How much the mid east loves us

[Panplayer]

Interesting thread. At the time I thought the war in Iraq was wrong. I believed, as did everyone in the World, that they had WMDs. I suspect we believed that because they used them against Iran and the Kurds. I suspect Sadam Hussein believed he had them as well. But WMDs or not, I saw no reason for war while containment worked.

The war happened, unfortunately. A terrible dictator was deposed, which is good. Unfortunately, the U.S. utterly screwed up the post war situation. Now Iraq is terribly broken and no good options remain. To abandon a country, after destroying it, will cause more suffering and make it Taliban Afghanistan on steroids. But, if we stay, we need a plan to rebuild the country and give the people a chance to have decent lives. Note what doesn't come next-- an idea. I simply don't have one. The U.S can't go but we sure don't want to stay.

[mkemse]

Interesting thread. At the time I thought the war in Iraq was wrong. I believed, as did everyone in the World, that they had WMDs. I suspect we believed that because they used them against Iran and the Kurds. I suspect Sadam Hussein believed he had them as well. But WMDs or not, I saw no reason for war while containment worked.

The war happened, unfortunately. A terrible dictator was deposed, which is good. Unfortunately, the U.S. utterly screwed up the post war situation. Now Iraq is terribly broken and no good options remain. To abandon a country, after destroying it, will cause more suffering and make it Taliban Afghanistan on steroids. But, if we stay, we need a plan to rebuild the country and give the people a chance to have decent lives. Note what doesn't come next-- an idea. I simply don't have one. The U.S can't go but we sure don't want to stay.

We never had a plan to exit, we had a plan to invade and get rid of Saddam, but the "War" plan never included an exit plan you have to have that in ANY conflict, is it possible that Bush decided to invade Iraq, do what we did, but never realized how long we would be there?? He said we would be in and out in 90 days, how ever he never had(or never made public anyway) any exit stradigy. What we have there no whether he will ackwnoeldge t or not is a CIVIL WAR, we as a Nation can not win THEIR CIVIL WAR, all the sects need to get together and negotiate a stradigy, and as JamesBaker said, "You have to negotiate at time with your enemy's" the fatc that Bush will not talk to Iran, Syria ect makes it worse, yes they are evil nations but to resolve this he has to have direct talk with all nations in the area, we aren't looking for "bussies" there when we talk, we are looking to end a ectarian Conflict which has to be negotiated no other way to win
This war has no lasted longer then Korea, more lives lost then Korea, it is time to give Maliki the option, sit down negotiate and setlle this conflict until we put pressure on all involved this war will never end