Specifically, what was the reason given for the U.S. entering Iraq ?
818749
saddam stole my goat.
881117
Because Iraq had oil.\n\nBut really the question should be: why invade anyone? Wars of aggression (like Iraq was and an attack on Cuba would be) are illegal under international law and have been since the 14th century.\n\nIraq was not a threat. It had no connection AT ALL with 9/11, the only terrorists being harboured were in the north (i.e. the area controlled by the Kurds (US allies)), and as late as May 2001 the Bush administration were saying that Iraq has no WMDs and didn't constitute a risk to anyone. The US invaded Iraq for political and ideological reasons, and dragged my country along with it.\n\nThe result - we're in more danger from terrorists now than in 2001.
1023296
THE ONLY REASON THE EMBASSY IS NEEDED THERE IS BECAUSE OUR TROOPS ARE THERE,OTHERWISE THE GLAMOUROUS EMBASSY NEEDS TO FADE AND LET THE IRAQI'S DECIDE THEIR OWN FATE AND LIFESTYLE.NOT THE U.S. OR OSAMAMAMA DECISION.I BELIEVE THE IRAQ'S WERE ALSO IN LINE WHEN THE BRAINS WERE PASSED OUT.
866402
Yes it was just. Saddam Hussein illegally invaded another country with the intent of stealing their oil and land.\nThe world united against him for this unjust act he committed.\n\n    This is in no way relevant to todays war.
961201
Well, the true reason is kind of multi-pronged.\n\nFirstly, it was for oil. However, not in the way that the "those evil war mongering republicans are all poopy heads" crowd seem to believe. Like it or not the US economy is highly dependant on foreign oil. The previous regime in Iraq first tried to take over Kuwait, a major producer that sits directly on the gulf. Additionally, that regime made it quite clear that they intended to use their influence on global oil markets in any way they could to harm western economies. Can you imagine a world where a single very anti-American dictator controls 70% of the worlds oil supply and chooses not to sell to us at any price but rather give China, a major rival, access to virtually unlimited supplies at cut rate prices?\n\nSecondly, it was about breaking up the web of state funded terrorism. Like it or not there are a large number of middle eastern fundamentalists who are actively working to wipe America off of the map. This is not some new phenomena that has taken place since we took action in Iraq. This has been brewing for decades. I know that it is an unpleasant realization to some, but America is at war and we did not start it nor did it begin with the invasion of Iraq nor with 9/11. Middle eastern fundamentalists declared war on the US more than a decade ago. Unfortunately, most Americans are too busy carrying on with their normal lives to realize this as a clear and present danger. One of the insidious attributes about international terrorism is that there is no single nation-state that the US can point to as the "enemy". This gives state sponsors of terrorism the luxury of calling the US an aggressive bully when we take action against them. Iraq was one of many enablers in the international terrorism network. There are others. It is my hope that America will not have to learn the hard way that it is better to deal with such threats early even though such actions may not appear politically correct rather than wait until a mushroom cloud erupts over Israel, the UK, or the Eastern coast of the US.
447450
Depending on who you listen to, there are several reasons. I shall attempt to run them down & provide a brief explanation of each, and state my own opinion at the end.\n\n1. Oil. The US needs a source of oil, so we invaded Iraq to get it.\n2. Big Business - The US needed a way to boost the profit lines of big business, and war is the best way to do it.\n3. Freedom - We needed to free the Iraqi's from Saddam's thumb.\n4. WMD's - Saddam had WMD's, he refused to let the UN make inspections, and it's too risky to let Saddam have WMD's.\n5. New Base Location - Iraq makes a great place to project power from in terms of the US military, it is adjacent to the Gulf, and provides ways to reinforce Turkey, as well as keep Iran in check.\n6. Violation of Gulf War cease-fire agreement - Iraq violated the cease-fire agreement of the 1st gulf war, so this war is simply a conclusion of the last war.\n7. Bush's daddy - Saddam tried to kill Bush Sr., so Bush Jr is seeking revenge.\n8. Terrorism - Saddam was conspiring with Osama, so the US had to intervene.\n\nAnd my opinion:\nBush Jr. was obsessed with Iraq, and decided long ago that he was going to end Saddam's rule. He found a reason, Saddam didn't back down, and now we're in Iraq.\n\nHope this helps as a general overview.
566409
because the country isn't stable.  When the Iraqi government and military are able to sufficiently rule and control the country, then the US military will leave.
613888
To take Saddam's oil.  I'm guessing the U.S. tried to make a deal with him in the 80's but it didn't go well, so the U.S. decided to make him 'an offer he wouldn't refuse'.  But he did, and look what happened.  How would you feel if the price of gas shot up to $3/L or $10/gallon?  << THAT'S WHY.  In order for our way of life to continue someone's else way of life has to be altered.
281128
The United States invaded Iraq lead by George W. Bush because they lost control of the dictator placed by the CIA under the direction of George H. Bush before he was President.
1039232
iraq was invaded for its gas...fuel
785407
This is a very good question, and should have been asked by President Bush before he went charging into a country he had no business going into in the first place.\n\nOriginally I would have answered this question under the assumption that it would be someone the United States decided would be able to play both sides of the political fence.  Someone who would appear to be acting in the best interests of Iraqis, while remembering and acting in the best interests of the country that put them in power; United States.\n\nLately, however, I think the answer is very diferent.  First of all because I think the United States has lost any control of the situation it might have had at one points and I think it has come to the point now where Iraq has clearly demonstrated that it does not want the kind of democracy that the United States would like to impose on it.  The power will ultimately end up in the hands of the clerics that are still fighting over power.  I no longer believe a democracy is possible in Iraq. That is the fault of the United States. The very thing that the United States saught to bring to the Iraqi people is being taken away from them by the very presence of the United States. Democracy is now being associated with the bloodshed and horrible living conditions that have been brought about by the United States invasion of Iraq, and although the United States is far from what is an ideal Democracy, it remains the symbol of democracy by it's own pompous proclimations. People don't want any part of that.  Although there are many advantages of Democracy, the Iraqi people are not seeing it.  They see only the downside of what the West has to offer.
957367
Many resons, the UN security council stated they had WMD. Iraq is a stratigic point in controlling the middle east. It keeps the fight off American soil to keep the civiilian causalities down.
606676
The main reason given to the american people was the sinking oo the lousitania however that seems strange since that vessel was sunk two years prior to entering war.The usa was not happy with german naval activity in her area The loss of american lives at sea due to submarine attack.
994644
your question isn't very well put so i don't know exactly what you mean. but we went to iraq to help those people living under sadam who was horrible to them.
969286
I agree that this is obvious.  Iraq was probably the hegemon in the Middle East before the US invasion, though Iran had already been clamoring for increased power and influence in the region.  Now that Iraq has fallen into great turmoil, Iran now has an opportunity to increase its influence and establish itself as the leading Muslim nation, much as the US is considered the leading democratic nation.  Iran has much to gain from a destabilized Iraq, and is thus contributing to the violence through weapons sales.
67010
Well, the only reason Iraq was invaded was for oil,I mean come on...why else Iraq? There was no proof to begin with, but there was proof for Syria, Libya, North Korea, Oh but no. We just had to ivade a country with no evidence for them having WMD's didnt we? And i mean you just have to look through the lines at this one..
463014
By providing intelligence about impending attacks on Iraq (2003) to the Iraqis in order to help them fight against the US.  Wait a second, that wouldn't really be helpful, now would it?\n\nActually, they are cooperating by arresting suspects in Germany and trying them in court on terrorism charges.  They also continue to produce schnitzel and wurst in large quanitites in hopes that the terrorists will eat a lot and be too sleepy to do bad things.