Can somebody please explain to me how the war in Iraq is a war against global terrorism?

Question

President Bush repeatedly echoes the same cliché:

“We’re fighting them (terrorists) over there so we don’t have to fight them here.”

This makes no sense whatsoever. How did this invasion of a sovereign nation, supposedly to uncover an arsenal of WMD, turn into a global war on terrorism? If we end the war tomorrow and redeploy all our troops, are we to believe that all the terrorists in Iraq will hop on a plane and come to America? How does the war in Iraq prevent terrorist attacks elsewhere? This rationale to continue the war just doesn’t make sense. Terrorism is a global issue. Terrorists live in virtually every major country in the world. There were few, if any terrorists in Iraq before we invaded this country. The growing numbers of insurgents are there because we’re there. How do we measure victory in Iraq? What events need to take place before we declare victory in Iraq and proclaim that we have won the global war on terrorism. Am I the only one who doesn't get it?

NOTE TO BIGGEN: Thanks for your answer. Although comprehensive, your history lesson did not really address the fundamental question.
#1 - I did not suggest that we "Cut & Run". #2 - When we kill Osama bin Laden?! How can we do this when six months into the Iraqi war, Bush stopped searching for him? "I don't know where he is; I just don't spend that much time thinking about it."
#3 There is no comparison to what Hitler did and what Saddam did.

NOTE TO LADYSABLE:
You could explain it but I wouldn't listen? It's more likely that you can't explain it so you're copping-out. Nice try.

Answer 1

I was told earlier today that 'War on Terror' is 'political narrative', its an ideal, an abstract concept that gains popular belief in order to justify a political action. It has no bearing on why those actions are being performed at all. Which makes sense for me anyway.

Answer 2

It is just a spin that Bush puts on everything, like cutting programs to help the poor, "they were wasteful and not working anyway." Or how about the biggest lie of all, "we are cutting taxes for everybody across the board" when we as Americans know that it was a tax cut for the very rich. So fighting terrorist on their own ground is just another spin for I got you in this war based on a lie and now we are "stuck in Iraq" I have to make up something to justify 10 billion dollars a month going to this lost cause.

Answer 3

Though Islam is the continuation of Abrahamic; Judeo-Christian beliefs and the religion was there before Prophet Muhammad, if you are excluding islam from abrahamic teachings, you can just check the time before the advent of Prophet Muhammad.. the whole world were in wars and terrorism.. including Arabian peninsula where tribal fights took many lives.. [1] And even after his advent.. Imagine the 20th century violence and compare the roles of "Muslims" in it to the so called peace loving "Christians". [2] So, there are arrogants, terrorists in every religion.. But, do they represent the teachings of these religions? This is the case. [3] And, about the so-called war on terror.. It is the colonialism of the US government and nothing else.. Ok. Blessings to you and your family. ma salam

Answer 4

First of all, it is the main battlefront in the Global War on Terrorism because the Terrorists say it is.
Second, please stop quoting talking points. The WMD reason was 1 reason of about 30. Also EVRYONE, I mean EVERYONE, Democrat, Republican, Russian, Chinese, French, English, Germans, Iranians, etc. thought that Iraq was trying to get and working on Atomic weapons. They did have and did use Biological and Chemical weapons (they used them and we found some after the invasion) which are classified as WMD.

Al Queada, The Muslim Brotherhood etc are sending fighters to Iraq. They have been losing them in droves; their recruitment is down because of the lack of success. If we "Cut and Run" from Iraq like you are suggesting it will prove that we are a Paper Tiger, much like they claimed after Somalia. That will be the biggest recruiting tool that they could have.

You need to watch the DVD Obsession. Even after we win in Iraq and kill Osama Bin Ladin, it will not be over. The Fundamentalist/Fascist Muslims want to form a world Caliphate (their words). The US, Europe and the rest of the world will not be safe unless we convert (their words again). There is a group within the Islamofascists that call themselves the "Twelvers". They are trying to create the conditions that will allow the 12th Imam or Mahdi to return. The condition needed for him to return is Armageddon. That is what Iran and Alsadr of Iraq believe. Even Osama Bin Ladin thinks they are nuts.
The only way we can win the war on terror is to give the people hope of a better life. By leaving them under the brutality of despots, religious or otherwise will just fuel the fire.

Also we as a people have a responsibility to defend Israel (I am not Jewish so no name calling please). We carry allot of guilt for our past in actions, we did not do anything to save the Jewish people before WWII. We turned away boats of refugees in order not to anger Hitler. Therefore we take upon ourselves now to ensure the survival of Israel. We had a base with missile defenses in Saudi Arabia, we had to leave. We now have a new base of operations in Iraq. If Iran wants to launch any Nuclear missiles at Israel (which they have promised to do), they have to fly over Iraq. Also if they launch any at Europe (which they have intimated that they could do) we would be able to shoot most of them down from Iraq.

Answer 5

That's Bush rhetoric about an was that never should have happened. Unfortunately, Bush and his cronies lied and we are in a war similar to Viet Nam. I agree this war has created more terrorism. Going to Afghanistan to get Osama - well, that I can understand... instead, Bush went to Iraq to get Saddam (he tried to kill his daddy) and to protect his oil-interest buddies. We can't leave Iraq with a victory.... how can you fight an enemy when you don't even know who he/she is? No, you're not the only one who doesn't get it.

Answer 6

No, you aren't. I don't get it either. This is just like the "war on drugs". It is not a winnable war, it is a problem which must be managed and minimized. If we were doing this properly, it should not even resemble a war as most people think if it, as far as I can tell. I thought we were supposed to be using alot of clandestine methods to infiltrate terror training camps, etc and kill those people, not invade a country like we did in Iraq. This just exacerbates the problem.

Answer 7

No one can. And I told you bush, quit trying to use yahoo answers for the problems you drug our country into! Just Kidding. It is a pointless vendetta with hopes to be remembered. Think about it, when you name recent presidents, from Lincoln on, most people can only name presidents who were in power during a terrible war. this is Bush's terrible war and his name of infamy.

Answer 8

The War on Terrorism is actually a racist War on Brown People. Notice that Bush has denounced only non-whites for having nuclear material? Bush's racist intentions have been proven once again!
If you aren't white, Christian nor conservative then you are to be tortured and have your rights as a human being taken away from you.

Answer 9

Because he said so, and if you read some of the things written here you understand why reality has no meaning for the devoted followers of GB

Answer 10

Because we are fighting jihadis...

you dont really believe that terrorism is solely a war based on borders do you?

You couldnt really be that naieve?

I guess you can...