War in iraq

[Maestro]

Fine, you know people in Iraq who like Saddam, that doesn't mean that those of us who do believe the Iraqi people want this are "kidding themselves." The two Iraqi's I know where lucky enough to be able to leave Iraq. It's a shame on Saddam that they should need to do so. I didn't like Bill Clinton, neither did a lot of other people, but that doesn't necessitate my fleeing the country. Even if I were to believe that the majority of Iraqis didn't support this war, I would still support it, because no matter how you look at it, you cannot deny that there is either a majority or a minority in Iraq that lives in fear of his regime. So let's say, for the sake of argument, that you are right, and (making up a number) 83% of the Iraqi population is opposed to the war and supports Saddam. That would mean that 17% of Iraq lives in constant fear of the discovery of their political views, facing the very real possiblity of death by Saddam or his supporters if their ideologies are revealed.

 

I do not think 83% of Iraq supports Saddam, I cannot imagine it's more than half. But even 17% under such a regime and conditions is unacceptable. You can have 17%, or even 50% disliking the regime, but any percent of the population in mortal danger due to the regime is absolutely not acceptable.

[Martial_Artist]

I was living in the Philippines once, for a few years, and met an interesting man one day. We both happened to be on the same bus heading to a northern province and he seemed very, very lost. I offered to help him. I translated so he could buy a ticket and we sat next to each other for the greater duration of the 15 hour ride. My friend was a Farsi from Iraq. We spoke in what little communication we could for the whole trip. He spoke very little english and none of the native dialects. This struck me as odd. Why was he in the Philippines.

 

He had had enough of Saddam. Living without living for fear of being killed for your mere thoughts was not what he wanted. He figured the Philippines was as good a place as any to quietly disappear and live a quiet life. I learned some interesting things from that man that day. I have since learned a great many more about Saddam. He is a man that needs to die.

 

I don't know who you know in Iraq, fungku, but if it is known that they have communication with an outsider they will never admit hating Saddam. The Ministry of Intelligence would know and surely kill them and their families. It has happend countless times in the past. That is how life is lived in Iraq. (Read "See No Evil" by Robert Baer)

 

Perhaps you refer to the anti-war human shields from America who have flown to Iraq? I know of no Iraqi national who loves Saddam enough to not want him removed.

[G95champ]

Once Saddam is gone and the people can speak without fear of their families being taken off and killed we will see how many are happy with the war.

[IAMA_chick]

i think that if we are for or against it, that no matter what, we should all support the troups. and the riots have got to stop. riots are allowed b/c of freedom of speech and the 10 amendments anda such and that is the same reason that we are over there.

[username237]

what is baffling me at the moment is where are these weapons of mass destruction that saddams regime is supposed to have. Surely if they had them, now would be the time to use them. I just hope to god that they dont have them.

 

Also it seems to me like this war on terrorism stemmed from 9/11. But why arent we going after osama bin laden? I didnt hear of any links between al quaida and iraq, but then again maybe i'm wrong on that one. I would have thought that he's the one we should be concentrating on. Dont get me wrong I think Saddam needs to be taken out, but with al quaida they are willing to kill themselves to hurt others. Fighting people that are willing to do that is fighting a losing battle, and if we dont think of something to stop those sorts of terrorists its just going to get worse and worse, despite the outcome of this war. I therefore dont believe this is a war on terror in that respect . I just wish it was, cuz then I would have been 100% sure if I was for or against. I dont really know what to make of this really.

 

All the same, my thoughts go out to all the troops that are there, and to the family's of those that have died in action.

[Martial_Artist]

There are a lot of facts in the intelligence community, things that have hung in the archives for a decade or so that haven't been worked on, the reasons for such are too many to count. (Washington, during the Reagan, Bush, Clinton, and even current administration focus too much on big business.) With Washington focusing more on other aspects of the world the CIA suffered a heavy blow in the late 80's to present. Field intelligence just isn't what it used to be. Just look, after 9/11 the CIA and FBI began asking for anyone who spoke Middle Eastern dialects to join up. Prior to that they had no one that knew anything of serious importance about the middle east. They relied heavily on satellites, etc. Instead of human contacts. Anyways, that are plenty of good reasons to take out Iraq in the interests of national security. Osama is still being sought, but it should be remembered these terrorist cells act under the tutelage and providence of terrorist-states. The misconception of "loose cells" being able to accomplish acts of terrorism on the scale of 9/11 and the WTC Bombing in '93 is an idea that just recently (mid-1990's) came into existence. Prior to that the intelligence community was of the opinion that any terrorist group that existed always had the backing of a terrorist-state.

 

Saddam may be playing his cards to see if he can survive the war without using his illegal weapons so that if the tides wash his way he can remain in power after the war and claim he never had weapons of mass destruction. (Which by the way, he has had before the 1991 Gulf War and from that time to the explusion of UNSCOM inspectors in 1994/1995 had been hiding them until now.)

 

In the news today, though, it appears that some of his weapons that don't exist have been found.

 

It should be clearly understood that terrorist cells act with the intelligence, support, and training provided by terrorist-states. That, even by the continual hunting down of terrorist cells no clear result will be attained unless the states that provide these cells with the means to be terrorists are removed.

 

MA

[G95champ]

They can't use them because on the first night we took out all the Command and Control Centers. No orders for Saddam to do so. These guys are not going to go out on their own and do it espically after President Bush warned them not to.

[Maestro]

I think it is dangerous to assume that he will not or cannot use them. Such an assumption could cost a lot of lives on the battlefield. Hopefully he won't, but we cannot project our rational thoughts onto Saddam.

[Guest]

You must be mad to be against the war now.

 

 

 

The people of Iraq are showing there happiness granted they have gone overboard with looting but all through history people and countries have been thought of as heroes for fighting for freedom.

 

The innocent do die and that is a very upsetting thing but I think living without freedom is far worse than death.