Current Events — HabitableZone

Current Events » in reply to Why Bush invaded Iraq.

Wow
Donald — (archived)

I must say that while I can't agree with every point made in that piece, there are a number of very useful insights it offers.

Yes...the administation has botched this big time. We would have been far better off to finish our work in Afghanistan before taking on other adventures.

Going to war in Iraq was a terrific mistake. It was completely unnecessary. Saddam and his military were completely impotent after years of international sanctions. Fully two thirds of the country was encumbered with a no-fly zone. And U.N. inspectors were contradicting U.S. assertions that Saddam had weapons of mass destruction. We could have easily waited him out at pennies on the dollars spent on the war, with virtually no American casualties.

Now that we're there though, I would disagree with those who say we should just pull out. That would be an even worse mistake. Frankly, I think we ought to be increasing an international military presence in the country until we know for certain that stability can be maintained.

Unfortunately, I don't think that's where we are headed. I think the more likely outcome will be splitting the country up into three distinct states with the Kurds running the north, the Shiites running the south and the Sunnis living in poverty in the oil-poor middle and west. There is great danger in that outcome as the Kurds have their eyes on southern Turkey and northwestern Iran. Meanwhile the Shiites can be expected to create an Islamist state looking very much like Iran. And the Sunni middle will become another impoverished breeding ground for suicide bombers intent on getting their share of virgins in heaven.

Not a pretty sight.

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