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What if everything we've done in Iraq has been a mistake?
Radix News ^ | September 2, 2014 | Judge Andrew P. Napolitano

Posted on 09/24/2014 10:08:04 PM PDT by Abakumov

What if Iraq is not a country of people with common cultures and interests and generally accepted borders, but rather an amalgam of warring groups cobbled together by British and American diplomats? What if only a strongman like Hussein — however evil and ill suited for government by Western standards — can keep peace and stability in an artificial country like Iraq?

(Excerpt) Read more at radixnews.com ...


TOPICS: Egypt; Foreign Affairs; Israel; Russia; Syria; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: agitprop; defeatism; egypt; humanrights; iran; iraq; islamictheocracy; israel; lebanon; mosqueandstate; pravda; putinsbuttboys; randsconcerntrolls; russia; smersh; syria; terrorism; ukraine; war
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1 posted on 09/24/2014 10:08:04 PM PDT by Abakumov
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To: Abakumov

In defense of Ted Cruz’s ‘militaristic pessimism’
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3207534/posts

Cruz on Iraq: “We Stayed Too Long And Got Far Too Involved In Nation-Building”
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3207574/posts

I despised Saddam’s police state, but the Islamic State would not exist under his rule
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3206470/posts


2 posted on 09/24/2014 10:15:10 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet (The question isn't who is going to let me; it's who is going to stop me.)
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To: Abakumov

Some very good questions. Wish we knew the whole truth.


3 posted on 09/24/2014 10:15:12 PM PDT by make no mistake
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To: Abakumov

Seems to me the whole world was creaming at Bush the elder for leaving Hussein in power.

Everyone. Not I, but everyone.


4 posted on 09/24/2014 10:16:30 PM PDT by stanne
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To: Abakumov

I think they should have divided the country into 3 parts after Hussein was thrown out, but apparently Bush thought it could be stabilized through democracy. So they voted and then started blowing each other up.


5 posted on 09/24/2014 10:17:06 PM PDT by Telepathic Intruder (The only thing the Left has learned from the failures of socialism is not to call it that)
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To: Abakumov

Then in the future we place brutal ruthless bloody tyrants and give the people what they want!

Remove every few years as needed.


6 posted on 09/24/2014 10:17:18 PM PDT by NoLibZone (The bad news: Hillary Clinton will be the next President. The Good news: Our principles are intact.)
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To: Abakumov

The key to this statement is that Iraq is really a hollow land, with anywhere between three and six different groups who would fight over control. Toss in twenty guys within each group who continually fight for the top position, and various religious groups who think they have the right stuff to lead a nation.

We are simply going back to this period where the Iran-Iraq War concluded, and Iraq was in a weak position and needed cash to rebuild its military....and all of it’s former friendly neighbors refused to help them....so they picked on the weakest neighbor (Kuwait) to replenish their situation. And we decided that we wouldn’t agree with this strategy.

And now what? Admit we should have left Kuwait to Iraq?


7 posted on 09/24/2014 10:17:48 PM PDT by pepsionice
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To: Abakumov
Libya, to some degree Egypt, Syria, and Iraq all suffer form the same situation. Since the British Partition, national boundaries have not coincided with traditional tribal ones. That leads to conflict within those national boundaries.

In order to have stable governments, the strongest rose to prominence, often ruthlessly, and maintained order between the different factions.

This is hardly an environment ripe for democracy nor even a democratic republic, and so long as sharia is a potent force it will not be. But the strong ruler will prevail, often by the sword.

8 posted on 09/24/2014 10:21:32 PM PDT by Smokin' Joe (How often God must weep at humans' folly. Stand fast. God knows what He is doing.)
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To: Abakumov

You mean sort of like libturds and conservatives here in the US?


9 posted on 09/24/2014 10:26:45 PM PDT by wastoute (Government cannot redistribute wealth. Government can only redistribute poverty.)
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To: Abakumov

I don’t know. Maybe we should ask Pat Tillman.


10 posted on 09/24/2014 10:27:32 PM PDT by Paulie (Get off the grid.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

The beginnings of the “Islamic State” were nurtured by Saddam.


11 posted on 09/24/2014 10:29:55 PM PDT by Olog-hai
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To: Telepathic Intruder

“I think they should have divided the country into 3 parts after Hussein was thrown out....”

.
And have to build three separate nations instead of one? Because that is what we were there for — nation building.

They should’ve left Saddam Hussein alone and let him have Kuwait. He certainly knew better how to run Iraq than we do. Besides, he was a buffer against Iran.

Is Iraq better off today than under Hussein? Are we better off?


12 posted on 09/24/2014 10:30:02 PM PDT by 353FMG
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To: Smokin' Joe

Stability equals permanent war with “the West” and Israel since 1948?


13 posted on 09/24/2014 10:30:53 PM PDT by Olog-hai
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To: Abakumov

Re: “What if Iraq is not a country of people with common cultures and interests and generally accepted borders, but rather an amalgam of warring groups cobbled together by British and American diplomats?”

Iraq?

That sounds like the United States of America in 2014!


14 posted on 09/24/2014 10:33:25 PM PDT by zeestephen
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To: Olog-hai

Sure. Common enemies will unite squabbling factions quicker than most anything.


15 posted on 09/24/2014 10:34:08 PM PDT by Smokin' Joe (How often God must weep at humans' folly. Stand fast. God knows what He is doing.)
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To: Telepathic Intruder
Evert mosque in Saudi Arabia has the words “Kill the Shite”.
16 posted on 09/24/2014 10:34:52 PM PDT by Domangart (Tho I walk Through the valley of Wall Mart, I fear no man.)
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To: Abakumov

“What if Iraq is not a country of people with common cultures and interests and generally accepted borders, but rather an amalgam of warring groups cobbled together by British and American diplomats? “

That’s never been disputed has it? It was ignored by the revolutionary utopians who were urging Dubya to conquer it, against the better judgement of the GHW Bush crew. Dubya’s boys believed that democracy could conquer all. Let them vote and voila! Iraq would be just like a western country. Idiots.


17 posted on 09/24/2014 10:35:18 PM PDT by Pelham (California, what happens when you won't deport illegals)
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To: Abakumov

The judge is a libertarian..

That is their general view. I accept the opinion, but I don’t agree.

The weak response to ISIS was a direct result of our pre-mature exit. It reminded me of the exit strategy used in Vietnam.

Just turn over the keys and haul azz out of there..

Did not work there, did not work here..will not work anywhere..


18 posted on 09/24/2014 10:39:38 PM PDT by Cold Heat (Have you reached your breaking point yet? If not now....then when?)
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To: Abakumov

Spetsy, fo.


19 posted on 09/24/2014 10:40:56 PM PDT by RedHeeler
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To: Abakumov
What if only a strongman like Hussein — however evil and ill suited for government by Western standards — can keep peace and stability in an artificial country like Iraq?

What if...

Answering a hypothetical can be quite the trap but I'll take a shot. If the country is a steaming mess that can only be controlled by a dictator, then let's give 'em a dictator.
Take for instance the Shah; at the time of his reign he was considered by Jimmy Crater to be an insufferable tyrant. Well, compared to the Ayatollahs, Mahmoud Yabbadabbadoo, etc. he looks to me like George Washington. The important thing is that whomever we have there favors us like, for instance, Hosni Mubarak.

When Roosevelt was told of what an SOB old man Somosa was in Nicaragua, he answered "he may be an SOB, but he's our SOB."

20 posted on 09/24/2014 10:41:09 PM PDT by stormhill
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