Why are American troops fighting in the middle east?

Question

I support our troops but I dont know why they are still there.
I honestly don't know the REAL reason why...do you?
I am not trying to be offensive.
I'm simply curious.
I mean, there are nasty people in Cuba and N. Korea too but, I dont see much activity from our military there.
What's up with that?

P.S. My Dad and Grandfather were both WW2 and Korea vets and my Father in law is a retired Navy Seal who fought in Viet Nam so, believe me, I honor and salute our troops for their selfless sacrifice.

Answer 1

We are fighting in Afghanistan because of that nations connections to the Taliban, in fact they were controlled by the Taliban until the U.S. led coalition drove them out. We are fighting in Iraq because Saddam Huessin violated 14 UN resolutions and because the world community agreed that Iraq was developing and possessed weapons of mass destruction. Once we got into Iraq the WMD's didn't turn up like everyone thought they would, as they only had a few illegal weapons, however Al-Qu'aida, as well as Syria, and Iran have steadily been sending Islamic fighters into Iraq which has not allowed the country to become stable. That is why we are still there.
Have you ever asked why our troops are still in Germany and Japan, more than 60 years after WWII? Or why we still have troops in Somalia? Or Bosnia?
As for Cuba, they are no threat whatsoever to the United States, and we have several thousand troops stationed in South Korea. However, South Korea has recently agreed to the six nation demands concerning their nuclear weapons program, thus war was averted in that instance.
Hope that answers your question...

Answer 2

The reasons for the Iraq war, whatever the Michael Moore kool-aid drinkers might think, are all really based in the violation of the 1991 surrender agrements.

Iraq was shooting at our planes enforcing the no-fly zones.
Iraq was building missles with ranges outside of the agreed upon distances.
Iraq was playing games with the inspectors trying to verify that that their WMD was destroyed.
Iraq was funding suicide bombers and training terrorists.

Even though they didn't have anything to do with 9/11, they did have something to do with the first world trade center bombing, the two African embassy bombings, the Khobar bombings, et al. It was time for them to go.

By contrast, North Korea has mostly honored the 1953 cease fire. And Cuba has not said boo to the US since Castro took over.

True, they both suck, but Iraq was an overt danger.

That is why they went first...we can only hope that there is a second (Iran) and third (North Korea) and fourth (Cuba). For the sake of the human dignity of the people who live there.

Answer 3

Iraq was sanctioned by the Un and Iraq did not abide the sanctions! They also had a murderous dictator and possible nuclear material. Congress voted to attack with the hopes of bringing down hussein, putting to rest the possibility of nuclear material and afford the long oppressed iraqiis the chance to live in freedom! In a nutshell, that's the story. And I applaud our government for caring enough to do something about that then unstable part of the world!

Answer 4

So many rich Americans can make even more money, and the military can maintain its power, which it would lose if there was a sudden outbreak of peace, so, if there is no real cause for a military campaign, they just manufacture one, like "weapons of mass destruction", or "domino theory"(Vietnam). Next will be Iran, North Korea, or Syria.

Answer 5

Because that's where the bad guys live.

I don't rank Cuba as nasty. It's just a legacy of the Cold War that we haven't changed our minds about, yet. NK or just a rogue nation who throws out there chest everytime they need attention.

Answer 6

There are several reasons we are in that area. The first Bush screwed up the attempt to remove Saddam from power and Jr went in to finish the mission.

If this wasn't true then Bush would not have stopped looking for Bin Laden to ATTACK another country that had nothing to do with 9/11.

There is a book called WILL THEY EVER TRUST US AGAIN BY MICHAEL MOORE and the entire book is based on the letters that military troops & their families have sent him. The troops talk about having to ride guard on over 100 tankers filled with oil that leave Iraq every day, they ask where is this oil going?

The absolute bottom line is: who will benefit from this war? {we all KNOW this is not a war on terrorism, not the Iraqi war anyway}

Israel is the only partner that will benefit, period.

There is a book by an American preacher that lays all this out in according to biblical prophocy and Bush has read this book and is said to be following this plan so he can help bring about the end of the world as laid out in the bible. The book does say we must all follow & support Israel and it says Iran must be dealt with.

Just in the last 3 months the Jewish people in America have demanded that people stop saying Merry Christmas and say Seasons Greetings instead b/c it insults them for us to say MC, they have changed the Easter Bunny egg hunts put on by parks cuz they said it insults them, they made such a big stink about decorated christmas trees at teh airport in Seattle, WA. that they were all removed, after Israel attacked Beirut last summer one of the American company's that sells various rockets and war weapons was investigating Israel for misuse of their products {the co. rules say they can't be used in civilian population areas and they had proof that Israel killed 1000's of innocents with their products, {many of the dead were women & children in refugee houses that were blown up} anyway, the U.S. government butted in & changed the American company's policy and made them stop investigating Israel.

The Red Cross just changed it's logo cuz the Israeli's who were treated by them were insulted by the cross on the uniforms.

In the online newspaper from Israel there is a picture of Hillary Clinton in a serious heil hitler type pose and many people have written terrible things about the Clintons and demanding that Hillary not be elected!! I am insulted at this slap in the face of America and I posted a comment there to say so. Here is the link to the Israeli newspaper.

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3354728,00.html

Who we vote for in our country has nothing to do with Israeli policy, we need a president who is going to take care of Americans FIRST...then worry about foreign aid.

Our schools are falling apart, who is coming to America with supplies and asking How can we help? No other country is asking if they can help build houses for the homeless in America. I just think WE should come first, our VETS should come first in medical care. The money we are giving away in foreign aid could pay off our debt and see to it that all children in America are cared for. I am afraid we are losing America altogether when another country can decide our policy and change what America has been for so long.

Easter Bunny story:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/03/02/BAGHQOE71I1.DTL

Answer 7

Our fearless leader George W. Bush felt the need to "finish" the war that his daddy started.... Oh yeah, and let's not forget that the middle east is bursting with oil, and Georgie has a lot of money tied up in oil....

Answer 8

They are over there defending your right to stay up all night scratching your balls and asking stupid questions. Next time you see an elderly man it would be highly appreciated if you went up and asked if he served in a foreign war. If he says yes you should thank him for protecting your freedom of speech and your right to scratch your balls. AND I'M PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN.. WHERE AT LEAST I KNOW I'M FREE. Don't take it for granted kid. Your worst day is someone else's best day of their whole life. Think about that one for awhile.

Richard Wilburn 82nd airborne

Answer 9

The arab nations could dominate the world as they own the worlds energy - America wants to keep them fighting amongst themselves so they can't band together

Answer 10

Oh, but it is offensive that we as a country , police other countries! During our own civil war, would we have allowed another county to police us? I too support or troops, but I want to support them at home!!!