To become good observers we must put aside all emotions that make us Americans and develop neutral outlook on the problem. Let’s look on Iraq as a country that somehow may be a place of interest for the US. Iraq is a major oil-rich country whose economics is based on its export. The geographical position of Iraq is convenient to take control over the events in the Middle East. These two major factors make the country extremely attractive place to invade. But the main aim was not to subdue but to free. Saddam, the dictator holding his regime in Iraq was a world’s famous terrorist that harmed the US greatly and was accused of giving shelter for Ben Laden. The motivation was strong enough for the government to decide to start the campaign. The number of victims is over a hundred thousands. Now considering all the facts above let’s look at the following. The overall costs of wars in Afghanistan and Iraq is nearly 518bln dollars that could have provided all the anti-hunger organization for all necessary devices for over 13 years and provide every child on earth with immunization. The question is: was the war worth the cost or was it a mistake the consequences of which will yet bee seen.
As for Iraqi people that have a new country to develop now, will they show gratitude towards the US that invaded their state and turned their world upside down? The US gave hope to those who forgot what freedom from fear is. The aim of the war was not to use the resources of oil of the country or to develop an effective position among the countries of the Middle East, but to make people feel safe again. They are going either hate the US till the rest of times or bless the day the first soldier set foot on their ground.
Rick
What are the pros and cons of granting sovereignty to the different regions within Iraq?
Thelma
And no matter how much you hate and scuff at the US government for the war, they didn’t have much choice. The people of USA need the oil and the government has to get it for them at ANY cost. Even at the cost of its soldiers’ lives.
But do you know what is tragic? It’s the fact that such deaths from such wars as the Iraq war can be avoided!
They can be avoided if we can reduce our dependence on oil. And we can reduce our dependence on oil by using alternative energy to power our vehicles and other such fuel consuming machines such as generators.
As incredible as this sounds, it’s possible and even now a reality.
we can do without all that oil that we consume on a daily basis, not only in the USA but all over the world.
The oil we consume in powering our cars and other vehicles can be reduced drastically…
… by powering our vehicles with WATER!
Yes, you heard that right. We can now power our cars with water and by so doing reduce our dependence on oil.
The less we get dependent on oil, the less we would need to get involved in such wars as that in Iraq.
And the less we get involved in such wars, the less our soldiers will die!
So, yes, you too can get involved in helping to save the lives of US soldiers in Iraq by powering your car with water and helping to spread the word about it.
i did go take a look at some articles, but i had a difficult time
in identifying the reasons.
Leo
Sounds like, as if the ‘Foremost’ is being discounted by the ‘Feeble’. And the former is threatening the latter with grim penalty.
The above situation is quite similar to the Mid-east conflict. It seems the “Foremost”, the United States, is all lost and lone in the region. A decade ago, the directive of US sprinted across the region. At present, the state of affairs is quite unlike. Monarchs, nation-states in the region are doing the things in their own way. Militant organizations have their own say.
The following cases would corroborate the US’ catch 22 situation in Mid-east. Both Syria and Iran are taking US for granted. Palestine and Iraq, which were once fused by Yasser Arafat and Saddam Hussein are now in the grip of civil unrest. The people of Lebanon were recurring back to normal life after a lengthy civil war. The assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri plunged the country back to political ambiguity. The 34-day war involving Israel and Hezbollah, worked as fire to the Middle-east oil.
Before the US-led alliance occupied Iraq, Iran was not in a position to rise up against the US But since the fall of Saddam Hussein, Iran has demonstrated its ever-growing influence over the affairs of Iraq. Bush administration has charged Iran of backing insurgency. It appears Iran is bearing dual responsibility in Iraq. First, it is supporting the US-backed political progression, which shores up the pro-Iranian parties. Second, Iran is also taking the path of aggression, by sustaining the confrontational commotion in Iraq.
On the other hand, Syria is not as ideologically ambitious as Iran when it comes to Iraq. For Syrians, weapons and foreign fighters pour across their border into Iraq and also ex-Baathist chiefs discover a secure shelter in Syria. Syria can be persuaded by US to end its support of violence in Iraq and distance itself with the Shiite Iran. This can be done with economic incentives and making Syria to trust, that it would be a regional partner along with the US. Syria has the potential to sway the events in Iraq. Thus, it becomes imperative for the US to engage Syria usefully.
Lately, the government of Saudi Arabia said, it will defend Iraqi Sunnis if US leaves. So far, Saudi Arabia has been inert and detached, when it comes to Iraq. A number of Iraqi Sunnis protested that Saudi Arabia has not offered support for their fellow Sunnis in Iraq. Being the source of Islam and leader of the world’s Sunni population, which is almost 85 per cent of the total Muslims, bestows Saudi Arabia with adequate grounds to interfere in Iraq. If it does, then for sure a regional war would be on the cards.
The annoyance for US doesn’t stops here. Organizations like Mahdi Army, the Badr Organization, Hezbollah, Hamas, and Al-Qaeda, have been making things quite more tortuous for the US. These militant outfits have been used as proxy by regional powers like Iran, Syria and Saudi Arabia. The Sunni uprising in Iraq has been acquiring support from Al-Qaeda. Most of the Sunni suicide bombers have been pouring in from neighboring Jordan and Saudi Arabia. Hezbollah and Hamas are more or less, on the same course of Iran and Syria.
With the passing of each day, events are becoming more knotty and thorny in Mid-east. None of the regional powers, it seems, are under the influence of the great hyper power –US. The latest being the Prime Minister of Iraq, who overruled the unease of the US officials on hanging Saddam Hussein at the beginning of Eid al-Adha. This act might be another step towards the erosion of US supremacy from the Mid-east.
Gerald
One of the US Navy SEALs core competencies is being particularly skilled in close combat situations, which makes their input in Iraq particularly import when covert attacks with close by civilians form a large part of the duties which are needed. As a result of that US Navy SEALs have also been training other parts of the military in Iraq, making their role very important indeed.
The much controversial move by the US military to stop the flow of oil from Iraq was done thanks to the US Navy SEALs who completed the task with the precision and skill that we have come to except. Although people may raise claims of ulterior motives on behalf of the government, one cannot say that a task like this does not have significant benefits in the form of depleting infrastructure and therefore decreasing the morale and economic capabilities of the resistance. Such tasks are naturally assumed to be undertaken by the military when they invade a country, and it is often a task that falls on the US Navy SEALs, with past examples of destroying travel links in the forms of bridges and tunnels to make covert movement harder for those that wish to stand in the way of the US military.
Their role in Iraq, as expected, has been immense. So much so that they are used in the most mission critical strategic operations because of the skills, commitment and ability to perform that has earned them the respect of everyone in the field. More Navy SEALs have recently been called to Iraq because their being there is so important, and even ex Navy SEALs are in Iraq working for private security consultants that are sub-contracted by the military to help in situations which require highly skilled ex military personnel. Whether in Iraq, Afghanistan or anywhere else in the world; when you need a military operation done correctly you can always count on the US Navy SEALs to get the job done right.
Randy
My problem is that I can’t find anyone to get on board and I don’t get paid unless I raise funds. I have contacted all kinds of organizations across the countries to no avail. This is a nationwide initiative and I’m losing time and money.
The troops keep me going because they are so brave and selfless. I attended a benefit for disabled troops 10 days ago and I finally saw a product of what I could achived with all the time I spend trying to find sponsors. One day I will have my own fundraiser.
But until then, I’m running out of money and I need some good suggestions of organizations or individuals that will sponsor an event. Your troops will be greatful.
We are a new company and our site is still a little bare, supporttaskforce.com. We are affiliated with the Vietnam Veterans of America and Vietnam Veterans Assistance Fund. We were featured in the Veteran, the VVA publication on page 4. We also just helped welcome troops from Walter Reed at a pizza party last week before the Achilles Hope & Possibilities Run in NYC.
All donations go directly to the VVAF for programs and services. We are paid by the VVA not from the funds we raise.
These programs will benefit the troops in mental and physical health services, career counseling services, homeless services, and services for the disabled.
Bessie
Saddam was a strong opponent of Muslim religious fanaticism, and a barrier to Osama. Now Saddam is history. The latest reason claimed to justify the Bush war is that we have an obligation to set up a democratic state in Iraq. How much longer will the American people buy this? Will Bush need to invent a new justification to keep his war going until he leaves office? The American troops are dying for nothing. How much longer will the American people put up with our men/women dying?
Anthony
