to "imperialize"

Answer 3

Here's the problem: We went into Iraq because Saddam repeatedly refused to comply with the UN and the UN Inspectors, concealing information from the Inspectors, and without someone physically looking at his inventory- the world was forced to rely on faulty "intelligence" to determine whether or not he had weapons of mass destruction. Part of the penalty was to remove Saddam and his government from power and replace it with something less threatening- hoping that democracy would be more amiable to the people of Iraq and a benefit to the region.

Was it self-righteous? Because the United States was leading the way and is familiar with democracy, it was an obvious choice- let the people decide how to build their democracy. If the US recommended, say- communism, there would've been an uproar of legendary proportions immediately instead of the wait and see most took.

In light of all this, your question appears guided by the premise that many follow in our country when talking about religion in our country. It's not the same thing. They have 3 major factions in Iraq and I doubt you would survive in any of them, so before you rant about how the country does this or that, take a deep breath and ask yourself how much you like your freedom. There are those who wish you not to have it- and that time may be sooner than later considering the present climate of politics. Think about it.

If the one thing you are worried about is "Imperialism" then I have a question for you: Why are we allowing them to govern their own country if we are being imperialistic?

The question you could have asked but didnt was "What happened to all of the other countries that voted and approved of the UN resolution to use force if necessary then backed out for America to foot the bill?" In fact, I think I will ask that myself.

Answer 4

Okay, I'll actually answer the question:

"Don't you think it's a little self righteous to barge into our country and force our way of life on them?"

It might be - if we were in fact doing so. Personally, I think there are sharp limits to cultural relativism. It's wrong to off your countrymen because they are your political opposition. Period.

But as the news from those who are in Iraq makes clear, we are *NOT* imposing anything upon them. We replaced a murderous, terrorist supporting dictator who was thought by all intelligence agencies of the world to possess chemical and biological weaponry, and was, as Joseph Wilson's own report makes clear, attempting to acquire nuclear weapons.

There are any number of Iraqi citizens blogging, not to mention members of the Coalition military, and their writing makes it clear to me that the Coalition wanted Saddam Hussein gone, but beyond that, most stuff was negotiable. It's just that democracy gives Iraq the best chance at stability and a growing future rather than the Ba'ath stasis of the previous 35 years, and the Iraqis themselves have taken to it.

If the US government could make one wish about Iraq, it would likely be drawing the Kurdish provinces closer to the rest of Iraq rather than their mostly autonomous current state, which really irritates our steadfast allies, the Turks. But even though we clearly have the force to prevent it, we are not preventing the autonomous drift of the Kurdish provinces. That is exhibit one in my counterclaim.

Exhibit two is that other than obvious security concerns, the Iraqis have been permitted to make their own mistakes. The Coalition has dictated nothing about their government or the way it acts. This has caused some major foul-ups, but they are necessary foul-ups as the steps to prevent those particular foul-ups would have short-circuited any hope the Iraqis had of running their own lives.

Oh, and I think it's wrong to beat up women, too, regardless of whatever the Koran may say about as long as the stick not thicker than your thumb. Suppose your father converted to Islam. Should he then be permitted to beat your mother? Or your islamic brother in law to beat your sister? Suppose your daughter marries an Islamic. Is it okay for him to beat her?

My answer is a flat no.

Answer 5

The war in Iraq is all about oil and creating a Neocon Colony, defened by American colonial forces.

Answer 6

If you drive a car, step forward and take your part in the credit for the oil war, period.