Is Irak the next commonwealth of USA as happened to Puerto Rico long time ago?
105924
Nope, I think the goal with Iraq, is just to make it a stable government, and help the people there. From your picture your female right?  Well, if you lived in Iraq you wouldn't have even been able to post this question... Just because your female.  More than likely you wouldn't even be able to read, as only 25% of Iraqs female population can read.\n\nIn part of course its for oil aswell.  A warring nation in an area where we get over 31% of our oil from (the middle east nations).  If they wage war and take over kuwait again, or whatever country it could drastically effect the WORLD ecomomy, not just the us's.\n\nThis however, does not mean it's only about the oil.  There was the possible threat of a Womd.  Also,  per the amount of money Iraq has, it has one of the lowest quality of life ratings per individual of any country.  \n\nI work with someone from Iraq,  I had no idea about this before I met him, but apparently slavery still exists in Iraq.  He was a slave until he was 19, and managed to escape to Saudi arabia, and then move to the us.  When he was 8, there government was building a another new palace. his house was in the way, and his father refused to move.  There goverment offered no compensation, no lodging, no anything.  Also it was where his family had lived for 3 generations, so his father refused to move.  His father was killed, and dragged away, just because he refused to move.  \n\nWithout an Adult male at the head of a family, his mother and he were arrested, and then forced into indentured servitude,(Slavery) but not to learn a trade or a skill.... just because she was an adult female, without a husband, and because he was a child.  Though he escaped at 19, his mother is still over there, and still someones slave.  He is in the process of trying to buy her freedom, and I wish him the best in this.  Noone should have to worry about buying the freedom of their family, thats just not how life should be.\n\nPuerto Rico was different, Puerto Rico, was pretty much just the "prize" from the Spanish- American war.  \n\nI can't tell you if you would be happier if American influence was there or not, however I can tell you what would more than likely happen if all North American influence left Puerto Rico... \n\nFirst, the small port drug dealings from Colombia, would double and triple, then it would move inland.  Filling streets and buildings everywhere with drugs, and violence. Puerto rico, would soon be filled with all the drugs, murder, and corruption of colombia.\n\nShortly after the Colombian drug trade has sunk its claws in even further. While Puerto Ricans are stuggling just to stay alive, worrying if they should even send their kids to schoool or not, because of all the resent shootings... Then Cuba will step in, Promising to restore peace, and clean up the streets.  They will declare martial law,  and in true measure they will "clean up"  anyone breaking any laws will be shot,  many innocent people will die.\n\n5-10 years down the road, Puerto Ricans as a people will look at their life, and wonder what went wrong?  Where did their freedom go?\n\nWith the Us there, we are there as friends, and you get full citizenship.  If Cuba comes in, what will you have?  I'm not saying we should be there, it costs the US government quite a bit of money to aid Puerto Rico, and if you want the US out, I say lets leave, and I of course wish you the best in life.
671108
I never relized that before, I mean helping castro getting elected nearly caused WWIII in 1963 with soviet missile crisis, Giving Saddam bio weapons in the '80's causing the current war, oh and helping the Taliban fight the Soviets in the '80's as well, who knows maby the russians would have wiped them out if we didn't supply them guns and HEAT-SEEKING MISSILES i.e. the stinger rocket launcher. I think our next "friend" will be a middle eastern or latin american rebel group that comes back to bite us in the ass.
631014
I read someone say that Puerto Ricans were of Spanish decent but lets not forget that there are people of African ancestry as well, so it should not be labeled as simply  a Spanish/Latin commonwealth.
119195
The US had not entered the war with the intention of gaining a colonial empire. However, at the end of the war the colonial ruler Spain was militarily crushed and the three remaining colonies (Cuba, Puerto Rico and Philippines) were in rebellion. The US felt if they did not take posession that they would be seized by European powers (a German flotilla did show up off of Manila Bay).
643866
I certainly hope so!  Sometimes I wonder if the neo-isolationists have ever read about how Hitler was allowed to build his war machine and launch WWII?  Ten years later, 6 million dead Jews, after a global war.  OOPS?!\n\nDoes anyone really think that the U.S. should do nothing about rogue states like Iraq and Iran and Afghanistan under the Taliban?
707240
yes you better beleive it.some body said above russia will be the next 3rd reiche,untrue our governments are all run by the global elite ,world banks and such most of the figure heads in so called civilised countrys are compramised this goes back a century but the point is the 4th reiche is on its way and all the countrys involved in thse world banks are part of it.in the next 5-10 years we will be living in a world wide version of nazi germany t,the people will be drafted and used as cannon foder to invade contrys that are not under control of the NEW WORLD ORDER like .....................the middle east ,there are and have been millitary bases all over iraq ,this will be the base in which to invade the middle east .this is kind of a generaliseation and off target to your question ,but all this is in plain view .history is repeating itself.
540112
you better learn how to write the name of the country who taught all the humanity how to write,before you give your ill illetrate openion.\nit is iraq not irag .\nmy thaughts is dump all idiots like you in septic tanks,and let others sh*t on them.
1067117
Yes I do know a couple things.  The Country 's name is in conventional long form is Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Capital is San Juan,  (territory of the US with commonwealth status); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 78 municipalities (municipios, singular - municipio) at the second order; Adjuntas, Aguada, Aguadilla, Aguas Buenas, Aibonito, Anasco, Arecibo, Arroyo, Barceloneta, Barranquitas, Bayamon, Cabo Rojo, Caguas, Camuy, Canovanas, Carolina, Catano, Cayey, Ceiba, Ciales, Cidra, Coamo, Comerio, Corozal, Culebra, Dorado, Fajardo, Florida, Guanica, Guayama, Guayanilla, Guaynabo, Gurabo, Hatillo, Hormigueros, Humacao, Isabela, Jayuya, Juana Diaz, Juncos, Lajas, Lares, Las Marias, Las Piedras, Loiza, Luquillo, Manati, Maricao, Maunabo, Mayaguez, Moca, Morovis, Naguabo, Naranjito, Orocovis, Patillas, Penuelas, Ponce, Quebradillas, Rincon, Rio Grande, Sabana Grande, Salinas, San German, San Juan, San Lorenzo, San Sebastian, Santa Isabel, Toa Alta, Toa Baja, Trujillo Alto, Utuado, Vega Alta, Vega Baja, Vieques, Villalba, Yabucoa, Yauco. \n Constitution was ratified 3 March 1952, approved by US Congress 3 July 1952, effective 25 July 1952 \nAs of 2004  Their Imports - partners are and at \nUS 55.0%, Ireland 23.7%, Japan 5.4%  \nPuerto Ricans Ethnic groups is white (mostly Spanish origin) 80.5%, black 8%, Amerindian 0.4%, Asian 0.2%, mixed and other 10.9%.    Their languages are Spanish and English,  \nReligion is mostly Roman Catholic (85%).  \nWhen I was there I spent my US Currency, same as I did in the United States, all States.\nOh, rate of unemployment was about 12-13% which was couple years ago.
413990
I'm looking for that article but in the meantime....since puerto rico is a u.s.territory i'm pretty sure there will be some form of aid.  ofcourse thats only a bandaide to the problem and a longterm solution/plan will be necessary.  i hope the u.s. gov. will help relocate island families within the u.s.
1047163
Yes, the US has lost already.\n\nIraq is in Civil War.\n\nFor the last 3 years, US soldiers broke into people's homes with the intention to arrest or kill "bad guys".\n\nJust how likely do you think it would be that some power invade the US and successfully impose a different style of government upon us?\n\nHow long must we continue to be there because someone said something bad about George Bush's daddy?
538067
Bush & Shanie are working on it...\nLybia will be our 51st state, so \nIraq can be our 52nd state...
223103
It depends on the piece of land.  If Disney bought an island and wanted to apply for statehood, then no.  If Puerto Rico wanted to apply, then yes.  I guess the difference is is it just some person (or group of person) trying to be a wiseguy or is it really a group of people that want to be part of the United States.
1161908
I too have seen these advertisements in USA Today etc. and have wondered the same thing.  The question is whether you think the Iraqi government/economy will be prospering in the next 5 to 10 years.  I don't think so.
1086226
it has been a colony for 500 years, at that time PR belonged to Spain. I think it had a governor
300609
Well, Iraq is already in your hip-pocket. God Bless America. And you're obviously preparing for an invasion of Iran. God Bless America. Those pesky Venezualans keep threatening to keep their, I mean OUR oil from us so Chavez will bow to you eventually or prepare to be vaporized. God Bless America. Since you have split our nation apart maybe you could just seperate the red states from the blue states and call the red states Bushistan. And admit them to the Union as a seperate entity.
524108
That's a good question.  I've always thought that we're all three of them..We are a colony because we're not autonomic nor sovereign and we're under the Federal government of the US...we're a territory of the US and we're a commonwealth (the commonwealth of Puerto Rico).  I think that commonwealth (ELA) is the least we are and that we're more of a modern colony.
495197
We are not a province....Puerto Rico is a territory of the United States..I think of it as a country (maybe because I want independence)....and the most possible reason as for why we have an olympic team should be that our current status is as a commonwealth...Supposedly, we still have some powers and I guess having an Olympic team is one...at least..