Why do the American People not understand that the war in Iraq is a Continuation of the First war in Iraq?

Question

And that it is legal and the responsibility of the U.S. to Do it right this time.

Answer 1

You are correct that Saddam violated the cease-fire, many times and in many ways:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/10/20021002-2.html

Why don't people know? Because they don't educate themselves, and it is in the interest of some that people remain ignorant of the facts.

I personally think that continuing to do nothing, especially after the 9/11 attacks, would have sent an unacceptable message of American weakness.

PS it's also ironic how many Democrats blamed all our problems with Iraq in the '90s on "Bush [41] not finishing the job," this after threatening to impeach him if we "went to Baghdad."

I am cursed with a long memory.

And sometimes it seems that some are most interested in fixing blame for a problem, rather than solving it.

Answer 2

Your argument is poor. The First Gulf War was to liberate Kuwait from the Iraqi occupation. That was done. Bush Sr. stated the goal and accomplished it. He later specifically gave reasons for not continuing and trying to oust Saddam. His reasons turned out to be extremely valid and correct. The destabilization of Iraq by the removal of Saddam was entirely predictable by anyone with any sense.

The current invasion of Iraq was clearly illegal. This was an invasion of a sovereign nation, a pre-emptive war of choice on the grounds that Iraq had WMDs and we had to disarm Iraq because it was a threat to us. All of that was untrue.

When people use the violation of UN resolutions as a justification, don’t they realize that the Secretary General of the UN stated that the invasion of Iraq was illegal. One nation, with a few friends, can decide to enforce UN resolutions on its own and claim legality or justification on that basis

Answer 3

I disagree, completely. H.W. Bush knew exactly what he was doing when he launched the campaign in Iraq by stopping at Baghdad. He successfully beat Saddam's army into submission and left him with so little that all resources had to go into rebuilding the country. Plus you had nearly every country in the world on our side during that war. Iraq withdrew from Kuwait, which was the mission, mission accomplished.

The second war in Iraq (the current one) has most of the world against us, even our allies contribute miniscule numbers of troops. We had no legal obligation to finish anything from the first war.

Answer 4

Oh I understand that. I knew it was a mistake to not take Saddam out the first time. Sure enough, he violated all 17 resolutions imposed upon him by the UN. Was harboring extremists, and was in pursuit of WMD's. But people seem to forget so easily.

Answer 5

Let's assume your basic premise is correct.

First, we're not at war in Iraq. There was no declaration of war. There was an Authorization for the Use of Military Force, which is not the same (legally) as a declaration of war.

Second, in the first Gulf Conflict, we were fighting Saddam. Then, we went in later (2002) to depose Saddam.

IF as you way we have an obligation to finish what we started 15ish years ago, we've already done that. Saddam is now dead. Mission Accomplished.

By your argument (and under the AUMF resolution that authorized the invastion), as soon as we finished defeating Saddam we were done, and should have started withdrawing.

Answer 6

Actually, you are so correct because we never called a truce to Iraq the first time, it was just a ceasefire, on UN conditions that Saddam behave, which he never did.

Very good. I was beginning to think that I was the only one who thought that.

Looks Allie doesn't have a clue, poor girl. Hope she's not old enough to vote!

Answer 7

Really and are we going to have a continuation of WW1 & WW2 and the Korean War and the Revolutionary War and what about the Civil War? Dammed I am pissed those Northerners won!

Answer 8

It isn't even a war anymore, it's an insurgency

Answer 9

...and the correct answer is; The media and the democrats.

Answer 10

Some people only see what they want to see according to their agenda.