Quote:Had there been no oil in Iraq we would have never invaded either time. It's the only reason we ever cared about that place. Good grief.

 

Yes and no.  It was NEVER about the oil in Iraq.

 

The first invasion was in response to Iraq invading Kuwait.  More specifically, it was a little bit about liberating Kuwait and more about protecting Saudi Arabia.  One specific note to point out is that Osama bin Laden had offered his group (then in Afghanistan) to the Saudis for protection against Iraq.  The Saudi's declined and opted for U.S. support and protection.  They (Saudi Arabia) allowed the U.S. to establish a military base in the kingdom.  This angered bin Laden because the "infidels" were allowed to operate in the "holiest place" for followers of Islam and caused part of the later chaos.

 

The "news" reason for the invasion was for the liberation of Kuwait.

 

The second invasion had to do with weapons of mass destruction.  While many argue back and forth whether or not there were any doesn't really matter.  There was some speculation that some of these weapons might have been taken into Syria to hide them.

 

When Saddam Hussein was captured, he was turned over to their government for them to try, prosecute and eventually execute him.

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