Quote:
Originally Posted by TheSollyLama
we went into Afghanistan because that was the HQ of Osama and company. That invasion was completely understandable.
It's the Iraq invasion that is questionable in relation to 9/11. Although by all standards Iraq should have been invaded, and it should have been done a decade before GW did it.
Whether the timing of the Iraq invasion was very smart or not is more of the issue than whether it deserved invasion. Certainly Saddam needed removed- he had violated UN resolutions and the conditions of his surrender more times than you can count.
But afghanistan certainly wasn't some made up boogeyman. The Taliban and Al Queda worked hand in hand, and gave safe haven to the terrorists. Clinton bombed afghanistan several times in (a very weak) retaliation for attacks during the 90's. So to claim the afghan campaign was some GW scheme is asinine and ignores history.
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I agree with this. The problem in Iraq isn't that we invaded; Saddam's actions combined with the U.N. corruption in the Oil-for-Food scheme made it necessary. The problem is that we should have (1) simply and directly defeated their army, (2) deposed Saddam, (3) inspected for the WMDs, and (4) left. We got 3 out of 4 right, but then stayed to "help" them restructure their society according to our wishes; who thought that was going to work?
Likewise, I agree that deposing the Taliban and hunting down al-Qaeda in Afghanistan was appropriate. The problem is that we've lost sight of the goal and are wandering around nationbuilding again, and haven't even accomplished the primary goal yet. We need to get back focused on hunting down bin Laden and crew, accomplish that, and come home.
And in both countries (and anywhere else there is a threat), then we just keep an eye. And if they screw with us, we go back and stop it. And if they don't, we don't.
PhilB