The wealth gap

[Harlan Huckleby]

saddam was paying suicide bombers in Israel, and he was cozying up to Iran as they were both working towards becoming nuclear. There was evidence that Iraq wanted to hellp someone smuggle a dirty bomb into the US.

Saddam supprting suicide bombers in Israel is not a reason for us to go to war. Your theory about Iraq & Iran jointly cooperating on nuclear weapons is ridiculous. The dirty bomb theory - maybe. But how is Iraq different than Libya or North Korea or Iran or so many other countries in this respect?

We invaded Iraq because it looked relatively easy to do, that's reason #1. The U.S.'s official plan was to drop-down to 30,000 troops in the fall of 2003. There were many good reasons to want Hussein gone: the record of weapons inspections there was not as effective as people claim now. Hussein had a pattern of invading and intimidating neighbors, and his likely heirs didn't look any better. We left behind a ruined country after the first gulf war and ten years of sanctions. And the idea of creating a democracy in the mideast was convincing to many.

[bobblehead]

I'm not discounting what you say harlen, you are well informed and realistic on this issue. The only place I disagree with you is I feel we had to intervene and set them back.

The reason we didn't do it with NKorea is they are poor so we could use sanctions and economics...they have no oil.

The reason we didn't do it with Iran is they are bigger and more powerful, it would have been more difficult. So we chose Iraq cuz joe public knew saddam..selling him as the bad guy was easier, thats all true. We also picked iraq because iran was getting friendly and it dealt them a blow, we now are working on democracies on both sides.

If we had left the entire region unchecked and not worried about any of it, we would have a bigger problem right now.

[Bretsky]

Now compare that to how much we've spent in Iraq.

Anti American

[Harlan Huckleby]

If we had left the entire region unchecked and not worried about any of it, we would have a bigger problem right now.

I have a hunch this is correct. But we sure have paid a terrible price in damaged relations, death, wounded people, dollars now and into the future.

Having Hussein in power would be a major threat. The option of containing him with sanctions really was not working, he had stopped cooperating with weapons inspectors, only relented when there were 100,000 troops sittiing on his border.

IF I could roll back the clock, I would DEFINITELY not do the invasion. We didn't have the international support, resources, or strategy to pull off the nation rebuilding. If that support could be pulled together, ok.

But I'm still hoping for a long term success.

[bobblehead]

Having Hussein in power would be a major threat.

LMAO, I read this and thought you meant obama.....guess the right wing radio is getting to me.

[MJZiggy]

Now compare that to how much we've spent in Iraq.

Anti American

What? I'd like my American money to stay in America, thanks.

(disclaimer: just because I detest the war doesn't mean I don't support our troops and what their idiot leader sent them to try and accomplish without the proper troop levels or support from above.

[Partial]

Now compare that to how much we've spent in Iraq.

Anti American

What? I'd like my American money to stay in America, thanks.

(disclaimer: just because I detest the war doesn't mean I don't support our troops and what their idiot leader sent them to try and accomplish without the proper troop levels or support from above.

Just be glad you lived in a country where you're allowed to say something like that. You can now in Iraq. Several years ago your children would have been raped, you would have been tortured and then gased. Pretty picture, eh.

[MJZiggy]

If you will recall, we fought for our own freedom of speech in this country. And the Kurds didn't get gassed for saying they wanted their tax money to stay domestic. They got gassed for being Kurds and wanting autonomy.

[Tyrone Bigguns]

Now compare that to how much we've spent in Iraq.

Anti American

What? I'd like my American money to stay in America, thanks.

(disclaimer: just because I detest the war doesn't mean I don't support our troops and what their idiot leader sent them to try and accomplish without the proper troop levels or support from above.

Just be glad you lived in a country where you're allowed to say something like that. You can now in Iraq. Several years ago your children would have been raped, you would have been tortured and then gased. Pretty picture, eh.

And that makes Iraq different from the multitudes of other countries that do exactly the same.

Will you be leading the charge to save them as well?

[Partial]

Now compare that to how much we've spent in Iraq.

Anti American

What? I'd like my American money to stay in America, thanks.

(disclaimer: just because I detest the war doesn't mean I don't support our troops and what their idiot leader sent them to try and accomplish without the proper troop levels or support from above.

Just be glad you lived in a country where you're allowed to say something like that. You can now in Iraq. Several years ago your children would have been raped, you would have been tortured and then gased. Pretty picture, eh.

And that makes Iraq different from the multitudes of other countries that do exactly the same.

Will you be leading the charge to save them as well?

If they start slaughtering their own people, then yes. Funny, how quick everyone is to bitch about civil rights in China yet when we stand up for Iraqis right we are bombing for oil!!!!!!!!

[BallHawk]

Everybody should be like Switzerland and stay out of other countries' affairs.

[Partial]

Everybody should be like Switzerland and stay out of other countries' affairs.

I agree, but unfortunately that is unrealistic. As the global super power it is our responsibility to maintain peace.

Historically, the republicans have been brought in to end conflicts, but in this case the time to hesitate is (was) through.

[BallHawk]

Everybody should be like Switzerland and stay out of other countries' affairs.

I agree, but unfortunately that is unrealistic. As the global super power it is our responsibility to maintain peace.

And that's where people make the mistake. It is most definitely NOT our responsibility to maintain peace. Think of historically, the former world super powers. Where they running playing world policeman? No. Now, of course, there may come a time when a country needs to step in to protect their foreign interest or other matters. But to maintain peace just because we have the ability to and the "responsibility" to is foolish.

[Partial]

Everybody should be like Switzerland and stay out of other countries' affairs.

I agree, but unfortunately that is unrealistic. As the global super power it is our responsibility to maintain peace.

And that's where people make the mistake. It is most definitely NOT our responsibility to maintain peace. Think of historically, the former world super powers. Where they running playing world policeman? No. Now, of course, there may come a time when a country needs to step in to protect their foreign interest or other matters. But to maintain peace just because we have the ability to and the "responsibility" to is foolish.

So what exactly was the US doing aiding Afghanistan when Russia invaded them? What about Iraq in the gulf war. What about helping out in Bosnia, bombing in Kosovo, all the clamor to stop the slaughtering in Darfur?

I am all for staying out of peoples business, but in todays world it won't ever happen. Just wait, regardless of who is president you will see them put pressure on NK and Iran, of course you will justify it since Obama will be the one calling the shots.

[MJZiggy]

Partial would you read the stupid paper once in a while before you spout? Bush is making up with NK, there is no longer need to put pressure on them. The "leftist biased" media that you hold in such disregard is still good for something.

Aiding Afghanistan when Russia invaded was to keep Russia in check and keep them from getting Afghan resources. The first gulf war was to keep the Kuwaiti oil flowing. We bowed to pressure to act in Bosnia and Kosovo and there may be clamor to stop the slaughtering, but you don't see the govt. getting involved there do you. Ever ask yourself why?