What are we doing in Iraq?

[glatt]

Originally Posted by Undertoad

It's not just one single objective.

The big one: this was (and probably still is) an attempt to create a lawful, productive, pro-western nation containing US military bases, in the center of the middle east and directly bordering several "problem countries", without seeming in any way to declare war on Islam specifically in any way.

That's the reason that makes the most sense. I've only ever heard that reason given here on the Cellar, and even then it was a year or two after the war began that I first heard it presented here. There's a certain amount of revisionist history going on with that reason, but that doesn't mean it's not true.

[Kitsune]

Originally Posted by Undertoad

The big one: this was (and probably still is) an attempt to create a lawful, productive, pro-western nation containing US military bases, in the center of the middle east and directly bordering several "problem countries", without seeming in any way to declare war on Islam specifically in any way.

Gotta give you points for that answer.

I'm curious: is Islam the problem?

[Happy Monkey]

See the Project for the New American Century page.

[TheMercenary]

[Griff]

I heard Thomas Freidman on the radio yesterday. He was selling the idea that Pelosi makes the job of getting Iraqis to defend their own country easier because now we have a legitamit threat that we'll pull out and make the pay retail for their violence. He was completely off base on another point that he made about Americans traveling overseas. He spoke of the old days when Americans were basically welcome everywhere. He said that ended on 911. No Tommy, it ended with our reaction to 911, but has been under assault a long time.

[Flint]

I think the problem is that the government can't accomplish it's objectives effectively while showing all it's cards on the table; but, without some reasonable explanation for our very expensive actions, they cannot get the support of the public that is needed to continue.

That's a tough tightrope to walk, but I've found the problem with this war to be an utter failure to provide any rational-sounding reason whatsoever for it's necessity.

We could have started off the whole thing by saying "We need to establish some military bases in the region, to protect our interests, so we're toppling this dictator (which nobody will weep for) and setting up camp right here, like it or not." But instead... well you all know what happened.

[Happy Monkey]

Well, it's been out in the open on the PNAC website since Clinton was in office, and the PNAC members populated Bush's administration extensively. But they never explicitly acknowledged it, AFAIK. Possibly in part due to Bush's campaign derision of "nation building".

[glatt]

Originally Posted by Happy Monkey

Well, it's been out in the open on the PNAC website since Clinton was in office, and the PNAC members populated Bush's administration extensively. But they never explicitly acknowledged it, AFAIK. Possibly in part due to Bush's campaign derision of "nation building".

In hindsight we can maybe connect the dots a bit, but at the time the nation was headed for war, I don't recall a single person talking about building a pro-democracy country in the middle of the region as a base for our troops.

[Flint]

Originally Posted by Happy Monkey

Well, it's been out in the open on the PNAC website since Clinton was in office, and the PNAC members populated Bush's administration extensively. But they never explicitly acknowledged it, AFAIK. Possibly in part due to Bush's campaign derision of "nation building".

So instead we're bungling through a war that people don't support because it hasn't been explained to them - and this is because we were ashamed to admit our real reasons? That's fucking insane. I've been saying all along: just tell us what the reasons are! We already know, just say it out loud!

Originally Posted by glatt

In hindsight we can maybe connect the dots a bit, but at the time the nation was headed for war, I don't recall a single person talking about building a pro-democracy country in the middle of the region as a base for our troops.

I was. More than "a single person" was talking about it. PNAC has some very high-profile members, and they are not the slightest bit secretive.

[Undertoad]

I've posted the Steven denBeste strategic overview many times in response to this thread's question... I think even before March 03. Most of it still applies, and still shows the framework for the decisions, even if the decisions were wrong.

[Flint]

Originally Posted by Undertoad

I've posted the Steven denBeste strategic overview many times in response to this thread's question... I think even before March 03. Most of it still applies, and still shows the framework for the decisions, even if the decisions were wrong.

Are you the spokesman for the US government, that explains to the population why we need to go to war and spend billions of dollars?

[Undertoad]

Islam is definitely not the problem.

Fundamentalist Islam is, because as a school of thought, it has adopted (or more likely inherited from Stalinism) a violent bloodlusty streak that civilization will not permit to go on in the long run.

[Undertoad]

F, I'm just some guy and I get a lot wrong, but since 9/11 I've been paying hard attention and doing all the assigned readings.

Foreign policy is a big difficult chess game. You know, you wouldn't talk out loud as you were deciding what chess move to make. "Let's see, if I move my rook here, you'll take my queen in two moves..."

And I wouldn't trust this President to describe what he had for breakfast correctly, let alone develop a comprehensive false-but-accurate explanation, including all the head-fakes you need to convince France something is a good idea.

In the end, the right way to decide on this, no matter what the complicated purpose is, is to look at the results. Which are poor, and too expensive in lives and money and worldwide respect.

[DanaC]

I'm asking a serious question here. People don't spend billions of dollars, and send their sons and daughters off to die, for no reason whatsoever. So, there has to be a reason. I don't know what it is so I'm seriously asking. Why are we in Iraq and what is our objective?

I suspect that you [we] are in Iraq because, in some way that I have yet to discern, it was considered by the Bush administration to be politically expedient.

[Flint]

Undertoad: He's just this guy, you know?