Are you convinced that Iraq is better off without Saddam ?

[kentuck]

How bad would it have to get before you would not be convinced? Or have we been programmed to believe that no matter what happens in that country, no matter how much chaos, no matter how much killing, it is still better than having Saddam in power?

What is better? They have freedom to speak, freedom of the press, and freedom to assemble? I dont think they have those freedoms yet but we're working on it. They have more food and a better lifestyle? Well, not yet, but we're working on getting them electricity. Exactly how have their lives improved? Please explain how they are better off now than under Saddam...

[paulsbc]

1. just Iraq?

if you are talking about whether the ordinary Iraqi is better off now than under Saddam, and not about the US, or our troops, or anything else, but just the 'normal' Iraqi citizen (not affiliated with the Baath party), then the answer is an unequivacle yes, they are better off.

How? Many ways, a small snippet includes
-> freedom of speech, including the right to critize us, and others
-> freedom of assembly
-> freedom of religion / religious practice
-> removal of brutality, fear and baathist police
-> economic hope

the list goes on for the normal Iraqi citizen..

[kentuck]

2. And you truly believe that ?

God help us!

[Composed Thinker]

3. I do

Or at least I'm willing to say the possibility of a democracy in Iraq is certainly greater than before. But as the Middle East constantly reminds us, nothing is ever for sure.

[ComerPerro]

14. Ok, fair enough, BUT

Who will tell these people that they have these rights?

[JohnKleeb]

17. yep comer yes

when they hear about places like Gutatohomo Bay and hear about what we do our captives over there,

[maggrwaggr]

16. this girl is SO much better off:

[never cry wolf]

4. check out this blog from an ordinary iraqi woman

that was posted on a thread earlier this evening, it offers great insight. i am gonna have to find that original thread and kick it because it is fascinating.

[ugarte]

5. Depends whether I'm dead or alive

I'm sure all the dead Iraqis appreciate the new freedoms.

[SweetZombieJesus]

6. We had Saddam boxed in, containment was working

Given a little more time, I'm sure he would have been deposed naturally, and not by invading foreign forces, i.e. us. The trade embargo was nasty shit, and would never have been necessary had we not supported him years ago, but it was working and it was keeping him contained. Saddam might have been a bloodthirsty bastard, but he wasn't an idiot. He wanted to hold onto his power by any means necessary, and I still don't believe anyone who says he would have attacked us or helped terrorists in any demonstrable way. He knew full well the lengths to which his former business partners would go, and only pushed just enough to get what he wanted while keeping his power.

Then came Shrub and his "Gotta get him for daddy" bullshit, and that went out the window.

[JackDragna]

7. No, I do not believe it.

Freedoms are nice, but chaos is not an adequate substitute. Hussein was also an adamate opponent of the jihadis and other radical Islamic groups that sponsor terrorism in the region. Iraq surely had a repressive government, but its infrastructure was in much better shape than most of its neighbors.

Iraq would be better off with Hussein in power right now. No doubt about it.

[maggrwaggr]

15. 15,000 dead Iraqis probably agree

I think they'd rather be alive than martyrs for George Bush

[kentuck]

8. 2nd part of question:

How bad would it have to get to say that it is worse than with Saddam? Or was Saddam the worst thing that could happen to the Iraqi people?

[EV1Ltimm]

9. no, and it probably never will be.

i'm just waiting for a religious-fundamentalist, totalitarian regime to ride the wave of anti-americanism in iraq and take control.

an iran redux, if you will.

[Maple]

10. Iraq is worse off

without Saddam

As most Iraqis know

[Virginian]

11. The answer to that is not yet known. When the soldiers leave,

will one of the major three sects take over and bring in a new dictator who suppresses and persecutes those with differing beliefs? In other words, will we have a change of leadership, but keep the same type of government?
Or will it be controlled by religious fanatics?
Is there a reason there is no democracy in that region, a reason we will never understand?

Have we improved anything or just spent billions of dollars and thousands of lives to only change who the next victims will be?

Who are we to destroy a country so we can build it in our image? Maybe they don't want to be like us.

When we have a perfect country, no hunger, no crime, no poverty maybe then we can tell others how to run theirs.

[corarose]

12. Iraq is destroyed now

It was better before Jr destroyed them.

[IndianaGreen]

13. You are paying too much attention to the rosy scenario

the American media loves to portray about our "benign" rule over Iraq.

Quit watching Faux!

[maggrwaggr]

18. Didn't you hear, Saddam Hussein was SATAN HIMSELF

And killed MILLIONS OF PEOPLE EVERY DAY by lowering them into BOILING CAULDRONS OF MELTED EARWAX.

Yeah, he was an asshole, so what? 15,000 Iraqis, 300 American soldiers, and still-uncounted UN workers would be alive today if we hadn't invaded.

And more deaths to come! All because of our benevolence!

GOD BLESS GEORGE BUSH!!

ALL HAIL!!!