War vs. Iraq - Ousting Saddam?

[Tom201]

This won't happen for another year

The Americans maybe need a pause bevor they start the next war ... regaining strength for their patriotism .. after all they have to wave tons of flags and stuff

[Garth Vader]

The Americans maybe need a pause bevor they start the next war ...

No they need to time the next war with the elections. After all it would be unpatriotic not to vote for your wartime president

[Ned]

Originally posted by DinoDoc


Which one's do you support?

David what would your opinion be on the War of Northern Aggression?

What about the many wars fought against the Indians?

Ned

[Ned]

The problem we have is not so much with Saddam, but with the Turks and the Kurds. The Turks will insist that Kurds not be set free or instead made part of Turkey. This is really inconsistent with one of our war aims, to liberate the Kurds.

Ned

[Ned]

The war is scheduled for late November. Ned

[Eli]

Or, at least, not before the pal-israel crisis is resolved.

So the US won't invade in this millenium?

[Rex Little]

David what would your opinion be on the War of Northern Aggression?

David has repeatedly said that the South had the right to secede, and the War of Northern Aggression should not have been fought.

[Garth Vader]

Which is at least consistant with his views that the Revolutionary war was justified.

[David Floyd]

Yup

[Ned]

Originally posted by David Floyd
Revolution, French Naval War, and the Barbary Pirates War. Also, to a short extent, the current War on Terror.

So, Japan attacks Pearl Harbor and Germany declares war on us. You, David Floyd, president, surrender? Is that your position?

Ned

[David Floyd]

No, prior to that I don't invite either declaration by sinking German UBoats or putting an embargo on Japan.

[Ned]

Originally posted by Oldenbarnevelt
Before starting Desert Storm II, the American government will have some explaining to do. The fact that Iraq is an ugly dictatorship is hardly reason enough to mount a massive attack. I can see two valid reasons to oust Saddam:
1) Iraq supports al-Qaeda on the same scale as the Taleban did;
2) Iraq has weapons of mass destruction, or is about to get them.
So far I haven't seen proof of either. Before George W goes ahead with his new war, he should disclose parts of the intelligence he has (intelligence as in CIA, not as in IQ ) and present ample evidence to the American people and America's allies.

2) seems very likely, 1) seems less likely, considering Saddam is a secular leader, not an Islamist.

Why is explaining to the Dutch government required of the U.S.? We are allies in Europe. Iraq is in the ME. The Dutch have no obvious interests there except to trust their friend the United States vs. a maniac dictator like Saddam. We would welcome Dutch support but not its whining interference.

Ned

[chequita guevara]

Originally posted by Oldenbarnevelt
I can see two valid reasons to oust Saddam:
1) Iraq supports al-Qaeda on the same scale as the Taleban did;
2) Iraq has weapons of mass destruction, or is about to get them.
So far I haven't seen proof of either.

2) seems very likely, 1) seems less likely, considering Saddam is a secular leader, not an Islamist.

1) Despite attempts by the State Department to link them, everything is pointing to non-cooperation between the two. Given that the Baathists are seqular, I highly doubt al-Qaeda would accept any support from them. Al-qaeda recieved (and likely still receives) most of its support from the Saudis and the Pakistanis, and other extremely right-wing, Sunni Islamist regimes. Sudan did support them (and may still do so under the table) but seems to have quit well before the US bombed them in '98.

2) According to the last weapons inspector, the UN found and destroyed all WoMDs and delivery mechanisms for such that the Iraqis had. The non-compliance that they thought the Iraqis were engaging in turns out to have been security information on the where-abouts of Hussein. Given that the CIA was using the UN team as an info gathering source, the Iraqis were rather paranoid about turning over this last little bit of info, lest Hussein be assassinated by the US.

There will be no independent Kurdistan carved from Iraq. The US is flattly against such an outcome, due to its tight alliance with Turkey. The Kurds today, like in Desert Storm, are being used as a rationalisation for war, but will be screwed over once again at the end of the war.

Kuwait will likely allow the US to base on its soil, despite demonstrations. It still hates Hussein and wants to see Iraq destroyed. The US can also hit from the Persian Gulf, as well as Turkey.

[Tom201]

You know the Dutch have this bad habit to care about world-peace

[Ned]

Originally posted by Tom201
You know the Dutch have this bad habit to care about world-peace

And, as I said, you should trust us.

Besides, I am absolutely certain that we will fully explain our reasons to you and ever other member of Nato. We will seek your support and perhaps your assistance as well.

Ned