Should the US invade Iraq?

[DC Reed]

Over the past two to three months, I've heard on the news of possible attacks on Iraq. When the first news of the possibility broke, I was against it, because we are already fighting the Taliban, and an invasion of Iraq could start total war in the middle east.

Although now, I feel that it might be a good idea to try and remove Hussain from office. Mainly because:

1. Chemical Weapons, horrible and need to be detroyed.
2. Alliance with Saudi Arabia could lead to cheaper oil.
3. Stopping Iraq's suspected supplying of weapons to terrorists.

The only thing I feel that holds us back from invading, is the Isreal crisis. I believe that if we invade Iraq, it could start total war in the middle east.

I know this seems like some rambling, but its a serious possiblity in the next year or so.

Reactions anyone?

[NewYorkDragons80]

I wouldn't really worry about Israel. If we can keep them neutral like we did in the Gulf War, I don't think there's foreseeable danger to Israel.

Saddam needs to go, but the only real problem I have is this; The US has always been in the business of defending. We never start wars, we just finish them. Britain attacked us, Germany sunk the Lusitania, Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, North Korea invaded South Korea, North Vietnam attacked South Vietnam, Iraq invaded Kuwait. In fact, an invasion of Iraq COULD be justified if they continue to refuse weapons inspectors. One of the agreements in the ceasefire of 1991 was that Iraq would allow weapons inspectors. If they refuse, it means that they are prepared to go to war. The only problem is that we would have to convince the American people that the war is justified. Approval ratings for intervention in Iraq have varied. Some are sky-high, while others can go as low as 40%. I support going into Iraq, but I don't think Americans would want to be in it for the long haul.

People, enough with the fucking oil. Get a solar or wind generator.

"No Cross, No Crown."
-William Penn

"Leonardo DiCaprio is an androgynous wimp."
-Senator John McCain

This message was edited by NewYorkDragons80 on 6-29-02 @ 2:45 PM

[A.J.]

The main problem with an invasion of Iraq is the same as it was 10 years ago: "if you get rid of Saddam, then who do you get?" His sons are equally (if not more) ruthless and psychopathic so they would have to be removed as well.

Additionally, there is a danger that a U.S. invasion of Iraq will give creedence to claims that America is "anti-Muslim". Will this lead to more unrest in the region and/or terrorist attacks at home and abroad?

And if Saddam is removed, you have a power vaccuum in the Middle East. Will Iran become more agressive?

My guess is that we would have to count on an internal uprising of some degree by the Iraqi people to make this a more "acceptable" reason for any action in Iraq.

<IMG SRC="http://norraccm.freeservers.com/images/rnf_ajindc_01.jpg"><br> ® Made By Christy ¯

[NewYorkDragons80]

I disagree AJ. You have Shiite in the South and Kurds in the North that want democracy (Or so they say.) They need some guidance and some of our military support, but this would not be too difficult. At the end of the Gulf War, the people rose up against Saddam and every province in Iraq was held by rebels (with the exception of Baghdad.) If we gave these rebels just a little help, Iraq may have been a much different place.

We can find a leader fairly easily. All we have to do is follow the blueprints of Aghanistan. Give the role of top leader to someone of the majority group. Then give key positions to the other minority groups.

I don't know very much about Saddam's sons, but I do know that the only one we MAY have been able to trust was killed 11 years ago in what the Iraqi press called "A familial disagreement."

"No Cross, No Crown."
-William Penn

"Leonardo DiCaprio is an androgynous wimp."
-Senator John McCain

This message was edited by NewYorkDragons80 on 6-29-02 @ 7:36 PM

[sunndoggy8]

1. Chemical Weapons, horrible and need to be destroyed. 2. Alliance with Saudi Arabia could lead to cheaper oil. 3. Stopping Iraqs suspected supplying of weapons to terrorists. <P>
The only thing I feel that holds us back from invading, is the Israel crisis. I believe that if we invade Iraq, it could start total war in the middle east. <P>
All valid reasons, but dont forget that if we invade Iraq, oil prices will skyrocket. With the state the economy is in, it would have humungous negative impact on oil prices. Not 20 or 30 cents per gallon of gas, but even a 70-80% increase in prices..it would be crazy. <P>
I wouldnt really worry about Israel. If we can keep them neutral like we did in the Gulf War, I dont think theres foreseeable danger to Israel. <P>
I would worry about Israel, because the position they were in during the Gulf War is much different than the position they hold today in terms of facing their daily dose of suicide bombing. And dont forget that Hussein was lobbing Scuds at them 10 years ago, so I think their fate is something that should definitely be worried about in invading Iraq. <P>
I do think that the American publics feelings about it do matter greatly, but not as much as the effect it would have on the economy.I just think it would put us into a worse recession than were already in. <P>
[quote]Additionally, there is a danger that a U.S. invasion of Iraq will give creedence to claims that America is

<IMG SRC="http://home.att.net/~sunndoggy8/RFnetSunndoggy8.jpg" width=300 height=100>

<i><b><font color="#0F00CD">"You should've seen her face. It was the exact same look my father gave me when I told him I wanted to be a ventriloquist."</font color="#0F00CD"></b></i>

[Hawiian shirt craig]

dont worry about isreal b/c its a nation full of pissed
of jews with sub machine guns. first they'll kill you
with american weapons, then have you audited!
they have nukes, chemical weapons are more than
enough people willing to fight and die over a sand
box. let em, besides my good buddy from school
enlisted in teh isreali army, they have nothing to
fear... hes the GI JEW!!!! ALL AMERICAN
HEB


-Hawiian Shirt Craig
THIS IS WHY WE CAN'T HAVE NICE THINGS!!

<img src="http://home.ix.netcom.com/~camman/_uimages/HSC.gif">

[A.J.]

All valid reasons, but dont forget that if we invade Iraq, oil prices will skyrocket. With the state the economy is in, it would have humungous negative impact on oil prices. Not 20 or 30 cents per gallon of gas, but even a 70-80% increase in prices..it would be crazy.


God forbid we drill in ANWR or the Gulf Coast to make the U.S. less dependent on foreign oil -- the Sierra Club wouldn't like that.

<IMG SRC="http://norraccm.freeservers.com/images/rnf_ajindc_01.jpg"><br> ® Made By Christy ¯

This message was edited by AJinDC on 6-30-02 @ 11:43 PM

[HordeKing1]

We're shortly going to be getting a lot of oil from Russia. They are more cash starved than we are oil-starved, plus estimates of oil in Siberia are almost astronomical - not in the same way that oil usage is astronomical, but impressive nonetheless.

Yes, the US needs to get rid of the Iraqui leadership. Perhaps Bush jr. will have more forsight in this than his father.

Scud missles, chemical weapons, biological agents, importing more French scientists to build weapons grade nuclear reactor - it would be the height of lunacy not to destroy the infrastructure now, while they are less of a threat than they will be in the future.

Then again, perhaps the US is waiting for Israel to again take out the French made nuclear reactor. Had Israel not done so, the geography of the region would be drastically different.

<img src="http://members.aol.com/rnfpantera/hking1">

This message was edited by HordeKing1 on 7-1-02 @ 1:09 AM

[NewYorkDragons80]

Hordeking don't forget the old saying in history; "The enemy of my enemy is my friend." The US didn't want to start any trouble with Iraq because we were still pals with the guy. This wasn't the Saddam that wanted to annex Kuwait, this was the Saddam that wanted to embarass the Ayatollah. And in the 80's, that made him OK in our book. If this was an Iranian or Libyan reactor, we certainly would have bombed it. It was smart for the Israelis to bomb it, but it would have been stupid of the Americans to bomb it.

"No Cross, No Crown."
-William Penn

"Leonardo DiCaprio is an androgynous wimp."
-Senator John McCain

[Butters]

YES YES YES killem killem killem make them pay die Iraq die bleed from every hole in your bodys hahahahahah.........@.@

Professor Chaos is smart

[NewYorkDragons80]

Just to add one more thing; why oil all the time? I don't have many complaints about the current Bush administration, but he has to do something to get us more clean, efficient energy. I consider myself a republican, but it doesn't mean I don't care about the environment.

Oil is the same as heroine:
1. It's expensive
2. It's a tough habit to kick
3. It's dangerous to those who use it and those around them
4. You have to go through some really shady characters to get to it.

"No Cross, No Crown."
-William Penn

"Leonardo DiCaprio is an androgynous wimp."
-Senator John McCain

[HordeKing1]

Safe, cheap, effective alternate energy sources are locked away in the vaults along with the perpetual motion machine, the indestructable pantyhouse and the plans for an FTL ship.

(Think of it as the warehouse at the end of the first Indiana Jones movie.)

<img src="http://members.aol.com/rnfpantera/hking1">

[furie]

All this is very interesting, but let's be realistic, the US won't invade until after we're hit again.

<img src="http://www.tseery.homestead.com/files/mice.jpg" width=300 height=100>
<a href="aim:goim?screenname=furie1335&message=You_are_Number_6">IM:Furie1335
</a>

[NewYorkDragons80]

I don't know furie, Bush has used the word "preemptive" a lot lately...

"No Cross, No Crown."
-William Penn

"Leonardo DiCaprio is an androgynous wimp."
-Senator John McCain

[HordeKing1]

NEWYORKDRAGON - Then again, Bush has spent weeks learning the correct pronunciation of the word, so he's showing it off whenever possible.

<img src="http://members.aol.com/rnfpantera/hking1">