[Prost1]

Hindsight is always 20/20, but in the case of Iraq it is 200/20. Contention - not enough troops. We did not go there to conquer. We went to remove a despotic threat. Mission Accomplished! WMD was not the primary criteria. Violation of 16 U.N. resolutions was the primary reason. Post 9/11, rogue, powerful nations cannot be tolerated. Contention, postwar admin mistakes. It was believed by ALL that the Iraqis would rejoice. If the tribalist did not come together, there was no reason to believe they would support insessant murder and terror. To turn the corner on Wahabists, the U.S. needed a pivot point. Iraq is a pivot point. Pivot points are important in foreign and military policy. Foreign policy is impotent without backup. Military power in Iraq provides backup. Also needed is financial strength. This is the area of greatest weakness and of highest priority (IMO).

[Sam Cree]

"Post 9/11, rogue, powerful nations cannot be tolerated"

That's it in a nutshell, well said. Especially Muslim rogue nations, I think.

[Blzbba]

"Violation of 16 U.N. resolutions was the primary reason."


That's always been somewhat of a catch-22 to me. We blew off the UN's opinion of invading Iraq in order to enforce UN resolutions?

None of it matters now. Only thing that does is pulling off the 1-30-05 elections. Let's hope they go well and the insurgents realize they're fighting a losing battle.

[TigersEye]

My support was based solely on the evidence of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), ...

Then you are a bonehead who doesn't listen or think. It makes me think you are not worth listening to.

[anniegetyourgun]

"After 9/11, the War Against Terror had almost universal support. The US built an international coalition for tough UN resolutions and military action in Afghanistan. Much of that goodwill and support has been lost, while we have given al-Qaeda another grievance to add to its list and another battleground for its particularly gruesome brand of terrorism."

Right out of the handbook of the Left.

[NATIVEDAUGHTER]

The neo-cons refuse to face the facts that the TRUE conservatives who opposed this disaster were right...and the war-mongers like John Mccain were imbeciles...

[My2Cents]

EVEN DONALD RUMSFELD, in his more private moments, must wonder if the invasion of Iraq was really such a good idea.

Amazing. This guy has the ability to read Don Rumsfeld's mind.

[Hans]

The 1930's have been characterized as 'the ruling
classes in full retreat'. We are offered the opportunity to
see what was meant by that phrase.

[prairiebreeze]

including many such as myself who originally supported the war,

I wonder if this isn't a little white lie?

[shield]

Supposed 'Smoking Gun Document'letter to Putin from Saddam.

http://www.themedianews.com/DAGGER/9_11_Ass_Trail_Vreeland_.htm

[jim macomber]

"I believe that the real reason for the war, at least in the US, was to create a reasonably democratic, free-market Iraq to act as both a beacon and a rebuke to other countries in the region."

Which, IMHO, is a good reason in and of itself even in the absence of other reasons.

[nothingnew]

John Maples writes like a faggot. Don't know exactly why I say that, just something about his wording I can't quite put my finger on...he uses a lot of words to say that he's 'juthed so unthure where all thith ith headed, and hopes the big boys know what they're doing.....ahhh...who cares?.....

FMCDH(BITS)

[Republican Wildcat]

There is absolutely no evidence that Iraq was supporting al-Qaeda.

No reason to read much further than this.

[Paradox]

People think that because you state something, it is real. "The war is a disaster", then it is a disaster. "The war has been brilliantly executed", then its a great war... this thing won't reveal itself for another 10 years or more.

[Williams]

By the way, if WMD is the only thing that will justify action, how are we going to take the future actions as needed? WMD is an important threat, but we weren't attacked by WMD on 9-11. We have had to fight lots of wars, and luckily none have ever involved WMD's on the other side.

[TigersEye]

There is absolutely no evidence that Iraq was supporting al-Qaeda.

Richard Miniter found a mountain of evidence. Andrew McCarthy found evidence in the 9/11 Commission Report even though the Commission itself tried to spin it otherwise. And then of course there is the virtual mountain range of evidence compiled by Free Republic's own backhoe.

[Tempest]

I'm a proud Naughty Neocon.

Hate me.

[Paraclete]

The fact of the matter is, the Middle East may be destined for chaos in any case. Bush is taking the best shot we have to rearrange the landscape. That failing, brace yourselves for a very tenuous future.

[Red6]

Bush NEVER said this will be quick nor easy. Also taken out of context when he spoke on a carrier that was to go home and “Mission accomplished” was on a banner. Read his pre war speeches. They don’t hide or downplay that he believes this will be long and hard, even casualty intense.

We are not even two years into the mission and we are having elections! The Iraqis are beginning to police and patrol themselves, the courts are up and running, Saddam is caught (That was another “You’re failing! Where is Saddam! You still don’t have him!”), infrastructure is mostly restored (Also a you’re failing argument of the media a year ago.), Iraqi Police are already doing the majority of police work, the Iraqi Army is beginning to run and take on greater roles, you have a Constitution and this month there’ll be elections. Yet he calls this a failure. Wow-

What will he have to say in 3 years in order to see failure?

Red6

[squidly]

Violation of 16 U.N. resolutions was the primary reason.

That wasn't the primary reason either. There were a lot of reasons, some interrelated and some not, but if you're looking for one overriding reason, it's a belief that this can help secure prolonged economic stability for the west.

[Veritas et equitas ad Votum]

"Violation of 16 U.N. resolutions was the primary reason"

So US troops are supposed to die enforcing UN resolutions?

That's funny, I thought "conservatives" see the UN as irrelevant and illegitimate. I certainly don't support sending US servicemen ANYWHERE to support the United Nations in any fashion.