If America voted for Bush, surely the American public are as culpable as Bush for what has happened in Iraq?

Question

Everyone, in other countries that is, was shocked that Bush was returned to office so easily. Surely the American public has the same responsibility for what has happened in Iraq? Or, is that an inconvenient simplification?

Answer 1

wow 105 points! do not answer this pug.

Answer 2

What saved Bush was the timely bounce back of the economy. That is and always has been the main focus of the American public. I don't believe that sentiment was strong because the American public still basically believed in the big lie, ( i.e. the elusive 'weapons of mass destruction') - the reason for the Iraq invasion in the first place. But most Americans have traditionally have been opposed to the idea of involvement in foreign conflicts, especially when these conflicts begin to look like they're endless and the human costs start to skyrocket. All this should be taken into account.

Right now, there is an ovewhelming percentage of Americans opposing many aspects of this war, so it is a little unfair to point the bone at them. What has happened in Iraq is the responsibility of those who really profit from this war - George Bush and his oil business associates. I believe history will judge it this way.

Answer 3

Two things to say to this: I didn't vote for the moron, so it's not my fault he's in office. Secondly, you can call Americans many things, but psychic isn't one of them. Remember, the majority of German people, some of the Jewish included, put Hitler in office and I'm sure that they wouldn't have had they known what he was going to enact on the world. (and I'm not saying Bush is exactly like Hitler here. That's just an example.) You can't blame Americans as a whole for the actions of an administration. If you look at polls and the evidence of recent gubernatorial elections the majority of Americans no longer support Bush or his party. Just because our President isn't a very good leader doesn't mean that Americans are horrible people, or that they are responsible for the president and his administration's actions.

Answer 4

Yes we are responsible. Some of us voted for third party candidates, to prove a point and thus gave Bush the victory and for the record, most of the Republican Congress was also re-elected. But let's not point fingers one way only, we are still in Kosovo and Bosnia, even though the Democrats told us that we would be out of there is less than 3 years, that was back in 95 and to make this a bit better, the people that we helped in Kosovo, some of them people we are fighting in Afghanistan. You go figure that one out.

Answer 5

If I may refresh the collective memory. After 9/11 the President fully intended to respond by attacking Afghanistan and Iraq. He publicly stated that he did not need any further congressional approval. Remember?

The Democrats in congress insisted that another resolution be brought to congress seeking authorization just so they could go on the official record as sanctioning said action. Do you remember that?

Democrat after Democrat made speech after speech supporting the effort. Do you remember that?

After feeling pressure from the far left end of their supporters, the democrats began to go a little wobbly. Soon they began to go a lot wobbly. Democratic strategists decided that the best POLITICAL strategy was to begin to undermine the war effort.

In a horrible chain of events, the Democrats found themselves to be in the unenviable position of needing the United States to loose this war if they have any hope of regaining power. From that day forward they have been on the side of the enemy.

The terrorists know they have nothing to fear from the United States if the Democratic party is in charge. Any Democratic Commander-in-Chief will be seriously ham-strung by the anit-war leftists in his base. The result will be an ineffectual United States, a seriously demoralized military and the loss of the presidency and congress by the democrats and perhaps even a break up of the party itself. This radical left wing is begining to drive away both the moderate Democrats and the Blue Dog Democrats.


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Answer 6

What has happened in Iraq? Oh, You mean the fact that this is the first attempt to bring a non-threatening Muslim gov't to the Middle-east.. At some point in the next 50 years, when the Middle-eastern people's true colors come out, and the rest of us realize they are in for world domination, countries will be hailing Bush as a visionary and the smartest leader of modern times....People will realize this when they are sitting in a gas chamber waiting to be executed by the muslim invaders who will execute all infidels..

Answer 7

Everyone was shocked? I wasn't, voted for President Bush both times. What responsibility would you like me to take - Saddam no longer in power - sure why not - Key terrorist leaders captured or killed - yeah I'll take that one too. Maybe you should do some research - stop listening to the bias media & find out the real truth about this war. We have built schools - passed out school supplies & numerous other things - you don't hear about any of this on the news. I proudly support our military & President Bush! Outstanding job - Semper Fi!

Answer 8

Chaucer, I don't think it's "covenient" or "inconvenient", but it is an oversimplification. The US Constitution guarantees the right of the president to act as Commander in Chief, and thereby, acts as such without need of popular support. The last presidential election was not won on the war platform. It was won because the opposing candidate was deemed by the American public as less desirable than the current unpopular president. That's sad and says a lot as to how poorly the public viewed Kerry.

Answer 9

IF you really want to know who is to blame for what is happening in Iraq right now you need to look at who is doing all the car bombings. They are the people responsible for the trouble in Iraq today.

The American public aren't the ones setting off bombs in market places. American troops aren't intentionally targeting civilians.

I don't know why those 'other countries' were shocked at Bush's re-election. What has he done that was bad? Along with the Afghans took the Taliban out of power and kicked Saddam out fo control. Those were really bad things weren't they?

The American government has done quite a lot to try and stabilize Iraq. What have you done. What has YOUR country done? What have the terrorists done?

Blame Bush. Blame Americans if you want. But don't blame those really responsible? I guess that explains your level one status. *LOL*

Answer 10

We fear not.You are shocked that,thank God almighty, we didn't elect that idiot Kerry?
Let someone who would leave us defenseless
in the White House?

I'll take that responsibility.

What's happening there now is the result of 1000 of indiscipline,desperation,and poverty.
Indiscipline- if Saddam's hanging was an example of acceptable behavior I've got to tell you. We do not accept behavior like that in children over the age of 2 as normal.
Desperation-successive oppressive regimes will do that to you
Poverty- on an ancient level.

Answer 11

actually, youre much better off with bush in the whitehouse than you would be with me...iraq, and the entire middle east with the exception of isreal, would be a giant mirror right now if i were in charge and the 'problem' of radical islam would be no more...

and yes, youre right, you are too simple and inconvenient.