Why are we in Iraq?

Question

Should our troops come home? I personally think they should have come home 2 years ago. I think it was fine for us to be there before then but I wonder if we really have a purpose now. It seems pointless for our troops to be dying in Iraq for no purpose. Should we be shoving democracy at a country that doesn't want it and knows nothing about it? Or do they really want it? Are we fighting to protect the lives of the people in Iraq like the many that Saddam killed?

I'd like support for your opinions and if you are willing I wouldn't mind a source too. I'm doing a report comparing the Vietnam War to the war in Iraq and I can't believe how little I knew about what's going on.

Gotta admit, I'm not a big Bush fan.

Just to let you know I don't plan on using anyone's opinions in my report. We just discussed the war in class and I'm curious as to how others feel.

Answer 1

Its not about democracy per se, its about money. Always has been, always will be. Bush just used Afghanistan as an excuse to go into Iraq and your American boys have paid the price. Not to mention all the other countries that got pulled into it.

Answer 2

It's an important subject and too complicated an assignment not to ask for help of some kind (so many adult Americans are confused about one or the other war or both). I will help any way I can, but keep in mind that some teachers have a strong viewpoint and will give you a bad grade if you express a different viewpoint no matter how carefully you do your work.

The conflicts in Viet Nam and Iraq resemble each other in at least two ways:
1. Each is a case of trying to control a country where forces in the country practice unconventional warfare, small bands of guerillas who snipe or attack and run away with the purpose of terror and wearing us down.
2. Each has or had the additional challenge of outside resources being fed into the conflict against the U.S. (North Viet Nam had China and Russia helping them against the U.S. and South Viet Nam; the insurgents in Iraq have some known and some unknown allies from Afghanistan, Syria, and Jordan versus the U.S. and the elected government of Iraq)

They differ in ways that include the following:

1. Origins of the conflict (Viet Nam was to stop the spread of communism; Iraq was for various reasons, the most famous of the stated reasons being to prevent Saddam from sharing his potential weapons of mass destruction with his terrorist friends)
2. Death toll (Viet Nam 57,000; Iraq 3,000)
3. Activity level, i.e. how "hot" the war was and for how long (Iraq being largely supressed much quicker, leading to the much lower death toll.)

The voting in Iraq proves that the majority of Iraqis want democracy, however there are enough insurgents who benefitted from the former dictatorship that want to return to it and will do anything to make that happen. There are three groups--Sunni, Shiite, and Kurd, who should really form three countries but the obstacle is that they would have to share the oil with each other. The Sunnis and Kurds were opressed peoples before we arrived.

I would note that although WMD could not be found in any significant numbers or useful stock, and no strong link could be found between Iraq and Al-Quaida at the time the war began, we do know that Iraq supported terrorism in Israel, helping to fund it, and may have planned in the long run to send WMD there. They used WMD in the past on their own people and tried to give the world the impression that they still had them by refusing to let inspectors in (it was probably bluster in order to appear strong). It is possible they moved them to Syria as they had plenty of time to do so, but since that is completely unproven, we cannot make an issue of it, and may never know.

Also, we were at war with them before over their invasion of Kuwait, they violated the cease fire agreement, and they tried to kill a former president of the U.S. (Bush, the father), which in my opinion is not something you can forgive.

I think my opinions match that of most people when I say that the insurgents in Iraq have worn us down and that unless we come up with a new approach, by staying we are not winning but only delaying the inevitable outcome of civil war in Iraq. A civil war there will not be good for anyone and we are currently fighting terrorists who have joined the ordinary insurgents.

If your opinion happens to match some other(s) you find here, then you should use it since you will have your own reasons or a mixture of reasons.

Good luck.

Answer 3

You asked for research help not opinions but most of these people didn't really read your question.
http://www.iraqwarnews.net/ This is a website that has news,soldiers blogs, and many many resources to help support our troops. It is the real deal it is even archived in the Library of Congress as a historical account of the war, and world news.
http://patriotfiles.org/civilizationcalls.htm This gives a history of what lead to the War on Terror. A large number of people in this forum harp on our president for sending our troops to Iraq. We hear very little about the men and women who are also fighting and yes dieing in Afghanistan as well.
Last is an email that was circulated in 2004 written by an attorney to his sons. This document has had a lot of controversy because it was later cut and pasted by a retired Army Maj. and it appeared he had written it. This is what sometimes happens on the information highway. Who ever wrote it, it has a lot of valuable info.

Answer 4

I think that troops will continue to be sent to Iraq until no more can be sent out, or, until someone finally realizes that the war will never end. We might be able to cover it up or tone it down, but it will always be there. You would figure that after being there for several years they would come up with a new tactic and see that what they are doing is obviously not working and is just getting more people killed. The way I see it is totaling all of the people who have died in this war against those that Saddam killed. Saddam killed less, this never ending battle is only costing lots of money and the lives of loved ones.

Answer 5

I personally think that there isn't a WAR. Never was a war. Back in 2003 Bush claimed that Saddam was hiding WMD and declared war...guess what? No weapons were ever found...what is this "WAR" about? This isn't a war, it's an occupation...american occupation. Even soldiers on duty now agree. If you look at it, gas has been up since the "war" has started...we don't benefit from it...the economy is some 200 trillion in debt, yet Bush still manages to ask congress and get them to approve some $200 million for non-existent war? IRAQ is having a civil war but bush won't call it that...and as of Sept 2006 some $300 billion has been spent on war....that $300 billion could have eradicated poverty in AFRICA!!!

Answer 6

This is a war of ideology. Ours versus theirs. If we pull out of Iraq now we will still be at war. Their ideoology says we must die. I don't remember the viet cong continuing to kill us after we left. We can stay and fight them head on or run like cowards and hand their side - their ideology, a victory. I can guarantee one thing, they won't stop trying to kill you or I if we do lose our nerve and pull out now. This war couldn't be more different than Vietnam.

Wow I just read over some of the answers. I never realized there were so many Americans who just don't get it, are clueless. GOD HELP US, AND GOD BLESS BUSH FOR LEADING. That's right, being a leader is not about following polls, but doing what is right even when the people you lead are too stupid to know what should be done.

Answer 7

Please stop watching the biased liberal media. This war isn't over money or oil as most would like young impressionable minds to believe. This war is about Weapons of Mass Destruction which Saddam admitted to having and hid. He also planned on using them to attack the United States. This is a war on TERROR,

Our troops are not ready to come home yet. The Iraqi people have lived under a dictatorship for so long that they need to learn how to run a government on their own with out someone telling them what to do. This will take time.

Who told you that the Iraqi's don't want us here? People that I have talked to (I know several currently over there and several who have recently come home) say that the Iraqi's are thankful for us being there. I guess it just all depends on who you talk to.

I really hope this helps you. Good luck on your report.

Answer 8

What happens if we bring our troops home? One, the terrorist there claim victory. Two, the mid east turns into an escalating civil war that we will end up going back to fight. Where could we ever send troops in the world again that they would think we have the resolve to win? Or that the insurgents would not follow? This is the way I see it.

Answer 9

Well Clinton blew up a medicine factory in Sudan, saying it was a terrorist bomb factory. It wasn't. But the destruction pissed off a guy named Osama Bin Laden. I am sure you know who he is.

Then Clinton bombed Muslims in Bosnia, and the Islamofacists used that for an example of an "American Crusade" against Islam.

Clinton started it and Bush is having to finish it. And I am sure that Iran and North Korea are still on the hit list.

Many smart people know that the Iraqis and Kurds are very thankful of the U.S., just too many potheads are in denial.

Answer 10

Why are we in Iraq? What a wondeful question to ask after more than 3 years of tearing a country apart!!!!! This is a rational question. Had it been asked before the invasion, millions of Iraqis would still have beenleading a normal life, and thousands of American parents, wives and children would still have been living with their beloved sons, husbands and fathers.

Answer 11

As retired Gen. Powell said, "If you break it, you own it." Baby, we broke it! We broke it real bad! Clearly, it was a total mistake for US to invade Iraq; there's no doubt there. Whenever it comes to the mid-east, remember the Jewish State. It, through an effective lobby system, may have way to much influence on US foreign policy in mid-east. Also, beware of US Zionists, be they Christians or Jews. They may have had their reality/rationality corrupted by religious propaganda. Clearly, it serves US interests to have power over the vast petroleum wealth, that's a given. You should research at what capacity Iraqi oil is being transported/refined, and how those levels compare to 5 years ago.

Remember, we had Saddam boxed-in w/ the "No Fly Zone." And, years of sanctions, ultimately heart the Iraqi civilian population. We, as US patriots, are good people, but some of our government(George W.)needs to be executed w/ haste. Also, beware of the Zionists(mostly Jews).

Salaam.