Quote: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.

 

It's a fact Saddam had used WMD on the Kurds years earlier.  Did he still have them or still use them?  Who knows.  It's tough because Saddam was clearly a horrible human being and his sons were even worse.  It's no surprise the people of Iraq were jumping for joy when the Hussein's were captured/killed.  When you walk down the street and see a woman getting mugged, you can help, you can do nothing, you can call the police.  Geopolitically we are the police.  So really its us or nobody to save people around the world.  So do I feel bad trying to help the people of Iraq?  No.  But the problem is the people in the Middle East are incapable of ruling themselves.  You essentially need a military dictatorship to keep things in order or else you'll see a complete breakdown in law and order.  It'll turn into an Islamic caliphate.  Just look what happened with Egypt.  They ousted Mubarak and finally had a chance to freely elect a moderate leader to promote personal freedoms, religious freedoms, economic policies to support the citizenry, advance into the 21st century, etc.... but what did they do? 50% voted for the Muslim Brotherhood, an oppressive religious party that is considered a terrorists organization by many countries around the world.  Even more amazingly 25% voted for the more extremely religious and oppressive sharia party.  Egypt is supposed to be one of the more culturally advanced and civilized societies over there yet 75% wanted extreme Islamic leadership.  It's insane.  This is what happens when you oust the dictators... you end up with insanity.  Same with Iraq.  They cant rule themselves.  That was the biggest flaw in Bush's plan.  The expectation you could create a democracy.  Fat chance.  Just too different culturally.

 

And its sad because you go back thousands of years and this was the cradle of civilization.  Amazing advancements in math and science.  Pushed humanity forward.  And now look at them.  Its a 3rd world backwater s hole that is 10 centuries behind the rest of us.  

---