What if ... We Never Went to War With Iraq?

[ml/nj]

Let me state up front: I wasn't in favor of the "Gulf War" then, and while many are talking about invading Iraq now I'm not in favor of that either. I could discuss that if anyone wants to.

But my question tonight is: What if we never went to war with Iraq? What if we just let Hussein take over Kuwait, and maybe move on to Saudi Arabia?

Would 9/11 have happened? If it would have happened anyway, would our position be stronger than it is now?

My guesses are No and Yes.

I guess No, there wouldn't have been a 9/11 attack upon the United States by Islamic Fundamentalists. Hussein strikes me as many things, but he doesn't strike me as more than conveniently Muslim. He was at war with Fundamentalist Iran, and if he moved on the Saudis, he would have been at war with Fundamentalist Saudi Arabia. Would these guys have had the luxury of turning their ire toward us? I doubt it.

But if they did, I think we would have been in a much stronger position. Either Hussein would be on our side helping to root these people out or he wouldn't. (I think he would have been.) If he would have been on our side, his people would have provided beaucoup informers and maybe even military support, but if not it would have been much easier politically to move against him now. And he would have largely been in control of Persian Gulf oil. We could have taken those oil fields from him alone with fewer naysayers in the Muslim world than we have now.

I haven't heard anyone else ask my what if question. I'd be interested to hear the opinions of others.

ML/NJ

[eastforker]

Reply #18,first strike,listing a little on the starboard side mate.

[SEGUET]

"Neville Chamberlain ..."

Hey Dude -

I bet I saw that name about eightyteen times on this site last night - even more times than Hillary Clinton, Bob Barr or (Lon) Cheney combined.

What's with that analogy - use the Pope next time - he's still alive and can defend himself -

[ml/nj]

No, let's start with "What if we just let Hitler have Europe."

I guess you're either stupid, or you're not interested in a serious discussion. (And BTW, we were in the process of "letting Hitler have Europe" until he declared war on us. Read some history.) Hitler was at war with, and attacking, countries very close to the United States in many ways. I don't know about you, but I don't give a $#!+ about Kuwait or Saudi Arabia. It might be argued that Hussein was threat to Israel, but until we attacked him, that's all he was. And when that threat became too much the Israelis seemed to know how to take care of things on their own.

Hussein came to us and essentially asked for permission to take over Kuwait. We said, "Yes," and then we were shocked, shocked when he did. Sure he did some things we ought not to have liked after we attacked him, but if you were an Iraqi, would you have expected anything less from your leader.

ML/NJ

[biffalobull]

I haven't heard anyone else ask my what if question. I'd be interested to hear the opinions of others.

Sometimes, I have asked a "what if" question. But I would suggest this board is not the place. Why I don't know.

Oh well, there is always another day. Regards.

[Diddle E. Squat]

Let's cut to the chase:

What if that gullible, emotional, lacking in self-control and rational thought Eve had turned down the apple?

[AmishDude]

I could use the term "a Saladin peace" but we have to avoid references that are too obscure. Besides, when you actually end up looking bad in comparison to Neville Chamberlain, it's time to quit.

[SEGUET]

"Reply #18,first strike,listing a little on the starboard side mate."

No problem - we'll put the hand pumps on the bilges - run up every rag we have in the locker up the stick, turn downwind and let sh*t happen -

Go for it Skip 0 we're racing now.

[Poohbah]

Naw, you're getting too far ahead. What if God had never said "Let there be light?"

[eastforker]

leader = Dictator ,no differant than hitler IMHO.Do you think the nation of islam would be happy with just the ME?Dream on,they want to conquer the word,the koran teaches them that ,that, is their destiny.

[SEGUET]

"Hussein came to us and essentially asked for permission to take over Kuwait. We said, "Yes," and then we were shocked, shocked when he did. Sure he did some things we ought not to have liked after we attacked him, but if you were an Iraqi, would you have expected anything less from your leader."

Now that is the first hint I've had that there is a level of intelligence in this galaxy - I couldn't agree with you more.

Well done - Seaside Heights!!!

[eastforker]

Well, I don't sail boat I motor boat,so,lets crank up the other 250 hp evinrude,pull the plug,run the water out and fix the hole,turn into the wind and give chase.

[rdb3]

Let me state up front: I wasn't in favor of the "Gulf War" then...

Well! Let me be the first to thank you for not having my back when I was over there in '91.

That was very thoughtful of you.

[BlackVeil]

What if we just let Hitler have Europe As has been pointed out in other posts, the US didn't intervene when Hitler was all over Europe, it was the Pacific war that brought the Americans in. There is a serious debate among right-wing historians as to whether the Nazis ought not to have been left to go on the rampage, and fight it out with the Soviets themselves. Vast numbers would have been killed, but that is what happened anyway.

[SEGUET]

"Naw, you're getting too far ahead. What if God had never said "Let there be light?""

Well that's the easiest one yet -

Auggie Busch woudld have just kept making regular Budweiser!!!!

[AmishDude]

Hussein came to us and essentially asked for permission to take over Kuwait. We said, "Yes,"

OK, let's assume this widely-dispersed lie is, in fact, true. (It's not, but hey, why argue with DU and their team of crack-addled researchers?)

Who is the United States to determine whether or not one country can invade another? What, we're just like the FCC and hand out sovereignty licenses.

I can just imagine how the conversation went: "Sure Saddam, in fact, we wish you would take over Kuwait. I mean, with their hoity-toity attitude, they've just been pissing us off lately. You go show 'em what for."

[DuncanWaring]

"What if we just let Hitler have Europe."

He and Stalin would have destroyed each other, and we'd all be better off.

[SEGUET]

"Well, I don't sail boat I motor boat,so,lets crank up the other 250 hp evinrude,pull the plug,run the water out and fix the hole,turn into the wind and give chase.Naw, you're getting too far ahead.

Sir, if you a not at least running twin, 600 HP Cummings diesels, we wouldn't even consider your application to join OUR club - but thanks for stopping by.

[LouD]

don't forget the Clash!

Rock the Casbah! Drop those bombs between the minarets!

[Poohbah]

He and Stalin would have destroyed each other, and we'd all be better off.

Actually, Stalin would have eventually destroyed Hitler, and the USSR would end up owning Europe all the way to Cape Finisterre.

US foreign policy has been predicated on not letting any one power unify Europe under its control, because that power would eventually be able to invade America.

This, BTW, is why I think we should be looking for a way to discreetly cause NATO to self-destruct, so that the various countries in Europe are too busy trying to keep the other guy from being top dog. If we don't, we're going to eventually end up in a shooting war with the European Union.

[eastforker]

We never said yes to saddam over Kuwait,we just didn't say NO.Sort of telling your child to try and make the right choice,just to see what they will do IMHO.Lots of sticky things was going on in the early 90's,ruby ridge to waco and things inbetween,not the greatest spotlight in American history.