If America could say it won the war in Iraq, would the rest of the world gain respect?

Answer 1

Impeachment of Bush would be the best thing, holding him accountable for lying and waging war illegally, and for all of the mismanagement, corruption and incompetence after that.

This, more than anything, would give America back its credibility and moral authority on the international stage. A truly international force could then help clean up the mess in Iraq.


"...promotion of impeachment is not nearly as politically risky as is failure to do so when it is merited..."
http://www.davidswanson.org/?q=node/621

Answer 2

Puzzles me why America is so concerned about winning the respect of the rest of the World ! It seem the US is more intent on staying in Iraq for reasons of pride or to hope they can somehow turn a stalemate into a victory. The way it is thats extreamely unlikely. Maybe they should withdraw with their next Presidency, otherwise they wont win or maintain the respect they still have from Allies ! We were all for the "War Against terrorism" but really wasn't that Afghanistan not Iraq ? Isn't it time they looked after their own backyard, rather than looking for an excuse to Invade Iran next ? Than what, how far do they want to go ? Attempting to save face isn't worth the cost in human lives !

Answer 3

The problem with Stinky's answer is that Iraq never attacked the USA, and was not in a position to do so. Bush himself said Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11 (a little late, but he ended up admitting it finally):

http://thinkprogress.org/2006/08/21/bush-on-911/

Jumping Iraq for no reason did not give the USA 'respect' but a bully's reputation for knocking over a basically defenseless country, and taking it over. The war in Iraq gave extremist groups more legitimacy, and made more enemies, not to mention the deficit, devaluing the dollar, giving rise to inflation.

Repudiating Bush, and impeaching him can start to correct these mistakes. America can gain respect from leading by example. How can anyone take a "Freedom Agenda" in the Middle East seriously, when Bush removes basic rights and freedoms at home, including due process of law, and sets things up for one-man rule in America?



How Can Bush Bring Freedom and Democracy to Iraq When He Brings Tyranny to America?
http://www.lewrockwell.com/roberts/roberts211.html
Paul Craig Roberts was Assistant Secretary of the Treasury in the Reagan administration.

Answer 4

Not at all. America had already lost the world's respect when it decided unilaterally to invade a sovereign nation based on faulty and manipulated intelligence information. The rest of the world now view America as a threat to world peace, a nation more dangerous than China or Russia.

Answer 5

It would be a lie of the new centuryi if America said that it had won the war in Iraq.What with hundreds of her troops dying in bomb and gunfire! It would be a lie.The world is watching America with cynicism.Her going on with the war is as humiliating a defeat as withdrawing her troops.America is on the horns of a dilemma.The world is amazed by America's current tragic flaw.Neither way gives her integrity in the eyes of the world.

Answer 6

simply put because declairing retreat before a war is finished as harry reid did, does not gain respect at all. cowardice begats further war, winning doesnt. how do we gain respect with cut and run offering a open invitation to al qaeda to attack us? bob gates put it best....
Whatever your views on how we got to this point in Iraq, it is clear that a failed state in that part of the world would destabilize the region and embolden violent extremists everywhere."
you liberals need to learn raw cowardice is not a valid defense to freedom or anything else.

Answer 7

No nation will respect America for its illegal invasion on iarq.No nation can accept American claim of victory.see how many soldier lost their life in iraq and how mnay disabled in iraq war?if you won the war then you go back to america.why you stay ther and loosing the most worthy soldier .

Answer 8

The USA can say a lot of things but that doesn't make it true e.g. WMD in Iraq. That was all a lot of hog wash. The end result is hundreds of thousands of people are dead or injured including several thousand americans.

Answer 9

No because there are people in this world that hate the U.S. and no matter what we do or say they will blame all the world's problems on us. And the Peaceniks in this country would still find a reason to cry about it.

Answer 10

You gain respect by kicking ***. If you're attacked, the response must be hard enough and cause enough destruction that no one will mess with you again. Don't know why we're not doing it. It's not like we don't have the capability.