Why did the Bush administration invade Iraq without a clear objective and an exit strategy?

Answer 1

If the objective were to liberate Iraq and bring democracy to the country than the answer would be because he is a moron.

Unfortunately, the true goal was control of oil fields and influence and a presence in the middle east - with this in mind there is no real concern for the Iraqi people nor the outcome. Nor is there a need for an exit strategy as the goal has been accomplished. Casualties, loss of life, etc. have no bearing on the goal and therefore your question is naive and pointless.

Answer 2

The objective was pretty clear. Maybe you didn't like it or didn't understand it. I've provided a link to the current national strategy on Iraq for your edification. The short term goals are a bit nebulous, but the medium term goals are pretty easy for policy makers to operationalize.

As for an "exit strategy," that's something you think of when entering a crowded room. Military campaigns must concern themselves with a number of branches and sequelae; any exit strategy is contingent upon which one of those is in play at the time of the exit which, as you know since you've now read the national strategy, has not yet arrived. An "exit strategy" that seemed brilliant in 2003 may well seem quite stupid today; fortunately, the administration and the Defense Department were too smart to tie themselves down to an "exit strategy" all those years ago -- they remain adaptive and ready to change.

Answer 3

After 9/11, everyone was calling for action, and many of the lawmakers felt like they needed to take immediate action, which didn't leave time to think things through. Afterwards, I suspect that they all were so busy working, or not working actually, that they didn't take the time to make a plan that would work later on, also know as an exit strategy.

Answer 4

The American people (it wasn't just the Bush administration--democrats overwhelmingly voted for the war too) had a clear objective in the beginning, but the course of the war changed.

Read some newspapers once in a while.

Answer 5

Its not just the Bush administration, the lessons from the Vietnam war have never been learned. Everyone thinks that they know a better way.

Answer 6

Oh, there was a clear objective - get rid of Saddam.

The neoconservatives making defense policy wanted a war. They told Bush that it would be easy. Bush wanted a war, because he remembered how popular his dad was during Gulf War I. They kidded themselves about how easy it was going to be, how cheap, etc. Since everything is going to be just fine, not to worry about the postwar situation. "We will be welcomed as liberators" said Paul Wolfowitz, Undersecretary of Defense.

There are many other reasons, along with oil flow, and putting a strong American presence in the Middle East. Everything would be easier if Saddam was gone.

They thought they would be as popular as free beer at a fraternity party.

Answer 7

Actually no wars are started and fought WWI, WWII, Korea and so on are ever fought with a exit strategy, those come as a nation wins or looses.

Answer 8

The Iraq war was an error because it was staged that there were WMDs in Iraq but there was none. Worst, the US did not anticipate that the Iraqis will be easily subdued.

Answer 9

Winning an ill defined war against a vaguely defined enemy takes an indefinite amount of time. Anyone who disagrees with that is trying to confuse the situation.

Answer 10

I'm a call President Bush just for you, and I'm a tell him to Take Two Aspirin and Call You in the Morning.