Whether This War Was Worth It

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/17/AR2005061701217.html ^ | June 19, 2005 | Robert Kagan

[mal]

Serious scholars still debate whether the Civil War was necessary, never mind the more obvious "wars of choice" such as World War I, the War of 1812, the Spanish-American War, the Korean War, wars in Vietnam and Kosovo, and the Persian Gulf War. To a certain brand of American isolationist, even World War II was unnecessary and counterproductive. So there is nothing remarkable about polls showing Americans wondering whether the recent Iraq war was "worth it." It is a great American myth, voiced by John Kerry last year, that

the nation goes to war only when there is no question about the necessity of going to war. There's always a question. Even if the Iraqi insurgency disappeared tomorrow, George Ibrahim al Washington became president of Iraq and every liter of Saddam Hussein's onetime stockpile of chemical and biological weapons suddenly appeared in the desert, his-

torians would still spend

the next century debating whether the war was "worth it."

[WestVirginiaRebel]

A certain brand of American isolationist...Patricia Buchanan, are you listening?

[Aussie Dasher]

When freedom and democracy is established in Iraq, spreads throughout the Arab world and banishes the bin Ladens of this world to the trash can of history, it will, most assuredly, have been "worth it".

[Allegra]

War? What war?

Is there a war going on somewhere? Why doesn't the media ever say anything about it?

;-)

[KeyWest]

Thanks for the post. Truth is, as a military man, no war is "worth it" since it shows a lack of determination and failure of government. But we do not live in a rational world, so war happens. The problem is with words, not war.

Protecting your home from thieves is necessary, and paying to keep up a police force is necessary. Is sending a firefighter into a burning building "worth it" if he/she loses their life? Or a policeman against an armed gang?

It never is, and it always is. It all depends on your view of "Duty, Honor, Country". If you find no worth in those words, war is never worth it.

[patj]

. It all depends on your view of "Duty, Honor, Country". If you find no worth in those words, war is never worth it.

Those are powerful words. Mind if I use them some time?

[Read2Know]

"It all depends on your view of "Duty, Honor, Country". If you find no worth in those words, war is never worth it."

Well said. War should be near the bottom of the options list. But when the only rational choice is war, then total commitment is the only way to minimize lost of life on both sides.

[anniegetyourgun]

I'll bet Bin Laden sits in his cave constantly fretting and wondering about whether or not 9/11 was "worth it." On the other hand, I'm sure Saddam never gives a thought to whether or not he might have done things differently......

[MikefromOhio]

man there is no reason to comment further on this thread after what you said.

Well Put!!

[SE Mom]

You nailed it.

[roaddog727]

Well said!

[CGVet58]

Ping, and in full agreement with John Stuart Mill; "...A man who has nothing which he is willing to fight for, nothing which he cares more about than he does about his personal safety, is a miserable creature who has no chance of being free, unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself..."

[Iscool]

When freedom and democracy is established in Iraq, spreads throughout the Arab world and banishes the bin Ladens of this world to the trash can of history, it will, most assuredly, have been "worth it".

You're going to tame the Islamonazis, eh??? Not in this lifetime, or the next...

[CitizenM]

It never is, and it always is.

It all depends on your view of "Duty, Honor, Country". If you find no worth in those words, war is never worth it.

Not many could have said it better.

[KeyWest]

Duty, Honor, Country

West Point (USMA) already has them, but they do not mind anyone using and living them.

[patj]

Duty, Honor, Country, were not the only words I liked. I liked what you added as well, If you find no worth in those words, war is never worth it.

[Tolik]

Nailed It!

Very interesting article by Robert Kagan subtitled "In Analyzing Iraq, Consider the Effects of Having Done Nothing"

Make sure to read KeyWest's short but precise comment here: 5

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