"Bush administration kicked a ‘hornets’ nest’ in Iraq"

Providence Journal ^ | June 11, 2014 | Providence Journal

[WilliamIII]

Governor Chafee said Wednesday that the George W. Bush administration kicked “a hornets’ nest” with its 2003 invasion of Iraq, an act that unleashed sectarian divisions among Iraqis that are playing out today as militants continue to wrest control of territory from the faltering government of Nouri al-Maliki. Chafee offered his views in an interview after the militants seized control of most of the city of Tikrit, hometown of the late dictator Saddam Hussein. They had captured the city of Mosul the day before. “I never understood the original push for war in Iraq, never understood the logic of regime change,” Chafee said. “These neocons [neo-conservatives] all through the ’90s were talking the importance of regime change in Iraq and toppling Saddam Hussein, the strongman. I just didn’t understand stirring up the hornets’ nest that is the Middle East. It just never made any sense to me, and now we’re seeing some of the ramifications of having deviated from our Cold War containment strategy.”

[olezip]

Governor Chafee said Wednesday that the George W. Bush administration kicked “a hornets’ nest” with its 2003 invasion of Iraq, an act that unleashed sectarian divisions among Iraqis that are playing out today as militants continue to wrest control of territory from the faltering government of Nouri al-Maliki.

Governor Chafee also could have said that the Steelers would have won the Super Bowl last year if ... [you fill in the blanks].

If "ifs and buts" were "peanuts and nuts" what a party we would have!

The blame game will never end for the Democrats.

[Ouchthatonehurt]

LOL!!!!!!!!!!

[bert]

Rhode Island is one of the NeoEuropa states that should be purged from the Union.

[edpc]

How short memories have gotten. In 1998 Bill Clinton launched a cruise missile strike on a pharmaceutical factory in Sudan. Supposedly it was manufacturing chemical weapons with the assistance of Iraqi chemical weapons experts. That administration consistently maintained Hussein violated UN weapons agreements and was stockpiling chemical materials. But it was Bush who lied, right?

As far as the regime change angle goes, it's not too difficult to understand unless you're purposely ignorant. The idea was to give people freedom and they'll choose the right path. Problem is, with the exception of Israel, no nation in the region seems capable of responsible democratic self rule. Blame them for squandering the opportunity, not Bush for providing it for them.

[wyowolf]

I agree...

[BillyBonebrake]

Lets not forget the gravity given unresolved threats post 9-11 and how that fit in to the Bush administration’s calculus. The situation over there was getting worse while the political resolve among western nations was being undermined by Saddam’s bribery of senior UN officials. Bush had himself in a pickle. No surprise that the ones who didn’t have to make the tough calls did the least honorable thing. Decades later Chaffee is still heckling from the sidelines. What an A-hole.

[edpc]

How short memories have gotten. In 1998 Bill Clinton launched a cruise missile strike on a pharmaceutical factory in Sudan. Supposedly it was manufacturing chemical weapons with the assistance of Iraqi chemical weapons experts. That administration consistently maintained Hussein violated UN weapons agreements and was stockpiling chemical materials. But it was Bush who lied, right?

As far as the regime change angle goes, it's not too difficult to understand unless you're purposely ignorant. The idea was to give people freedom and they'll choose the right path. Problem is, with the exception of Israel, no nation in the region seems capable of responsible democratic self rule. Blame them for squandering the opportunity, not Bush for providing it for them.

[Joe Boucher]

“Media lies “,
And our rather stupid citizens have their heads up their rear ends or buried in the sand and believe whatever is presented to them.
And obammy is the perfect poser to feed them all the B.S. they can take.

[Kackikat]

You have hit the nail on the head...and even in the face of actual truth the media will not correct those lies. Why? Because the average American is all tied up in their own lives and never look past the ‘six o’clock news’ for information.