Serious question for liberals, no rhetoric please- No matter your initial opposition, why oppose Iraq war now?

Question

I understand those of you who opposed our first attacks on Iraq in Gulf War I and II. However, we're involved now. We've established a democratic government and our troops are fighting to keep it safe - and keep the majority of Iraqis safe. The VAST majority of Iraq is quiet and safe and growing. The Sunnis are having a hard time. But opposition to the war only emboldens our enemies - they've made this clear - If we pull out of Iraq now, the nation will descend into true chaos like Vietnam did after the fall of Saigon, resulting in the deaths of millions. Pulling out now will irreparably harm American influence and interests.

What benefit would pulling out of Iraq have for the United States?

Please-no platitudes or leftist talky-points such as "I support the troops!" - If you do, let them win. The casualty rate in Iraq is quite low - especially for a combat zone. (Unless you're a terrorist, anyway). So...WHY oppose it now? Is it simple Bush Hatred? Interested in your serious opinions

Answer 1

Shall I bring it to your attention that there is no democratic governing body in Iraq, there is one that was voted into office, however since over 75% do not show up on a day to day basis, it is often times called another paid day off for the newly elected officials who are unable to muster themselves enough heart to show up to work for a country they seem to care less about than our troops who are fighting there now.

Even the new Iraqi army or police officers dont have the balls to really fight for their country, they stand behind masks and the American soldier to take the bullets and dont show their faces to show their pride in their country? ???!!!

So, let me see, in my opinion it is an in-effective and vastly corrupt government, Iraqis are affraid to defend their country, they still HATE Americans (I dont really blame them at times - I only say that because I have a son and cannot imagine living through the daily horrors that these people are having to), and hmm....it is now a civil war all because of what....faulty information?

The benefit of pulling out of Iraq is to save our soldiers lives and allowing a country to rebuild ITSELF! There ought to be passionate leaders with strong desires to take control of that country and not just sit back as it seems that they are doing. I could do a better job than Al Maliki, I think even my cat could do a better job than he could for that matter!

Think I am being harsh? Take a look at how the people of India got the British occupiers out of their country and it did result in civil war and the country divided eventually into what is India and Pakistan however they were able to resolve their issues and eventually thrive. How is Iraq going to do that with Americans still there???

Answer 2

First, I'm a veteran.

1. it was an illegal war to begin with and still is. congress only authorized force to find the perps of 911. which we have not done? no trials of terrorist that I know of? how about you? one shoe bomber who didn't have anything to do with 911.

2. The president passed laws that restrict americans freedoms.
why should any part of our country be afraid to speak out? That's just unamerican talk and rhetoric. " your either with us or against us" (it's a fear tactic, and it's fascist)

3. the label of terrorist is a sad joke, how can anybody call a person defending their homeland be called a terrorist? honestly? if the situation was reversed would you call yourself a terrorist?
(it's the misleading lies that make this an assault on american people) that includes you.

4. there are too many unanswered questions surrounding 911. why did building 7, a building surrounded by skyscrapers fall? atleast a dozen other skyscrapers were just as close to the twin towers and none of them fell? go to new york, if you have never been, look at the buildings. building 7 is a sad insult to any intellegent person.(which I'm hoping is you) you may not believe the experts, so go to new york and see for yourself.

there are so many reasons. but the one I think is the biggest reason is AMERICANS ARE BEING MISLEAD AND LIED TO BY THEIR GOVERNMENT.

yes the number of dead are low, however my job was to care for wounded soldiers. and there are thousands of them that the government never talks about. (WHY?) KIDS as young as 17 are coming home unable to walk, talk, play, or lead a normal lives again. and for the most part they have no idea they sacrificed so much for an illegal war. they are tricked into breaking their oath to uphold the consitition, our great law! ask any soldier who has been to Iraq who is benifiting. It's the contractor's. IS THAT LETTING THE SOLDIERs WIN? those soldiers will recieve intial treatment and the army will not even give enough information to MAINTAIN benifits after they are discharged. because the army can't pay for all of the inflicted. (no they would rather waste 12 billions and billions in the desert somewhere?) the soldiers that come back arn't just men. young women who once were able to bear children. and never will be able to live full lives again. no the numbers of lives dead is low, the number of lives lost is HUGE.

Good luck, I hope one day you see the truth for yourself. God Bless and peace be upon you.

Answer 3

Alright. But I should warn you, I'm not your average liberal.

The media paints a nasty and inaccurate picture of Iraq. I know this, because I write to soldiers in Iraq. Of the 20+ that I've written to, only two have been shot at, that I know of.

Firstly, it's not our job to fight for Iraqi freedom. I would've wholeheartly supported a deployment of troops to Iraq if there was an organized movement against Saddam, and that we would support that. But, that just why I didn't support it in the first place. Once we were mired in, I could see that there was a job to be done, and it would be wrong if we didn't; however, that time is over. A *cough* republic has been set up in Iraq, and most of Iraq is, indeed, safe.

The Iraqis want us to leave, something like 80% of them. It's not generally in the "go away or we'll blow you up" way, more like, "thank you for what you've done, we appriciate it. Now, please go, we have work to do." That's a pretty good reason. It's been at least a year since we started training Iraqis for military/police positions, probably more, and that's plenty of time.

The position the US is in with Iraq is a bit like parent to child. (I'm sure someone is going to resent that statement, but meh.) A parent can't do everything for a child, and when they try to, the child resents this. The best a parent can do is to equip the child with the best tools and knowledge. In the end, the child has to decide their own fate. *coughisrealcough*

The benefit of pulling out of Iraq would be to gain, by and large, thier respect. they want to do this themselves. We should let them.

Answer 4

Most liberals supported the first Gulf War and some Conservatives opposed it.

The Mission was to get the 9/11 terrorists, not nation building.
The Iraqi people never asked us to "save" them.
The invasion has created more terrorists who, no matter how the war ends, will continue their quest only now they have wider support and have far more chance of succeeding than before we invaded.
When you send troops to battle, there had better be a good reason, you had better be right about the justification for asking troops to face the ultimate sacrifice. There was no imminent threat to the United States in Iraq. They were not going to give the WMDs they DID NOT HAVE to the terrorists WHO WERE NOT THERE.

You do not show support to the troops by starting a war WITHOUT A PLAN FOR SUCCESS before you invade nor by allowing the troops to wait 4 1/2 years before you even admit that you don't have a plan. You do not repackage the old non-plan as a New Plan.

The Iraqi Army is rife with insurgents, one commander who trained the Iraqi Army said at least 1 in 5 were infiltrators who we train and Arm we tell them our intel and they tell it to their insurgent brothers. They use the training and arms and intel we give them to kill our troops.

Bin Laden is still not in Iraq and Iraq is still not central to the mission, to track down the 9/11 terrorists.

If we had waited for Iraq to invade us, we would still be waiting.

The War in Iraq was not worth one American life.

Answer 5

So far about 3.5 million Iraqi's have been displaced from their homes and each month another 100,000 move, this does not seem like much of a democracy to me. The so called democratically elected government in Iraq is mainly Shia dominated with official death squads in police uniforms, again not too democratic. In the end even if I buy into the fantasy that the US troops will pacify the country and the current Iraqi government is able to maintain peace, just exactly what have we gained. Another fundamentalist shia dominated client state of Iran...is this what we need? and is this worth sacrificing US lives for? Any democratically elected overnment In Iraq will be Shia dominated as they are the majority, the Shia go with whatever their religious leaders tell them. A nice peaceful secular democracy.. dream on.

Answer 6

Thank you for asking this as a serious question. I support pulling out because some of the smartest minds in our country got behind the bipartisan Iraq Study Group and said that, IF it was done slowly enough and we spent more of that time training than policing the Iraqis, it was our best chance of not leaving the country in equal chaos two years and another two-thousand American (and uncounted Iraqi) deaths from now.

We accomplished what we went in for (toppling Saddam), and there *is* no clear finish line. Many of our generals favor a phased withdrawal. Some of our soldiers are coming out in favor of a phased withdrawal (check out Oliver North's report). Staying in just because we can't be flexible or don't want to "embolden our enemy" isn't a strong enough argument, to me, to justify the cost... and I mean the cost in both American and Iraqi blood.

Answer 7

"We've established a democratic government and our troops are fighting to keep it safe - and keep the majority of Iraqis safe. The VAST majority of Iraq is quiet and safe and growing"

It's NOT our job to waste OUR tax dollars and OUR soldiers lives to give Iraq a democratic government. Plain and simple.

Answer 8

Notice how the Iraq war is different from the war on terrorism? Well, it is more of a war on the Iraqi people. Fact: 100+ Iraqi civilians die each day.And when Bush Sr, encouraged the Shiites and Kurds to rebel Saddam in 91 he never assisted in the revolt. That is why the people were massacred yet again.

Answer 9

Your over thinking the situation. Liberals tend to sway in the path of whichever way the wind is blowing. that's like asking, why am i able to feed a stray dogs sooner or later and day after in the present day that comparable dogs will attempt and chew me. it is the character of the beast. The underlying reason that maximum liberals help this action is the oil. Even the rebels over there comprehend this. It become the comparable with Iraq, yet by using differences in situations the liberals have chosen to oppose this conflict, in case you seem on the super photograph the wars/movements at the instant are not multiple, the two countries have been ran with the help of dictators who have been killing their own human beings. Liberals has sought to over seem the humanitarian motives of why we invaded Iraq. They help the Libyan intervention by using fact we at the instant are not on the floor... yet. yet could that day come the liberals will lower back bend with the wind.

Answer 10

Trying to save a country that dosen't want to be saved, and forcing democracy on people who have never had it nor shown an interest in it, at the cost of thousands of young vital Americans, countless tons of equipment, and and untold billions of dollars is not worth it.
The whole thing is a waste...with no benefit.