Is the U.S. invasion in Iraq a "No Win" situation?

Answer 1

Yes.

First, let me disagree with some of the answers posted by the claw-hammer crowd.

YOU CANNOT WIN A WAR BY FORCE ALONE.

Actually, let me quantify that statement. You can win a war by force as long as you commit genocide, i.e. killing every last inhabitant of the country your invading.

In order to win a war, you must do two things. First, you have to defeat the country militarily. In Iraq's case this was never an issue.

After you defeat the country militarily, you have to establish a plan to help the country get back on its feet. Doing so helps convince the population that you are there to help, and they become willing to help you as well. Instead of the populace viewing you as occupiers, you are viewed as liberators. This is the part where we failed miserably.

You don't waltz into an iron-fisted dictatorship with a long history of sectarian strife, remove the dictator, and think everyone will just get along fine with a new American Made Democracy (tm). That is arrogant presumption mixed with a healthy dose of ignorance.

There was a reason why Bush Sr. left Saddam in power after the first Gulf War.

Without the the threat of Saddam's regime, the old hatreds came back to the surface. The US didn't really have a good plan, so precious time ticked away. Today, we have hostilities between factions, and more hostilities between the factions and the US troops (who are viewed as occupiers, not liberators).

If we stay, we lose lives and resources. If we leave, most likely a civil war will break out.

More troops will not help in a war of ideologies, unless you use the method of extermination. However, then we are no different than the extremists that we are supposed to be fighting.

Indeed, this is very much like Vietnam. In that case, we did carpet bomb, we did napalm, and we did use agent orange. We even had a draft running to throw a consistent stream of machine gun fodder at the enemy. We still lost.

Certain individuals should learn from history instead of trying to repeat it.

~X~

Answer 2

Of course not. It is a difficult situation. America didn't used to shy away from difficult tasks. There have aleady been many wins in Iraq. Deposing the brutal dictator Saddam Hussein is a win. Having millions of Iraqis vote in 3 elections is a win. Turning schools back into schools rather than weapons storage facilities is a win. The Kurdish region of Iraq is prospering and living in peace now, rather than in fear of Saddam. That is a win. Most of Iraq outside of Baghdad is functioning fairly normally actually.

The situation in Baghdad in in some other cities, is horrible and very unstable. I think it is still possible to bring stability to Iraq and turn it into a functioning democracy. With their natural resources, and don't just mean oil, Iraq functioning as a democracy could be a very prosperous country. I hope and pray that that day comes. That would be a huge win, and as I said, I think it is possible.

What is it worth to make that happen?, is the question that needs to be debated. It could easily take another 5 years. I wish the entire world was committed to that kind of a resolution to this situation. It would make it a lot easier and a lot faster. Instead most people/countries don't care so it's left to the USA mostly on its own.

Answer 3

not in basic terms no win however the conflict will unfold previous Iraq's borders. If the Bush admin isn't careful the Afghan concern could spin as a good distance uncontrolled as Iraq already has. greater Iraqis are going to flee Iraq than ever over the arriving months. The death squads (that we've armed and experienced) have greater administration in Iraq than the U.S. forces—with the aid of a good distance. something of the international is conscious that the civil conflict happening is particularly a civil conflict.

Answer 4

Absolutely not

Its being lost because of blunders. You can win a war when you don't make mistakes.

The reconstruction efforts have been underfunded. The US claimed they were going to make things better, and they could have made good on this promise with a better aid scheme.

The army has worked against its own purposed by their own policices. The army has inadequate translators, hasnt taught their soldiers to restrain their behaviour or show any kind of cultural sensitivity -- so its no surprise the army has been making enemies since arriving in Iraq. They havent tried hard enough to distinguish innocents and insurgents They do house-to-house searches screaming at Iraqis in English and confiscate money or weapons that they find. You can be sure that they have turned many pro-American people into anti-American people from their own actions.

Answer 5

It isn't an "invasion", it's a "liberation". You don't have to win a liberation, you only have to knock-off the king/god/dictator/savior or whatever else the ruling ego calls itself. Mission Accomplished! Liberation up and running. End of planning.

Whatever these brilliant minds were smoking, they should have offered some to the people of Iraq. Baghdad is going to be Saigon in the desert.

Answer 6

Every war is a NO-Win situation. However, the US will stay until peace is established in Iraq. There is now no other humane option.

Answer 7

When the U.S entered Iraq, it got into a swamp !
It wanted to promote its view of democracy, to a country that has not seen democracy for half a century !

What should have the U.S done in the first place ?
After freeing Iraq it should have let the armies and military of arabic forces to force security , and let the Iraqis deal with the arabic countries ...

Than no one will have to say that the U.S invaded iraq ...
But it was tempting for the U.S for iraqi oil and resources !

Answer 8

Can it be a Win situation if:

- you invade a country on pretense that there is WMD and found there's none
- you send your bright, courageous young men to war, risking their lives, and separated from their families
- innocents are killed, but those numbers are only collateral damage to you
- you echoed "liberation", "rebuilding" but cannot deliver it
- you increase religious, political, military tension across the world with the invasion

What is there to "Win"??

Answer 9

If you believe the media's version of Iraq as the complete truth, yes.

Since it's not, and I don't, I think there is a possibility of establishing a real self-sufficient credible government there, but the lack of information about what's really going on is positively astounding.

Well, maybe after the media elects Barak Obama they'll start telling about it as if he caused it all. You'll believe it, so it'll be as good as true.

Answer 10

No, We have already won. Iraqi citizens actually have a voice now. Lets help them build the Country they voted for.