What do you think of the war in Iraq?
476472
we've started so we have to finish..
594321
Everyone who is answering that the war is going terrible needs to talk one-on-one with a servicemember who has been there. IF you do, you will most likely find:\n\n* The "war" is going very well. Most Iraqis want us there to finish the job of helping them get on their feet and then leave.\n* Most Iraqis have always been and still remain friendly to the American military. Kids still want to touch our hands. People still smile and wave at us. Most have a kind word to us and the United States and make an attempt to communicate their gratitude in broken English.\n* Americans are doing wonderful things in Iraq. We are building schools, roads and infrastructure. We are training Iraqi Police (the IPs) and Iraqi military. These projects allow Iraqis to stand on their own two feet and govern themselves.\n* The democratically elected, constitutionally backed Iraqi government is in charge and running the show. It only took 3 years to accomplish. By contrast, Germany took 4 years and Japan took 7 years to take over governing themselves.\n* The "insurgency" is NOT what the media leads you to believe. I use quotes around "insurgency" because, by definition, an insurgency would be one led by Iraqis. The truth is that 95% of all "insurgents" ARE NOT Iraqi. They are Saudi, Egyptian, Jordanian, Syrian, Somalian, Iranian ... just about anything BUT Iraqis.\n* The "inusrgency" is being orchestrated by the Iranian government. The Iranians have the most to gain by keeping Iraq unstable. As long as Iraq is unstable, no one will seriously look at Iran and its nuclear weapons program. And with almost 200,000 Americans to Iran's east and west, Iran is mighty damn nervous right now.\n* The vast majority of Americans in Iraq - conservatice or liberal, Republican or Democrat - believe in the mission in Iraq and believe it is the right thing to do. Their opinions are based on events they see every day with their own eyes ... NOT what they have seen on CNN.\n\nYou can believe what you want. Believe CNN or believe the words of our servicemen and women who have been there. But have an open mind.\n\nEDIT: Rena - Conservatively, 500,000 American soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines have rotated through Iraq since the end of major hostilities. Approximately 2400 have died there - and about 1/6th of those were non-combat related. Divide 2400 / 500,000 and you get 0.0048 - or less than 1/2 of 1% chance of dying in Iraq. This is - BY FAR - the safest war in terms of KIA's that the United States has ever been involved in. You really should talk to several servicemembers before you dismiss a mission we believe in so easily.\n\nEDIT: Manuel Sarmiento - You said:\n\n"War implies that both parties are at even. USA just went and crushed Iraq."\n\nTell that to the Poles, the Czechs, the Austrians, the French and the Belgians who were crushed by Hitler in the beginning of World War II. Tell that to the Kuwaitis who were crushed by Hussein in 1989. Tell that to the Muslims who were slaughtered by Milosevic in the early 1990s. I doubt any one of them would agree with your absurd statement. War DOES NOT imply both sides are even. War implies two governments are fighting with two militaries - nothing more, nothing less.\n\n"Now, because Hussein is a bad person, does that justify to kill thousands of innocent iraquies?"\n\nNo, but I think it justifies the liberation of 25,000,000 Iraqis. In EVERY war, unfortunately, innocent people are hurt and killed. The main difference between the United States and other countries' militaries is that we do not TARGET innocent non-combatants. In fact, we PROSECUTE and JAIL military members who intentionally do so. 'Nuff said.\n\n"Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11 but now, it's just natural that iraq people enroll to damage USA, the country that, on their perception, crushed Iraq."\n\nSee my statement above on how Iraqis really feel about Americ
760135
I feel like everyone else, it is senseless keeping our boys out there.  My brother was in Iraq for a while and not a day went by that the whole family did not feel sick with worry about him.  He's heading off to Afghanistan soon and that will be just as bad.\n\nOn the other hand, we started this war along with Dubya and it is unfair to the Iraqi people if we just storm in, turn their lives and country upside down, then abandon them when they need our help to get back on their feet.  \n\nThe question is - do they want our help?  The media would have you believe that they do not and if this is indeed the case then we should pull everyone out of there and let them carry on.
1176944
I do not support the Iraqi war.  I DO support our troops who are over the fighting it the though.  After all, they're not the one who started it.  Bush did. However, I also believe that, even though we never should have gone to war (at least not when we did) that we need to stay and finish what we started.
514606
are you that stupid..its obvious...\n\n   UNITED STATES OF AMERICA..thats the whole point of war against iraq
949551
Before I answer this question, I'd like to bring up something that really bothers me deeply concerning Iraq, would we be so regretful if we had successfully converted Iraq to a democracy with complete peace? \n\nThe question I have been screaming BEFORE the war started has been, "Does the means justfiy the end?" What if this end had been a success? Would most be sitting around feeling good about America?... feeling good about themselves? ... even though current civilian Iraqi body count is over 600k?... even though we never had a valid nor justiable reason to occupy Iraq?...\n\nOf course you know my feelings on this... immoral means never justfiy an end even if that end is successful. What about all those ppl that have died? What about the loyal, committed soldiers that followed their country's orders... not just American soldiers btw. \n\nSo once again, we should not take any pride in any way, shape or manner for our leader's invasion of Iraq. \n\nIs there ever a time to take pride in participating in a war? I think so. I did an Army tour in the mid-80s then when Saddam invaded Kuwait, one of our allies, I volunteered to come out of inactive status to participate. Why? Because I truly thought we, as a WORLD, had progressed past the days of barbaric occupations of invading just because you are stronger than the other guy. I took pride in that war because I compared it to a bully beating up a little child... that we were fighting the bully. Now, we are the bully.\n\nI can't begin to describe in words the disappointment I have in my country due to our actions. And what gets me now is the length of time it took ppl to come to this realization. I was a voice from the beginning saying it was wrong... most of these ppl against it were the ones in 2003 with those ribbons on the back of their mini-vans, American flags outside their homes... telling me I was anti-American or unpatriotic for not supporting my president. \n\nI'm serious. How many of you out there reading this either didn't have an opinion or was pro-Iraqi war because you thought it was going to be a cake walk? You were so sure we would just walk over the Iraqis and be the WINNERS. You never stopped to ask about our reasons... were they justified. America is going to war and we are going to kick some *** then come home like nothing winning.. showing the world 'who we are'.\n\nFor example, that Cindy Shehan (spelling) that camped outside of Bush's home in Texas in protest of the war AFTER her son died in Iraq. Where was her protest before her son died? I'd be willing to bet that up to that point, she was one of those ppl driving those mini-vans proudly with the ribbons on the back before that. \n\nSome ppl compare Iraq to Vietnam. While I see some comparisons, believe it or not, Vietnam at least had a reason. Vietnam was about containment. Containment is a word used to describe the stopping of the spreading of communism of that era. While I never saw how the spread of communism threatens us, at least they gave us a real,honest reason. \n\nNow to get the core of your question... what should we do now, knowing what we know now about the lies?\n\nUp to a week ago, I was on the fence about this. I literally could not decide. On one hand, I don'f feel good about making a mess of their country, the 100,000s that have died then leaving them to somehow find a way. On the other hand, I was thinking we couldn't win... win in terms of ever helping those ppl to 'get along' in a civil manner.\n\nI have since, just in the past few days, come to a realization... we need to get out. Why and what caused my choice, decision? \n\nIt all came together for me a few days ago when I read about some Shiites that had kidnapped 25 sunnis, took them into the streets and then burned them alive. Not only did they do this, Iraqi troops stood by and watched and an American helicopter patrolling took no action.\n\nThis action was not the r
247002
What pisses me off about this country is the amount of people that were "pro-war" in 2003 and now that they see blood on the television they are suddenly humanitarians. What the hell did you think was going to happen?  Compared to Vietnam, Korea, and especially WWII, this war is very tame.  \n\nI was anti-war in 2003 but I'm against pulling out of Iraq now.  Saddam wasn't the enemy, but the terrorists we are fighting now come from Iran, Syria, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and others.  This is a different war than we were fighting in 2003.  We were wrong for going in against the UN's vote, but we will be just as wrong for pulling out now and leading these poor people into a civil war.
1048445
My husband was deployed to Iraq for a year leaving me with a 1 year old and missing the birth of his daughter.  My thoughts on the war, stop trying to take over other country's when you cant even take care of your own. ( as far as the president is concerned)
901778
I served in Iraq and feel the same as I do now.  we are trying to do the right thing are are the only hope the Iraqi people have for a better future.\n\nSounds like you are another one of those clueless idiots who thinks that his political opinions means that he can tell me what I think.
412719
The War was not "Legal", if any war could be justified in Law. Saddam was an Evil Dictator, but there are plenty of those in the World, some of the Allied to the USA (Hello Saudi Arabia!) There were no WMD's, but Loads of Oil, and no one seemed to have a clue what to do After we got rid of old Saddam. I think the Western powers did all they could to keep civilian casualties to a minimum, but I also believe that the USA and Britain went to war to secure a strategic resource, and for no other reason. 9/1 had nothing to do with Iraq, and that is a given. I think depending on the outcome History will judge the war as a naked show of aggression against a foreign power, with good or bad results. We will see.
730331
I really appreciate your sentiment for it is what we were all brought up to believe is good about this country.  But may  I suggest that this is not a war.  It is an occupation by the United States of another country.  We were told that the people of Iraq were being held in oppression by the horrible dictator Saddam Hussein, and that they would be throwing flowers at our troops for setting them free, we would be welcomed with open arms.  Why do you suppose we have had to stay for three years, fighting door to door with citizens who desperately wanted us to enter their country and set them free?  If our policy was so concerned about their human rights, why are they fighting us to the death?  I offer this thought for discussion, for it sounds to me like we were not told the truth about what we are doing there, and the Iraqi people have made it very clear with the sacrifice of the own blood, that they do not like what we are doing?  If we were oppressed by a dictator and someone came in to set us free out of the goodness of their heart, would we fight them door to door for doing so?  I think not.
1072742
I honestly think the Military have been too patient for too long. Glad Im not Prime Minister as I would have levelled the place long ago.\n\nI realise war is not fair but the Iraqi people play upon our humanity very unfairly. We have been trying to help them against their own government/leaders and give them the freedom, education, rights, basics and respect that any human deserves and they repay our soldiers/troops with women and children acting as innocent civillians with bombs strapped to their chests and suicide bomb us. Thats just total bullsh*t! Those people are nothing but savages. Its not worth risking our troops lives for them.\n\nI would have either given all the Iraqi, Iranian, Afghanistan and any other nutty Muslim based country heaps of guns and ammunition and let them shoot themselves to death till theres only one left standing and go in and put that one out of its misery or just press the button that levels the area altogether.\n\nWhat a complete waste of time, money and human life this war has caused us (our Government, our troops, our families and our loss of loved ones!)
1111303
I didn't care about Iraq before 9/11 and I don't care about Iraq now.\nThe only thing I care about is getting our troops home safely. This whole war is one big scam for global domination. They just needed your support so they sold you on WMD's and Terrorist in Iraq and all this BS. Did anyone give a crap about Saddam till they told you to. They shake hands with the dictators first then they go to war with them and make you feel scared of them, through fear tactics. Wake up. This is about G.O.D (Gold,Oil,Drugs)
974553
This was a massive plunder operation under the guise of patriotism misplaced.  It is otherwise known as the big lie.  Iraq was ugly for many, but peaceful.  Now Iraq is a violent shambles,directly due to the intervention of GW Bush.  If there were no oil there, do you think we would be there?  Not a chance.
1025560
I think there are good points and bad ones. First it was Not a lie that got us into Iraq. It was however misinformation. WM-D's have been found in Iraq. In ammunition shells. The media has gotten allot of misinformation out there. I have talked to several soldiers that have been to Iraq and they all say the same thing.\n1. The people are friendly.\n2. They are scared of the terrorists not the troops.\n3. There are allot more freedoms there now and the people know it.\n4. The violence that is always talked about is rare as a whole considering the size of country and number of people.\n5. There is so much progress with schools and shops opening now than during Saddam.\n\nI say we stay for now. If we leave it would give Iran an excuse to try to finish Iraq like it tried during the Iran Iraq war. Which would be a catastrophe. The Iraqi people should be trained and able to take over the security of their people. Then we should start pulling troops out a little at a time to ensure the stability of the country.\n\nAs for North Korea. The missile situation is just another example of a puny little man trying to wave a big stick. The international community (esp. china, japan, south Korea, Indonesia, Thailand, etc.) will not allow the north Korean government to harm another nation. If it does rattle its saber it would see an undeniable massive response from the world.\n\nAlso for your information. Although we have lost over 2500 people during the war in Iraq. It is still under the death rate in the U.S. In 1996 the death rate was 872.5 deaths per 100,000 people. Since we have been in iraq for over 4 years the death toll would equate to 3,490. Per the source below.
248741
depends on the person. i am against the war completely, but some of my friends are for it. A few of my best friends are Marines and one of them is in Iraq right now.  We all agree that we disagree with the war and some of the President's decisions, but that does not affect our relationship at all. They respect my views as I respect theirs, and I definately have respect for all of our troops overseas.
257543
The Iraq war was obviously a mistake and will end with them having a civil war.\n\nBush is my president, but he is not a good president. I support my president, but hope he leaves soon and doesn't fuck anything else up.