Is the war in Iraq justified?? Or is it not justified?
149245
It is justified if you just look past the here and now. Ten years from now, after the US leaves, Iraq will be a stable, prospering democracy, and it's people will for the first time have a say in how their country is run and a quality of life they could never have dreamed of under Sddam.
856315
Wholly unjustifiable.\n\nWe went to war for the wrong reasons. Iraq had nothing to do with 911. Iraq had no WMDs left. Iraq posed no threat to the west. Iraq had nothing to do with international terrorism. By the time the politicians started trying to justify the war in terms of regime change and bringing democracy, you know it should never have happened.\n\nIf we go to war with Iraq simple to get rid of a dictator, surely we should have to do the same in every other dictatorship in the world today, just to be consistent?\n\nThe effect of the war has been to ruin the infrastructure of the country, open the country to factional insurgency, open the country to international terrorism and lower the standard of living and personal security for the average Iraqi.\n\nAnd what have we gained? Budding democracy that nobody asked for and that the Arab mentality does not comprehend?\n\nI work on the reconstruction side of things in Iraq, and can confirm that most of the money ear-marked for reconstruction has simply been diverted into providing security for those trying to implement the reconstruction. Many of those reconstruction projects that have been completed are simply destroyed by the insurgents as soon as they have been completed.\n\nSo what have we achieved? We've destroyed a country. We opened it up to international terrorism. And the war has resulted in the deaths of over 3,000 coalition servicemen, over 50,000 Iraqis and 369 contractors.\n\nIf Saddam Hussein is facing the death penalty for the number of deaths he was responsible for by illegal actions, then in my opinion we should similarly hang George W Bush and Tony Blair too.
1117900
Here is a rational argument for the Iraq war:\n\n1)  We couldn't monitor Saddam Hussein perpetually.  At some point, our attention is going to get distracted, and he would have reconstituted his weapons programs.  Look what happened with North Korea.  If we're not watching these devious little countries every moment, they can do great harm.\n\n2)  WMD's:  you may disagree with this, but I firmly believe Saddam, with the help of the Russians, removed his WMDs to Syria.  Read the link below.  It is quite a compelling argument.\n\n3)  Saddam was getting around the Oil For Food program restrictions by bribing the governments of France, Russia, and Germany.  Sanctions were supposed to force him to comply with the 17 UN Resolutions.  However, he could have continued indefinitely under this arrangement.  He was literally buying the "no war" vote from these countries.\n\n4)  Saddam was a threat to his own people, and his neighbors.  Every week, the Iraqi military was shooting at our planes patrolling the No Fly Zone, which kept the Kurds safe.\n\n5)  Saddam's links to terrorism?  How about the fact he was giving $25,000 to the families of suicide bombers?  Or the fact that Al-Zarkawi was in an Iraqi hospital, a guest of the government?\n\n6)  We can't make the UN act responsibly, but we had a duty to keep the institution from becoming totally irrelevant.  If we let Iraq defy 17 UN resolutions, how many other countries would ever take the UN seriously again?  It's like when a parent tells a child to go to bed, but the child knows he can just stall indefinitely.  If the UN isn't taken seriously, it might as well disband.\n\n7)  Economic reasons for intervention:  Saddam Hussein and his family were using as Iraq like their own private piggy bank.  He was stealing the Iraqi people blind.  The economy of Iraq would never support the population and raise people up from poverty because Saddam and his evil clan were taking it all themselves.\n\n8)  Moral reasons for intervention:  Saddam was a brutal dictator.  You should see films of his rape rooms, his tortures (real tortures.... cutting off hands, etc.  By comparison, Abu Ghraib under our control was like Frathouse pranks)\n\n9)  Political reasons for intervention:  democratic countries never wage war against one another.  It's a fact.  Find two democratic countries that have warred against each other.  Doesn't happen.  Therefore, we are creating the seeds of peace in the Middle East by making democracies out of Iraq and Afghanistan.  Countries all over the Middle East are now clamoring for democracy.  See the link quoting Walid Jumblatt:  The Berlin Wall Has fallen.\n"It's strange for me to say it, but this process of change has started because of the American invasion of Iraq," explains Jumblatt. "I was cynical about Iraq. But when I saw the Iraqi people voting three weeks ago, 8 million of them, it was the start of a new Arab world." Jumblatt says this spark of democratic revolt is spreading. "The Syrian people, the Egyptian people, all say that something is changing. The Berlin Wall has fallen. We can see it."\n\n10)  Self-defense reasons for the intervention:  better to fight the war on terror overseas than among the burnt out ruins of U.S. cities.
844802
Iraq could be bombed back to the stone age but this is not what is wanted or desired. All out war to annilated every Iraqi citizen would be immoral though at this point probably desired by the Republicans to make the problem go away. Since the results with regard to the war on terror would be unknown the job will have to be finished.
1035301
I can think of a few reasons regarding the war in Iraq:\n\n-  Violations of 17 U.N. resolutions\n-  Violations of human rights\n-  Massacre of hundreds of thousands of Kurds\n-  Demonstrated the use of chemical weapons\n-  Financed terrorist factions in other Middle Eastern countries\n-  Rewarded suicide bombers' families\n-  Shot at our planes patrolling the no-fly zones\n-  Invaded Kuwait\n\nThe case for Iraq can be argued on many fronts.  Only those that forget the attrocities of the Baath regime and the importance to fight state-sponsored terrorism allow themselves to be persuaded from one side of the issue to the other.  In the days and weeks that followed 9/11, you had a different mindset.  It's no excuse to falter from that just because months and years have gone by.  For all you know, the aggression our country has shown in response is the reason why you haven't had to go through another horrific ordeal.\n\nAs for the North Korea comparison...\n\nIt is a separate issue for many reasons.  You must deal with nations that already possess nuclear weapons on a different scale.  No matter how contradictory this may seem, there aren't any other good options.  It must be a slow but strong diplomatic process that exercises all of its power before any military option is considered.  In most cases, the preemption measure will never be considered.  This is where an attack must be the reason to go to war.\n\n\nkiko,\nDon't give into the oil conspiracy.  From your brief response, it seems like you're one of the sensible Democrats that can listen to reason.  For the record, I haven't seen the price of gasoline drop at the pump.  In fact, it has risen more than 25% since the Iraq war started.  Plus, we're not staying in Iraq.  It is nothing more than an assumption we are there for that reason.  \n\nYou should focus more of your "intelligent" intuitiveness into arguing valid points of the war.  Even as a staunch Republican, I can admit that there were some serious mistakes made in this war.  But at the same time, I can see that there's only so much you can predict and expect to be perfect.  We are all human after all.
1006746
Staying in Iraq won't bring those men, who have sacrificed their lives for a war that never should have happened, back. \n\nDespite NATO's investigations Bush started the war and has admitted , "'Oops, maybe it wasn't the right thing to do". \n\nIt's a simple fact, if you make a mistake...and don't correct it....you make another mistake.  I am not willing to sacrifice my sons blood or anyone else's life for a mistake. \n\nCome on ! Wake up ! This, what you call  "job" is a farce. How on earth can you justify killing innocent people on both sides? \n\nIt's not a matter of running away with our tail between the legs...it's a matter of finally waking up and looking the truth in it's face. Not one more innocent young man should die because of  our so called pride. \n\nWould you be willing to die for this war? Would you really? Then what are you waiting for? Go on over....good luck to ja pal.
526236
War is regrettable in most any circumstance. I am a veteran, and to see my brethren have to lay down their lives is never something that is easy to deal with. HOWEVER, in the world situation today, terrorism is something that must be battled HEAD ON. We can not sit back passively and wait to be struck again. While war is something that is hard to look at, many times it is necessary. In battling for preserving our safety, it is necessary in today's world that we battle those who would commit terrorism, and those who would openly support it to strike at the United States. While I hope the war ends as quickly as possible, I do not wish for our troops to leave until stability is achieved to a large degree in Iraq. The best hope for more stability in the Middle East is to have a functioning government that is by the people and for the people. Freedom is contagious, and hopefully those in other Middle Eastern countries see and feel the benefits, and strive towards a free and open government in the other countries they reside in. The tide of freedom is a strong one, and much like the ocean it is hard to hold back.\n\nSo support the war effort, and hope for it to continue as long as it needs to, but not longer than it needs to. Pray for the concept of free government to spread like wildfire in the Middle East, so that the entire world is a safer place, and a better place for all peoples.
957192
While I believe we are undermanned, I don't think of the Iraq war as a question of nationality.  This is a crooked war and we all know it.  I can speak for many by saying I am not eager to die for a war I don't believe in.
988091
http://www.iraqbodycount.net/\nhttp://nationalpriorities.org/index.php?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=182\n\nthough I think they may count insurgents as civi's.\n\nI am sorry, but I am more concerned about the monitary value of this war than the iraqi lives lost. Unfortunately it is not equaling up for me. I think we should pull out before this poor excuse for a economic boost kills our markets even more.\n\n9/11, USS Cole, Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania *2, OK City, and so on are facts of life. It is part of being the most powerful nation on Earth, you piss off alot of people to get there.
59684
No, we are not losing the war. We won't win the hearts and minds of all iraqi's and there will still be problems, but we've removed a genocidal dictator, taken the first steps in liberating Iraq, witnessed elections, played key roles in rebuilding the country's infrastructure, partnered with 27 other nations, and we're doing the right thing. I agree we should pull most of our troops out when it makes sense, but now is not that time.
364704
Do you think the war in Iraq is a mistake?\n\nUm, YES!
914001
I believe even at the time there was debate about whether they were justified.  I've heard that General Lemay once remarked that if the war went the other way, they would have been tried as war criminals for their acts.  I don't have the reference for that though, I'll have to look it up.\n\nI look at it thins way, it probably was justified if you believe that war is a contest between enemy populations, and not just between militaries.  If you don't believe that, then probably not.
865346
And it appears as if they found people just like Saddam to run things. I sent this link to my senators and congressmen/women as well as my state house leaders. I asked them if they were aware of this and if so, how we could allow this to stand. Unacceptable.\n\nAnd yes, I think it is past time to commit to this war, no matter if it was right or wrong to start, we are in it now, get it over with. Win it. Given our technology, hardware and numbers, the only thing we are lacking at the moment is balls.
837009
I feel that there are very few noble causes for war. If Iraq had done some sort of action against Americans, or if they did some sort of action against one of our allies then maybe. We went over there to make rich men richer. We are an occupying force in that country. If another country invaded us to make their rich men richer I would fight until i gave out my last dying breath. I'm sure this is what the Iraqis are thinking. I am not ready to enlist for this war. "Terror" is a braod term. by deffinition there are many American terrorists in America. Its a farce and false pre-tense for war. Iraq did not bomb the world trade center. There are many countries that have prro leaders. Are we going to bomb and occupy them all? Maybe if they had lots of money to loot. A noble war is the war on hunger. enough said.
180943
What war?\nThere is a war in Iraq?\nWooow! Dude!
492029
I agree. War never solved anything. I just can't understand those people who support the war, send their kids, and then blame it on Iraqis and Arabs if anything bad happened to them. Don't send them! Send Bush! If he wants the Oil so bad!
821580
To shelly and the one who posted just before (Or is it after?) her (The one who posted no name)... I don't see information here from you. I see the talking points of the left. \n\nFirstly, the Iraqi war is not illegal. It was fully supported by numerous resolutions including res. 1441. In addition, NO country should need to ask the corrupt United Nations to defend itself from a maniacle dictator, nor to free 25,000,000 people from a dictator's grasp. \n\nSecondly, NO ONE in this country, either in the administration or in the armed services of this nation support torture. There is quite a difference between that and strong interrogation techniques.\n\nThirdly, anonymous, I resent your statement about people of conscience not fighting in Iraq. I, sir, have family in Iraq, in addition to over 140,000 young men and women who have volunteered to serve this country in its time of need. You dishonor them with your words, and I think you owe an appology.\n\nShelly,\nI know that Bush is not a great orrator. No one denies that. However, considering that he graduated with two degrees, one from Harvard, and one from Yale, I find it a bit unfounded for you to call his intelligence into question, ESPECIALLY considering that he graduated with slightly BETTER grades than 2004 challenger, demoncrat John Kerry.\n\nIn addition, it is the leaders of the left in this country who have demeaned our troops from the beginning. \n\nJohn Murtha, without waiting for investigations to be complete and without giving our men and women in uniform the benifit of a trial accused them of, "murdering innocent civilians in cold blood."\n\nJohn Kerry has accused our men and women in uniform of "sneaking into homes in the dead of night and terrorizing women and children..."\n\nCharlie Rangle, the would-be speaker of the house weighs and means commitee has vowed to cut off funding for our troops fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan.\n\nI have more examples, but for now, I'll let you chew on those.\n\nNow, let me get back to the question at hand. To me, it does not matter one bit whether it was a botched joke or not. The fact is it came out as an insult to our men and women in uniform. And instead of doing what he SHOULD have done and appologizing for the offense it caused our troops, John Kerry came out and ARROGENTLY said that he appologizes to NO ONE. Then he went back to the tried and tired democratic talking points saying that, "Bush should appologize" to our troops... Talk about a childish remark.\n\nEdit: Grist,\nIf the left is supposedly in support of our troops, why have they worked to undermine this war effort from day one? Why do the left-wing leaders in congress criticize them, accuse them, without benifit of trial or even an investigation? \n\nMark,\nJohn Kerry has worked to undermine the military from thirty years ago. \n\nDon't forget, this is, again the guy who accused our men and women in uniform of sneaking into homes in the dead of night and terrorizing women and children. This is the guy who, while criticizing the president for not putting forth enough funding has said, "I voted for the eighty seven billion... Before I voted against it..."