What is the point of the war in Iraq?

Question

What are we (the USA) getting that is worth:
3,271 Americans dead
24,314 Americans wounded
24,188 Americans severely injured
1-2 trillion dollars (estimate by economist Joseph Stiglitz; this figure includes all the interest we are going to pay on the borrowed war)

What could possibly be worth that cost?

Do we really care that much about improving the political situation of a backward arab nation with only 27 million people in it? Are we really going to get our lives and money back in oil revenues?

Even at $70/barrel Iraq would have to give us every drop of their maximum oil production (3.5 million barrels per day) for free for 11-22 years just to pay back the cash we've put into this war. Does anyone really think that is going to happen? And what about the lives?

Maybe the war is making us safe from terrorism? Not according to "Trends in Global Terrorism: Implications for the United States," a report from our own intelligence agencies.

Seems to me this war is shaping up to be the biggest waste of resources and lives in American history, but I'd really like to think otherwise if only someone could provide me with a good answer.

To the servicemen and women reading this: I've never been able to figure out why cheering on as our troops die in a pointless war is called "supporting the troops".

Answer 1

The point of the war in Iraq is to control the middle eastern oil resources. Mostly, it is a proxy war with Iran and anyone else who might at some point aspire to control the area. Iraq has an incredibly strategic location in between our arch rivals, Iran and Syria, in the heart of the middle east.

By removing Saddam, we paved the way for Iranian dominance in the region. We created a situation such that, if we were not in Iraq, Iran would control Iraq, and of course Iran already controls Syria and Lebanon to a certain extent, and so would effectively control everything from Pakistan to Israel; a real menace. Therefore we will not leave Iraq in the foreseeable future. The military and the leadership never had any intention of leaving Iraq in the first place.

As the world's oil resources dwindle and demand increases, Iraq will become more and more valuable. All of the world's powers will fight over it. The leadership has just decided that the best strategy in the ever-intensifying struggle for the oil is to get in early and aggressively, and stay put. It is of no importance whether Iraq is a functioning society or not.

Answer 2

DUTY, HONOR, COUNTRY, I wonder if you've ever heard this before. First of all there all Brave men and women in this country that do put their country over their own personal interest. And for your theory that we are less safe now. Well how many attacks have we had since 9/11, let me help you, 0. Now everyone wants to keep throwing the American dead figure up, first of all they didn't die, they gave their lives in honor. If you want to keep comparing this war to the other, if you want to that's fine then lets throw the figures up also.
include all the figures.
DIED IN ACTION
IRAQ 3,271
VIETNAM 58,318
KOREA 54,227
WWII 500,00
WWI 126,000

The bottom line is we are in Iraq GET OVER IT, lets stop whining support our troops so we get done and get out. So next time someone throws out the number of deaths is Iraq just remember the other numbers also. Every death is tragic, but lets compare apples to apples.

Answer 3

The war in Iraq serves no purpose whatsoever.

Well, maybe it does. The gas bag Neo-CONS can use it to tell who loves America, and who doesn't.

Their terribly scrambled up little minds, equate support of an expensive war --no matter how d@mned foolish it is-- to deep patriotism.

It may be a simple vitamin deficiency causing their disorganized thinking, but I'm afraid it is much more serious than that.

Answer 4

When your the biggest kid on the block. You make the rules and no one tells you your wrong. He can't withdraw it would cost to much pesonally for him to admit a mistake. Its a shame he didn't study and learn a thing from vietnam. Becuase this is a repeat with one difference. He has other countries to blame if he losses this war. And he will blame everyone and anything but himself if its lost. As for the reason why its happening alot of people are getting rich off this war. Defence contractors, Oil companies, to name a few. Remember war is a nessary evil it improves the economy and stimluates growth on a national level in some industies.


It is us against the world. We want them to have the democracy that we have.

Ok who are we ? What right does anyone have to shove their way of life down someones elses throat ? And who says they want democracy?

Answer 5

We're also getting:

responsibility for only God himself knows how many dead and maimed Iraqis, who will never forgive us,

responsibility for the destruction of what was, until four years ago, the finest and most modern medical system in the Middle East, which might have saved some of the dead and eased the injury and suffering of thousands of the maimed,

responsibility for igniting the ever-simmering distrust and dislike of Middle-Easterners and Muslims for Westerners and Christians (the legacy of the Europeans of the last couple of centuries to the world) into outraged hatred -- an excellent recruiting tool for the fanatics and zealots of al Quaeda and the Taliban,

the disgust and dismay of most of the rest of the world, a large part of which until very recently regarded us with respect, at least grudging affection, and longing, because of our usually friendly, often helpful and protective stance in international politics, steadfast championship of democracy and freedom, and peaceful, prosperous society.

Having abandoned our position as the staunchest advocate of the Geneva Convention, the just and humane treatment of prisoners of war, and swift, public, and impartial judicial review of charges against ANY accused, we have exposed our military and diplomatic personnel who serve abroad now and in the future to the same or worse treatment as that which we have rendered to those in our custody, and stripped ourselves of any defense against their imprisonment, torture, or trial as war criminals.

You may be too young to remember the Vietnam years, 1960-1974, during the last of which it began to be obvious that we had launched a war we could never win militarily or politically. Those who served were often sneered at for their fidelity, both while combat was still going on and for many years afterward.

No one should cheer while anyone dies...not our servicemen and servicewomen, not Iraquis, not Shiites or Sunnis.

But it is quite possible to be simultaneously both adamantly opposed to Bush's unjustified invasion of a sovereign nation, and extremely proud of the men and women who have gone where they were ordered to go, carried out the job they were ordered to do to the best of their ability, and endured rigors of combat and personal hardship unimaginable to those of us who have never served in combat, leaving behind everything held dear.

The military has been my home and family all my life; those men and women are my brothers and sisters, sons and daughters. Many of them thought and felt about this war from the beginning as I did, and many of them believed everything their Commander-in-Chief told them about it. Their unfaltering, steadfast performance of their duty, their adherence to the oath they gave when they entered our Armed Forces, and their irreverent good humor, all of which have not wavered while their faith and ours in their Commander-in-Chief has crumbled, have earned them our heartfelt, eternal respect, pride, and support. They have been, and are, magnificent Americans, and we're extremely fortunate to have them on our side, in our service, and representing us in Iraq, Afghanistan, South Korea, and many other places around the globe.

They've never let us down. Let's not let them down.

Answer 6

There are a heck of a lot of executives at Exxon and chevron who would disagree. Before we invaded oil was $22 a barrel.
They are much much richer(er) now.

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED !!!!!!

You taxpayers can spend the next two generations paying off what Halliburton took to Dubai

Answer 7

For oil and to kill lots of Muslims.George Bush and the Americans hate Muslims.

Answer 8

US is in War against all World
that is called national security strategy
http://youtube.com/watch?v=tXmQPCcuGjo&mode=related&search=

Answer 9

Because Bush wanted it but now we will be going into another country Another war is all we need,

Answer 10

it is not a war on iraq it is a war on fear
if you remember 9-11 then this war has to happen and then you and i can sleep at ease and the many that are fighting are not really sleeping but they know there protecting loved ones.