How would you classify the war in Iraq from a historical perspective?

Question

Is it most like the US involvement in WW1, WW2, Vietnam, Korea, Spanish-American war, first gulf war, or Grenada?

I can see myself making an argument for either of these. What do you think?

Answer 1

It's a unique situation for the Americans. It most closely resembles Vietnam, but with some very key differences. First, American involvement in Vietnam, like American involvement in Iraq, is based on the eradication of an ideological stance against an opposing ideology. However, American involvement in Vietnam was precipitated by diplomatic efforts (SEATO; South East Asian Treaty Organization, like NATO for Asia) and support for a legitimate government. After the French-IndoChina War (that's the one that removed French imperliasts from the penninsula) Vietnam was split between two recognized governments - Communist North and US backed South. Of course, both governments were convinced the other was operating within their country (both sides wanted the whole penninsula). That's a key difference between Vietnam and Iraq. Iraq was invaded by the United States under pretences of first finding weapons and then (after there weren't any weapons to find) under the pretence of "freeing the people" and spreading "democracy". It's interesting to note, however, that like Vietnam, most citizens of the Iraq were not opposed to the operating regime. Naysayers will point out genocides in the north, but it must be kept in mind that Iraq is a far different place than North America or Europe: as long as the average citizen's life is not bothered, they tend not to care and, in fact, support the regime.

Another intersting point is how much Iraq is beginning to resemble the Vietnam of the early 1960's. With the main power gone, the smaller factions are fighting for control of the country. The situation in Iraq is just as much a civil war as Vietnam was in the early 1960's, and it will likely only get worse. However, unlike Vietnam where the US came in at the behest of the goverment (albeit an unpopular puppet government undo Ngo Dihn Diem they were supporting), the Iraq War was caused by the Americans. The removal of Saddam Hussein's regime has created a power vacuum in Iraq that wasn't present in Vietnam where each side had a home base (Saigon and Hanoi). In Iraq it's a freeforall with each side fighting in individual cities and territories.

This could deteriorate into a discussion about US involvement in Iraq and Vietnam, but those are overdone. I think I'll leave it at that and only add, as a final comment, that the woman who suggested that it resembles the Cold War in any way needs to enrol herself in a 20th century American history class.

Good luck!

Answer 2

Wars are always about power. One side wants it the other side wants to keep it. The person or groups that seek power uses ideology (in one form or another) to flame the masses to want to make war. The old wars were about the power of kings and religious leaders. Note that when the masses rise-up that's called rebellion (the masses have no power except in numbers and that's why it is important to vote ...safeguarding freedom). Nowadays the reasons are a bit more complex. But somewhere at the bottom of it all is power, and keeping control of that power. Power is neither good nor bad it depends on who wields it. Which is why the good guys strive for democracy and the bad guys want to be dictators. Freedom is not a right we all have to earn it. It takes many years of hard work to become a democracy. Helping other nations achieve it paves the way to a better life for the whole world.

A frequent war cry is "God is on our side!" but the sooner we all learn that God is on no-one's side except the side of humanity, the better off the world will be.

Answer 3

I'd say the initial part with conventional U.S. forces fighting Hussein's conventional military forces, begun as a pre-emptive strike, was somewhat unprecedented, though the ground action looked a lot like the U.N. operations in Korea after Inchon up to the Chinese intervention.
Subsequent operations probably have their closest parallel in the U.S. intervention in Haiti in the years between the world wars, but on a grander scale. This may be disheartening to those who are fussing over an "exit strategy," as that lasted twenty years and ended with a less-than-complete success.

Answer 4

if you look at history and the reasons, the real behind the scene reasons for them taking place each is a manipulation by certain power bases of a specific event or series of events that will bring about the war that so many profit from. History repeats this over and over. The "war" in Iraq is to date the most blatant of all wars for its profiteering motive. Blood spilled in the name of greed will never ever wash out it will only be covered up by the winners as they warp history to suit their needs.

Answer 5

Probally a big mistake. The spanish american war was seen as a lie 100 years later. I think its takes at least 6 or 7 decades for the truth to filter out.

Answer 6

A bit like the first gulf war, more like Vietnam and Kosovo- sheer bloody madness seen from this century, last century, or the next

Answer 7

I think war with Iraq can be more closely compared to the cold war with Russia(and the Cuban Missle Crisis) and to WWII. In the war with Al Qaeda we could lose America itself to an attack when we are most vulnerable. And we will lose if we don't find alternate fuel sources. Al Qaeda will bomb the Saudi Oil refineries during America's next natural disaster and we will be toast.

Answer 8

A war entered into under false pretenses with no exit strategy and a maniacal imperative to win.....hmmmmm. Sounds like Vietnam to me.

Answer 9

a blight on US History and its decision making processes

this whole war thing was so a few small minded men could try to compensate for their "shortcomings". Its costing a billion a week, why can't that money go to help America's impoverished instead of cutting their aid to fund legalized murder

Answer 10

Too early to say. But its starting to look a lot like Vietnam.