The argument has been made so many times that it becomes a waste of breath to continue to explain it. But, one more time...
Saddam Hussein destabilizes the whole region. He gassed his own people and invaded two of his neighbors. He would like nothing better than to get his hands on nukes so he could severely punish the US which kicked him in the crotch but left him standing 12 years ago. He is definitely mean enough to do it. He runs an evil, soviet style police state. His family are just as bad as he is. He has diverted shipments of food and aid to his own purposes rather than feeding the people as they were intended. There is a lot of evidence that he was behind the Murra Federal Building, which the Govt doesn't confirm or deny -- I think to protect intelligence sources.
Looking back leaving him in power was a mistake. But hindsight is 20/20. Leaving him there at the time when there was no mandate to march to Baghdad left a bad taste in peoples mouths, but it was understandable -- even the right thing to do based on the mission parameters. What happened to the Kurds was a flat out shame. I have no idea what was behind that snafu.
That is no reason to go wobbly now. He thinks he is smarter than the rest of the world. HE thinks he has hid his shit well enough that we won't be able to find it. If he remains in power under so-called 'containment' he will be able to continue to launch adventures against us and the Israelis, like paying families to blow up their children. It is his time. It will be time for the N. Koreans and the Iranians soon enough. Right now, it is Baghdad time.
It is amazing how much the non-leftist american public understands. They understand that islam equals evil, that Saddam is a menace, and that weakness in international affairs is deadly. We will carry on and do what needs to be done for an ungrateful left and ignorant public. As a cop you should understand that feeling very well.
Thank you for your civil response. I believe people who respond with fact and reason are a credit to FR and our country.
Let it be known that I have never said I am 100% correct on everything I know about the whole situation. Up to this point I still have not been satisfied with what I have seen and read about the whole mess.
I realize that Sadaam is a menace and a murderer. Where I have the problem is the way we responded to this menace.
You say that looking back and letting Sadaam stay in power was a mistake. I agree with that. You say what happend to the Kurds was a flat out shame. I also strongly agree with that. You say it was a snafu. So do I.
As a police officer I do understand what you mention. However I have to believe it is the right thing to do before I march off and do it.
It seems to me we built Sadaam up to be the menace to the universe and then left him in power after we had him defeated. Alot of uannswered questions make this trip to the Gulf questionable.
Also, I say let the evidence we have be put out where it can be seen. Tell me the truth so I can believe in the mission. "Yeah, he's probably behind it" is not good enough for me, especially when things have been so confusing up to this point. For me anyway.