I didn’t have any problem with invading Iraq, simply because Iraqi president/dictator Saddam Hussein ignored/disregarded the peace accords that stopped the first Gulf War.
Since the second conflict, the USA has ignored/disregarded the two primary objectives, which were, to remove Saddam Hussein from power, and find Weapons of Mass Destruction.
These objectives were met rather quickly (especially since WMD weren’t found). The USA is remarkably good at invading and disabling another country. What no country is good at is occupation. We should have learned that during the Vietnam Conflict. Obviously the lesson was lost.
Iraq is on the verge of a civil war. Indeed, they might need to have one in order to stabilize the country and establish a dominant order. Foreign influence is prolonging this from happening.
Eventually, the USA will have to leave Iraq. Likely, not much will have been settled at that point, that wasn’t settled long before. In short, we will have accomplished very little over a long period of time, at great expense and loss of life.
Unfortunately, our country’s leadership feels the need to stay in Iraq, and try to create a new government there. In the meantime, lots of people on both sides are dying. I don’t believe that we can, or have the right to “fix” the country of Iraq.
I understand that Iraq now has terrorists. That is the direct result of United States intervention. Saddam Hussein would not have shared power with any other political/military group. His removal from power opened the door for terrorists to move in.
The bottom-line, is that our policy in Iraq is flawed. Our leadership has no clue about how to end the conflict and pullout. Eventually, we will be forced to leave due to expense, elapsed time and public opinion. Why is it that we have to wait around until we lose? Shouldn’t we have left when Saddam was pulled out of that hole?
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