Catawba,
et al,
Because none of the stated objectives were the real reason the US invaded Iraq.
All the talk about why we invade Iraq was merely justification for an action we wanted to perform.
(COMMENT)
First understand that the US is a politico-military hegemony. That is the key.
Persuasive in Peace --- Invincible in War
The US Ruling Elite saw that the entire Middle East was inflamed with trouble. In order for the US to quell the problems -bring it to heel, the US had to have a very formidable "stick"
in the region to make the "carrot and stick" approach effective. It had to be readily accessible, on the ground and ready to roll at a moments notice. It had to be centrally located within the region, able to strike any regional player and to perform surveillance in the proximity of foreseeable trouble spots. It had to be in a position to support the Israeli security effort of its western frontier. One only needs look at the map and you'll find that Iraq fit the bill.
Now the effort to convince everyone that Iraq was a Regional Threat to Peace, and a state supporter of terrorism come into play. Once the stage was set, using all the various reasons why the regime needed to be toppled, the US could enter Iraq and liberate it.
The plan was simple. Once liberated, the grateful people of Iraq would open there arms to the US and accept strategically placed US foreign military presence in the area. A couple miniature Fort Bragg style installations; combined for both ground and air forces and placed such that they could by subject to rapid build-up; should the need arise.
With this basing plan, the US could throw an umbrella over the entire region; both 3GW and 4GW capable. No country, including Israel, would ever be in fear of invasion again. The US was on the scene to serve and protect every countries interest. Even Israel could pull back to the pre-1967 borders without fear of invasion, because the US was there; on the ground and in the air. And the bases would serve as a portal for follow-on forces.
But before the US could do all these wonderful things, Saddam had to be deposed. And what better way to do it than:
- Saddam Hussein was a cruel, heartless and fanatical dictator, known to kill hundreds of thousands of his own people.
- Saddam Hussein was a state supporter of terrorism; and a self-proclaimed enemy of the US. He would give WMD to terrorists.
- Saddam Hussein posed an immanent threat to the US.
- Long-range missiles
- WMD Programs, Chemical, Biological and Nuclear
- Soldiers MIA since the 1990 conflict
- Illicit trade outside the oil-for-food program and failure to comply with UN Resolutions
- Regional threat to invade neighboring countries
Once the face of Saddam Hussein was appropriately painted, then it was a matter of sensationalizing the scope and nature of the threat in order to secure support. Of course the fact that most of the regional clients were oil exporters, also garnered support for the cause. Then there was the "Axil of Evil," where Iraq was equally guilty by association. With 911 fresh on everyone's mind, there were these faint suggestions that Iraq was somehow associated.
All of this was justification for the war, but not the real reason. The real reason was to make the US the oversight for the oil rich region and to establish hegemonic control.
The problem to kill this vision was the emergence of the insurgency and the natural blood thirsty tendencies of the Iraqi Arab. We were never welcomed with open arms. "The Liberators" were viewed as an "Occupation Force." Otherwise it might have all come together.
Most Respectfully,
R
eace
