What is the best reason for going to war with Iraq?

[jana]

I also wanted to put in the options Protect Israel and Protect the west in general but you can only put in 4 choices. So I would like to hear people's comments on those options also.

 

[poohandwendy]

None of the choices really fit my opinion. I think the best reason to go to war with Iraq is to disarm a dictator who has proven to be a threat by ignoring/refusing countless opportunities to prove he has no interest in terrorizing the world.

 

[kdibattista]

Poohandwendy,

You hit the nail on the head!!!! I am so sick and tired of these "celebrities" thinking they know everything. Although I do not agree with everything Pres. Bush does, I do agree 150% with his stand on Iraq and even if I didn't, I sure as heck would not say otherwise in a public forum. They make me sick and I would LOVE to see Susan Sarandon, Sheryl Crow, Fred Durst go over and live in Iraq for 2 days and see how much their views change. They are a disgrace to this country. Since 9/11 we cannot live with any threats and if someone does, we need to take care of them... sooner rather than later.

 

[kdibattista]

Just my thoughts but I believe we should stop any and all funding to any country that does not agree with us.

Sorry, this just makes me so incredibly mad

 

[MosMom]

They make me sick and I would LOVE to see Susan Sarandon, Sheryl Crow, Fred Durst go over and live in Iraq for 2 days and see how much their views change.

Susan Sarandon & Sheryl Crow WOULDN'T live for 2 days in Iraq because the government has a habit of killing free thinking women.

 

[vernon]

I think the best reason to go to war with Iraq is to disarm a dictator who has proven to be a threat by ignoring/refusing countless opportunities to prove he has no interest in terrorizing the world

I'd guess that at least part of the idea is to try and see who it is felt is most under threat from Saddam's regime. Maybe there should be a "protect the world" option, but 1) it seems the poll won't allow more possible answers and 2) Is the action really about protecting a world, when so much of it doesn't seem to want America's protection if it's given in this manner.

 

[fklhou]

This poll is based on the misguided concept that going to war with Iraq is a certainity. Containment has worked and the inspection process needs to be given a chance to work.

 

[EltonJohn]

Originally posted by fklhou
This poll is based on the misguided concept that going to war with Iraq is a certainity. Containment has worked and the inspection process needs to be given a chance to work.

While I agree that containment (which is different from appeasement) can work, I seriously doubt that Bush will listen to the world. We Texans are known to be independent and stubborn. That can be a good thing, or, in this case, a bad thing

 

[WillyJ]

It's a very complicated situation, but here's my take on it..


1) The UN imposed sanctions since the end the Gulf War have successfully contained and weakened Saddam Hussein's abilities to maintain and develop weapons of mass destruction, and would more then likely continue doing so.

2) What the sanctions have also done is cause mass hardship on the Iraqi people who already live under the dictatorship of a psychotic torturer and mass-murderer. The sanctions have led to a sky-high infant mortality rate, poverty, malnutrition, and a severe lack of basic medical supplies in Iraq.

3) Lifting the sanctions is not an option because Saddam Hussein has shown time and again to be reckless, agressive, and willing to procure, develope, and use chemical weapons (although the one's he used against the Kurds before the Gulf War were given to him by the Reagan/Bush people when he was at war with Iran) against his own people and the countries surrounding him.

4) Saddam Hussein is not going to resign or be voted out of office anytime in the near future, and there is no reasonable indications that any sort of internal uprising that could remove him from power is being planned or feasable.


5) Saddam Hussein agreed to certain terms with the UN in order to secure a cease fire and end the Gulf War in order to avoid an invasion of Bagdad and maintain his postion of power. Since then, time and time again he has broken those agreements; he has threatened more agression; he has been caught trying to procure elements to develop nuclear weapons; and he has continued to arbatraily brutalize, torture, and murder his own people.

6) In 1991 when US-led UN Coalition forces initiated Operation Desert Storm in response to Saddam's invasion of Kuwait, Iraqi troops began almost immediate mass defections and surrender, and within 48 hours the Iraqi army had been routed and defeated.

7) 12 years of UN sanctions and inspections have severely weakened the same Iraqi military that wasn't much of force in the first place.

8) Considering the above facts, I feel like an invasion of Iraq is completely justified and is the right thing to do, and many more Iraqi lives will be saved in the long run by doing so then lost during what should be a swift invasion, and the sooner it is done the better. . . but then again every American has a right to feel the way they want and speak their mind about this and any other situation.

9) Rather then stick to the above facts, the Bush administration has made a complete and total mess of the situation by using baseless, overstated, misleading rhetoric about Iraq's current threat to US and world security, and by engaging in a baseless, unecessary, and bizzare attempt to falsly tie Saddam Hussein and his regime to Osama bin Ladin, Al Qaieda, and the 9/11 terrorist attack on our country (bin Laden has prove ties to Iran, not Iraq). The Bush administration has boxed themselves into a position where Turkey was basically able to black-mail them into demanding billions of $'s of our tax money in return for letting us use their country as a point of attack.


As I said, I think there are ligit reasons for use of military force, but if a significant number of people are against it based on false perceptions that it is too dangerous, then the Bush people have no one to blame but themselves. . .

 

[MosMom]

9) Rather then stick to the above facts, the Bush administration has made a complete and total mess of the situation by using baseless, overstated, misleading rhetoric about Iraq's current threat to US and world security, and by engaging in a baseless, unecessary, and bizzare attempt to falsly tie Saddam Hussein and his regime to Osama bin Ladin, Al Qaieda, and the 9/11 terrorist attack on our country (bin Laden has prove ties to Iran, not Iraq). The Bush administration has boxed themselves into a position where Turkey was basically able to black-mail them into demanding billions of $'s of our tax money in return for letting us use their country as a point of attack.

As I said, I think there are ligit reasons for use of military force, but if a significant number of people are against based on false perceptions that it is too dangerous then the Bush people have no one to blame but themselves. . .

I couldn't agree with that more. Actually, your whole post was great. Thanks.

 

[fklhou]

WillyJ

Your 9th point is very well done. Good job.

 

[EltonJohn]

WillyJ,



Bullseye! I must agree, point 9 was right on target.



diane

 

[Disney Doll]

Willy J, other than the part about Bin Laden and Saddam not having any ties, which I'm not sure I agree with, your post was one of the best summaries of the situation that I've seen.

 

[caitycaity]

i am confused.

the choice with the most votes right now is:

AFTER 9/11 THE REST OF THE WORLD NEEDS TO KNOW AMERICA WILL NOT STAND BACK AND ALLOW ATTACKS ON IT'S SOIL WITHOUT RESPONSE.IT'S IMPORTANT THAT ROGUESTATES AND TERRORISTS KNOW IF WE'RE ATTACKED WE WILL FIGHT BACK.

has iraq attacked us? i don't think so. so how is this a reason for going to war with iraq?

 

[zulaya]

Willy J - good summation. It's too bad the whole world can think in such common -sensible ways.

I have been sitting here thinking about this too, wondering what the heck has been going on. I mean, our economy seems to be skittish over this whole thing...maybe because of Willy J's 9th point. If our admin had stuck to the points instead of bringing in a whole new mess, maybe it wouldn't be as messed up as it is right now.

If there are resolutions dating back to 1991, that outline the use of force, why go through this whole new mess of resolutions? Why not enforce all the old ones that haven't been enforced? And that's not just for resolutions against Iraq, but Israel and any other country that the UN has been lax with. What's the point in having resolutions if you aren't going to follow through with them, other than make the world wonder, what the heck you exist for?

Just frustrated with the whole thing. Sometimes I feel like I am reading about the equivalent of 5th grade boys on the playground fighting.

 

[caitycaity]

And that's not just for resolutions against Iraq, but Israel and any other country that the UN has been lax with.

so then you are in favor of having the US pay the $1.3 billion that it currently owes the UN?

 

[WillyJ]

Just wanted to say thank you and I appreciate the compliments on my post. . . this is a very complicated and emotional issue with a lot of room for different points of view, but after doing a lot of research and thinking about it, that's how I see things. .


While the possibility of some of the things the Bush people have thrown out exist; possibilities aren't proof- and they have done themselves a great diservice by not sticking with the facts. . .

As far as the UN goes: I have mixed feelings about the cost of maintaining it to us taxpayers and it's usefullness, but as it pertains to this situation. . if Bush is just going to ignore what the UN decides anyway, he never should have put all this effort into trying to convince them to see things his way. .

 

[vernon]

While the possibility of some of the things the Bush people have thrown out exist; possibilities aren't proof- and they have done themselves a great diservice by not sticking with the facts. . .

I couldn't agree more with you Willy J ( and also much of your other post) , if you come out with a whole load of stuff and 30% of it is easily disproven, it places the other 70% in the "not to be taken at face value" catagory. Which is a bit of a blow when some of it might actually hold water. IMHO they have made a right dogs breakfast of the whole affair.

 

[suzannen]

Willy J,
Wonderful job with your very thoughtful summarization of such a complicated situation. Why don't you run for office - we desperately need leaders who can look at all sides of a situation and see that sometimes there is no easy solution? You'd have my vote!

And, as far as celebrities voicing their opinions when they differ from yours, just try to remind yourself that one of the great things about this country is that you are allowed to publicly disagree with a current administration and that does not make you unpatriotic or mean you do not love this country. It's the dictators like Saddam Hussein that have their country's dissenters killed or imprisoned. America is strong enough for everyone to be allowed to voice their opinions. If a celebrity's personal life, for whatever reason, makes you uncomfortable, then you can decide to not go to his/her movies, listen to their music...but I hope we never get to the point that we lose that right of free speech.

 

[fklhou]

One of my satire sites has a good article on why we should go to war. God told Bush that it was time. see http://www.charlotte.com/mld/observer/news/5256008.htm here is a clip from this wonderful piece of satire.

Press Secretary Ari Fleischer explained that this was a very difficult decision for the president. "God is an intensely private deity. When He has a personal conversation with someone, He wants it to remain off the record. God feels that whatever He had to say publicly pretty well got said in the Bible." He added that God also fears He will be quoted out of context, due to the bias of the liberal media. But circumstances have convinced the creator of the universe that the people of earth need to know His will regarding the situation in Iraq.

I encourage people to read the entire piece.