The Bush administration is pleading for help in Iraq.

[Imran Siddiqui]

We also lend legitimacy to the original invasion.

I don't see why it would? All you'd have to say is that we do not believe in the original invasion, but believe that the Iraqi people need humanitarian assistance.

There, why is that hard and how does that lend legitimacy to the invasion? Unless you want to close your eyes and pretend it never happened.

[laurentius]

Help? From us? nah let em drown in the **** they started. US needs again to be reminded that internal affairs should not dictate foreign policy. This applies to France, Germany and GB too, but mostly it's USA that needs another painful lesson.

let them drown in their ****, as my father used to say about the russians...

[Imran Siddiqui]

The funny thing is that that attitude is just going to solidify in the US opinion that we have to 'go it alone'. It's a self-defeating policy. If you want to go ahead and do it be my guest... but the rest of the world helping would go further to educating ordinary Americans about international cooperation.

All ordinary Americans are thinking right now is: these Euros are *******s... I guess we DO have to go it alone to do what's right.

[laurentius]

read my post again please

[ískallin]

If they needed humaniterian assistence hen why didn't the us lift of the embargo on Iraq?

[Imran Siddiqui]

read my post again please

I did and it doesn't change my position.

Do what you want... just don't be surpised when the US gets more unilateral.

If they needed humaniterian assistence hen why didn't the us lift of the embargo on Iraq?

The humanitarian assistance is to bring order to the country. How would lifting the embargo during Saddam's reign have accomplished that goal?

[notyoueither]

There may be little difference between Iraq and many other places in the past where, once the shooting died down in intensity it was totally proper to send in the UN brigade (Canucks, and Belgians, and Pakistanis, and...) wearing the blue helmuts to help the people rebuild their lives. That's what it should be about at this point, the welfare of the Iraqi people. If the presense of Johnny Canuck in his blue helmet would help stop the fighting, and aid in rebuilding the country, then he should go. Unfortunately, he is off in Afghanistan at the moment, and will have to get back to George when a spot opens on the schedule.

[laurentius]

* FROM THE GREAT BOOK OF REVELATIONS *
The point of my post was that US foreign policy is dangerously and recklessly closely tied to the internal affairs. Just as the Bush-adminstration has admitted, the facts about Iraq "were seen in new light after 11/9". The war on Iraq was 100% GwB political maneuvering. Hes desperate attempt to boost economy, popularity and US influence in the ME at the same time. However war is never the right answer. Peace, equality and stability are the things that make the world go 'round.
peace out

[ískallin]

Well most of the Iraqi pepole were staving because of Saddams tyranny and the embargo sertanly didn't help.

[Imran Siddiqui]

The point of my post was that US foreign policy is dangerously and recklessly closely tied to the internal affairs.

And my point is that these 'screw them' actions make it more likely that future US foreign policy will be as 'dangerous and reckless' as you think it is now.

Well most of the Iraqi pepole were staving because of Saddams tyranny and the embargo sertanly didn't help.

So let Saddam off with a slap on the wrist? The only alternative to embargo was regime change.

[DanS]

If the presense of Johnny Canuck in his blue helmet would help stop the fighting, and aid in rebuilding the country, then he should go. Unfortunately, he is off in Afghanistan at the moment, and will have to get back to George when a spot opens on the schedule.

Johnny Canuck's help is very much appreciated in Afghanistan. That said, the deployment to Afghanistan isn't exactly that large and shouldn't stretch Canada's resources too much. If it does, well...

[Dinner]

Originally posted by ískallin
If they needed humaniterian assistence hen why didn't the us lift of the embargo on Iraq?

What I've heard is that almost no one was starving but almost everyone was dependent upon the oil for food program.

[notyoueither]

Originally posted by DanS
If the presense of Johnny Canuck in his blue helmet would help stop the fighting, and aid in rebuilding the country, then he should go. Unfortunately, he is off in Afghanistan at the moment, and will have to get back to George when a spot opens on the schedule.

Johnny Canuck's help is very much appreciated in Afghanistan. That said, the deployment to Afghanistan isn't exactly that large and shouldn't stretch Canada's resources too much. If it does, well...

A good chunk of our available infantry have been earmarked for Kabul. 2 1,800 person rotations. We don't have a large army. The entire forces is about 60,000 (Army, Navy, Air Force) regulars. The DND employs 20,000 civil servants, if that gives you an indication of the priorities of our governments of late.

[DanS]

Again, to be clear, those 1,800 soldiers are appreciated. It's one of the biggest deployments to Afghanistan.

if that gives you an indication of the priorities of our governments of late

I have a sense of the priorities and they are what are--the US can't change Canada's priorities. But do you agree with those priorities?

[DanS]

Also, I saw pictures of Australian troops doing patrols in Baghdad. I thank them for stepping into a slightly hairy area of the country.