|BFC|Icenflame wrote:
Ok so I was thinking this forum has people from all over the world Europe the America's etc. I just want your views on the subject has America gone to far by invading two countries and occupying them? All Americans out there what are your views on the War are you freeing the people of Iraq and Afghanistan? Or do you think your government has alterior motives?
If its about freedom and democracy why hasn't America ever invaded an African country to implement democracy? Why didn't America send troops to stop the massacre in Rwanda in 1994 where over 800,000 people where massacred, I suppose when there is no financial gain in the country why help them out hey! It suppose the administration just said its Africa who cares... But i bet it would be a different story if there where large American oil interests in that country. Or not ? you tell me... I'm not jumping to conclusions just asking some questions thats all...
When you phrase a question in a certain way, you are framing the way in which you want it answered. Beyond that, I'll say a few things.
First, alterior is not the same as ulterior, which is the word for which you were shooting. Actually, I don’t think it’s a word at all.
Next, I really don't think its fair to say that we invaded and occupied Afghanistan. We sent forces there, to be sure, and still have forces there, but I think its more fair to say that we were supporting an armed insurrection than invading. And we are definitely not occupying Afghanistan. We have troops there operating, to be sure, but they have their own government, with whom we are cooperating.
Now Iraq, yeah, we invaded and occupied it. Really though, if our commanders had their way back in '90, we would have done it then. This has been a long time coming. Was the invasion about oil? That’s a complicated question that has no black and white answer. Sure, we want to ensure the stability of the region because its oil exports are essential to both our country and our allies. Is it a good thing that we are freeing people of oppression and fear? Sure, but its not so simple as that either.
The Saudis and the Israelis are the US's two closest allies in the region, and neither of them could be described as fans of Saddam and his merry men. They saw him as a necessary evil, though, as he was a buffer between them and Iran, which is without a doubt the biggest threat in the region. If they thought that he could be removed and replaced with a representative democracy, it was in both of their interests, and that's why they supported the move.
Was it about freeing the Kurds from evil tyranny? Well, I personally think that the war was justified for that reason alone. The Kurds in the north want nothing more than to break free from the fake country that is Iraq and have their own little state, that they govern and defend, so that they don’t have to worry about a repeat of the little ethnic reprisals of the middle 90’s. That, by the way, worries our allies in Turkey, which has a substantial Kurdish minority. So why did Turkey support the war? Well, when you choose an unknown over a known evil, that evil has to be pretty bad.
Do I think that the US has done a bang-up job in Iraq? No, not at all. There have been numerous missteps, plenty of blunders to be sure. That being said, there is a school of thought that says the more foreign-born fighters that we kill or capture in Iraq, the fewer there are to attack the evil empires of the west.
Is the overall gain worth the price we have paid? There is no way, CNN’s instant worldview notwithstanding, for us to tell right now. 20, 30, 40 years down the line we may be able to make some judgments, but not now. Right now, its time to focus on short term goals, like making sure the people of Iraq can trust their own police forces.
And I’m so tired of hearing about how the US should have gone in to save the Rwandans from each other. Where was the rest of the world? All I hear from countries like France, Spain, German, etc is how the US shouldn’t try to be the policeman of the world. Where was the Bundeswar? Where was the French Foreign Legion? Where was the Australian Army? We all saw the same images on CNN. We all knew what was happening? Why didn’t anyone else step up and stop it?
You can’t have it both ways kids. Either you want the US to act as the world’s policeman, or you don’t. Pick one and stick with it, but when something goes wrong, don’t just stand there and wring your hands and say, why, mister president, why?