Thread: Is the Middle East better off since the day before Operation Iraqi Freedom began?

Originally Posted by lizzie

They are never going to be better off, regardless of anything that we, or other nations-with-good-but-misguided-intentions, do, until they stop fighting amongst themselves, and figure out how to get along with each other. As far as I am concerned, we should never have gone there at all.

Still isn't the question.

I agree. But I also think that is happening too.

Nope. We really screwed the pooch. The middle east wasn't Eden before the war, but it's really a mess now.

Bush's legacy will be the war and the mess it created.

Originally Posted by SenorXm/Sirius

Nope. We really screwed the pooch. The middle east wasn't Eden before the war, but it's really a mess now.

Bush's legacy will be the war and the mess it created.

Nah. You don't know that. What happens after Isis. How do they die?

Originally Posted by stonewall50

What happens after Isis. How do they die?

I think we're in what amounts to a 30 year war now.

Originally Posted by SenorXm/Sirius

I think we're in what amounts to a 30 year war now.

Only thirty years, huh?
You're an optimist.
As current "next Hitler" IS, is beaten down, as was former "next Hitler" Sadaam Hussein....a new, more evil "next Hitler" will arise and be beaten down....on and on it goes.
I think this repetitive cycle can go on forever....like a zombie.

Originally Posted by VanceMack

I suppose we would all be better off with Saddam back in power...

Isn't that what Reagan and Rumsfeld felt in the 1980s when supplying Saddam with weapons ?

Originally Posted by VanceMack

Wasnt that the intent of the OP...to play the shoulda woulda coulda game?
There is no doubt things could have been handled better. There is no doubt things would have turned out better had both major political parties sold out the Soldiers in theater in the name of politics. There is no doubt our enemies would not be emboldened if they knew we were unified in kicking their ass.

Don't Republicans keep claiming that Democratic Senators like Kerry and Clinton voted for the Iraqi War?
So you can flush the unified thing where it belongs.

What should concern you is Rumsfeld's claims about how short the war would be.
Not to mention how ill-prepared the Bush administration shorted the VA in handling the aftermath of this war .

Since you complain about these overpopulated lands and babies galore, how would you deal with this problem you have identified ?

Originally Posted by mbig

Fairer question:
Is there a chance in hell these overpopulated, misapportioned, dictator lead, lands would be better off from 2000 to 2015 with or without anyone else's involvement?

There's babies galore, and No food or Jobs, just bigger tribes in fake borders.
Shi'ite was Going to happen.

The 1 good thing, probably thr only good thing about the 2nd Iraqi war was it might have finally beat into our thick heads that democracy isn't for everyone, that there are some parts of the world western democracy just isn't going to work. No matter how hard we try, no matter how much money we throw at them, it's not going to work everywhere.

I think even the neo-con war mongers realize this now. Not all of them, but enough to make sure we don't pull another ****-up like we pulled in Iraq.

Originally Posted by DVSentinel

if we had real strong leadership instead of a dickless muslim dog.

Are you really calling yer President a "dickless muslim dog" ?