So why did we invade Iraq, anyway?

[Poiuyt]

Before 9/11 even happened, W was acting very tough and aggressive towards Iraq. News pundits were saying how W didn’t want to make the same mistakes that his father did. I thought that W wanted to go to war with Iraq because he saw how popular George Senior was during the first Gulf War and he wanted to be a wartime president, too. Iraq would be an easy target for him. Did we go to war to bolster W’s polling numbers?

I also heard W say that he hated Saddam with all his heart (not very Christian and forgiving is it). He probably hates him because Saddam tried to assassinate his father. So did we go to war for retribution and personal vengeance?

Lately, I’ve been reading about the PNAC. It would be an awfully big coincidence if they didn’t have an influence over W’s decision to invade Iraq. For them to say that we need a “Pearl Harbor type event” to rationalize an invasion into Iraq. Wow! And the way things have turned out with all his oil buddies getting the big contracts with no bidding. Did we go to war for oil and money?

What does everyone else think?

[roberthall10]

1. Why We Invaded Iraq

The total lack of preparation for the postwar gives the lie to the admin assertion that we invaded to make a model Middle Eastern democracy out of Iraq.

We invaded because Bush needed a target, needed to hijack the 2002 midterms, and this fit with a pre-existing Republican agenda.

[Goldmund]

2. Wow...

That is way too big a question to be answered in a single post. Rather, go back and read the countless threads on this subject.

In short, my opinion is that the invasion was driven primarily by the geostrategic motives of the PNAC, which ultimately lead to a new imperial world order, which ultimately leads to the PNAC and big corporate gang controlling global resources, which ultimately leads to more... well, money.

3. because it was there

and we could

Remember Granada

[Dr Fate]

4. That depends on the phase of the moon...

...first it was because saddam "masterminded 9/11"

Then it was because "Saddam hates freedom"

Then it was to teach them how to "endure" our freedom...

At some point, it was about WMD's- but I think now it's about tapes of people being tortured...

[commander bunnypants]

5. I really feel it was to clear Poppy's name

I cant get that out of my head for some reason, oil.

BTW- has any WMD's been found yet?

DDQM

[Clete]

6. Beats me.

I have turned this over and over in my mind and can come up with no argument more rational than the need for perpetual war like in "1984".

[brainshrub]

7. Peak Oil

Once you understand what "Peak Oil" is, everything Bush Co. did in Iraq makes perfect sense.

May I suggest this link:
http://www.museletter.com/archive/135.html

Remember that term folks: "Peak Oil". It will determine EVERYTHING about your life, and your childrens' lives within the next decade. In fact, many people reading this won't survive it.

The Iraqi invasion is the last geo-political action of the industrial age. It is not a sign of American strength, but the final last-gasp of the American empire.

[reprobate]

11. Brainshrub, you hit it on the first shot.

Isn't it ironic that the one thing that will influence everything about geopolitical strategy for the next decade simply IS NOT even mentioned on the media?

While europe and the rest of the world is planning for the change to alternative energies, particularly hydrogen, our mazimum leaders are trying to take over the last of the affordable old resource without a thought for the future. But that's the american way.

Think I'll go out and invest in a couple of V8 powered full size SUVs, the kind that you need an elevator to climb up into. Golly if we all did that maybe we could run out of oil in five years instead of ten.

[specimenfred1984]

8. Neocon Racist Imperialism

involves causing chaos in Iraq as a further justification for attacking the "EVIL ones" who "hate our freedoms" wherever they may be.

The "EVIL ones" will be wherever there's a resource grab involved. Any resource will do, it doesn't have to be oil.

Neocons believe that the superior ones shall rule and use all tools available to rule. Those tools are resources, people, propaganda, etc...

[lovedems]

9. Absolutely PNAC is involved

They were certainly given the nod after 9/11. I believe it has more to do with PNAC and big contracts than the actual oil, I mean oil is just a portion of what Halliburton is handling over in Iraq. Who do you think is behind the talk of Iran and Syria? PNAC wants to spread their evil wings as far as this misadministration will allow them (there doesn't appear to be a limit). Considering all the PNAC members in the misadministration, you'd be foolish to think they weren't the driving factor. That would also explain why the reasons keep changing and the evidence for going to war was embellished or created.

[leesa]

10. To punish them for planning to switch to Euro and to steal their oil

It was, and still is, to send a message to the oil countries to stop their plans to switch to Euro for trade currency. I believe this is the number one long-term reason. Then, of course, since all neoconservatives are greedy fucks, they wanted to steal the resources of Iraq and plunder the US treasury via contracts for the Bush Crime Family members. Of course, now EVERYONE is sure to switch to the Euro or some other form of curreny other than the US dollar. Good job, neocons!

Iran, Iraq and N.Korea planned to switch to Euro, hence the Axis of Evil.

The LAST thing it had to do with was WMD, terrorism , Saddam or freeing the Iraqis.

[Spoonman]

12. I'm in the oil industry.....

We did it to keep the French from getting their hands on the oil.
The French had basically all the fields under signed contract and were waiting for the UN to drop the sanctions.
Everything else you've heard about WMD, terrorism etc. is pure horse shit!
Oil! they had it, Bush wanted it, and he wasn't going to let anyone from Europe get it.

[Kamika]

13. Just take your pick

The BushCo deigned this war so it will fit all tastes

a. Religious war: Hey if youre a fundie christian/jew attacking those muslims is the way to go

b. Humanitarian: See we liberated the Iraquis from Saddam.. (just dont let our allies Saudi Arabia/Kuwait/Egypt etc etc know about this. Their people they might want to get liberated too)

c. Self defence/WMD: If we hadnt bombed Iraq Saddam would definetly have nuked us.

d. Al Quaida: Everyone knows the socialist Baath party were best of friends with the fundie muslim Al Quaida and they had strong ties.

e. Screw Al Quaida: Saddam was responsible for the whole 911

[Old and In the Way]

14. In order of priority

#1 Distract Americans from the 9/11 Investigation.
#2 Oil and control of the 2nd largest reserves
#3 Keep said oil from being priced in Euro's
#4 Payoff to the corporate backers of the Republican Corporate Party
#5 Divide the American people (with us or against us)
#6 New bases to replace the one's were being kicked out of in SA
#7 One-up Dad and git revenge on Saddam
#8 Jumpstart WW3
#34 Git those WMD
#67 Saddam was evil
#3405 Create a Democracy for the people of Iraq.

[onebigbadwulf]

15. I disagree...

#1-PNAC
#2-PNAC
#3-PNAC
#4-PNAC
#5-PNAC
#6-PNAC
#7-PNAC
#8-PNAC
#9-PNAC
#10-PNAC
#11-PNAC
#12-PNAC
#35,456- To eliminate wellfare and Social Security.

[killbotfactory]

16. 9/11! support our troops! Why do you hate America?

U-S-A! U-S-A!

[Flying_Pig]

17. In order: Oil, Israel, PNAC imperialism. Period.

n/t