Why Another Blog?

I've decided to set up another blog, (my other one is called Writer's Musings), because there are some topics just too weighty for that blog.

So here it is. In this space I'll explore more serious issues in more detail. I do not expect visitors to agree with me in all cases.
In this forum feel free to take off the gloves, grab a handful of mud and fight for what you believe in.

Simple rules, rather like cage-fighting in the blogosphere:
No direct name calling. No excessive profanity. No whining when smacked in the face with mud.
Sling inuendo. Feel free to ask leading questions even if in a snide tone.

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

The Iraq War

Let’s see, was it worth it? Oh, I’m talking about the current war. It's a relevant question for me because I may be over there again in a few weeks. (My other option is Afghanistan.) There are those who continue to undermine the war effort with pacifist drivel. By worth, we have to be talking geopolitical worth.

For those who think we should not have removed Saddam, consider these facts. His regime was directly responsible for 500,000 - 1,000,000 Iranian deaths plus almost 1,000,000 of his own people during the Iran-Iraq war.

One of over 500 identified mass graves in Iraq from the Saddam era.
This one contained over 1,000 bodies.


To this add 500,000 - 1,000,000 deaths due to programs to wipe out the Marsh Arabs, Shiites, Kurds and anyone else in opposition to his regime. To date we have found over 500 mass graves throughout Iraq containing an estimated 300,000 – 500,000 Iraqi men, women, and children. It will take years to survey them all.

So the Saddam regime is responsible for 1,000,000 – 2,000,000 Iraqi deaths, plus at least 500,000 Iranian deaths. Ok, maybe not in the same league with Hitler and Stalin, but probably in the top ten modern era.

Child victims of the gas attack on Halabja, Iraq March 1988


None of this even takes into consideration arguments about WMD. You can argue if you will, that we haven’t found them, but you can’t argue that he never had them. 15 – 19 March 1988, his regime used sarin, tabun, VX (nerve agents), blood agents and mustard gas against Kurdish civilians in Halabja, Iraq killing 3,500 – 5,000 immediately. Another 30,000 died later. Keep in mind that this was a directed, deliberate attack on unarmed civilians.

Pacifist handwringing and U.N. resolutions did nothing to prevent any of this. Nor did it bring Saddam to justice.

At the time of 9/11, virtually every pundit and analyst predicted that a wave of terrorist attacks was imminent. Almost seven years have passed and we are still waiting. Why? Because the terrorists are on the run everywhere. Why? Because we are hunting them down and killing them everywhere. The U.S. invaded Iraq in March 2003. Pacifist pundits predicted that terrorists would soon attack in retaliation. Five years later, nothing here…nothing against a U.S. target.

Abu Ghraib, Guantanamo and the Iraq war are creating a “new generation of terrorists” the pacifist left says. In 1993 we had the first World Trade Center bombing. In 1998 there were simultaneous bombings at two U.S. Embassies in East Africa. In 2000 the USS Cole was damaged in suicide boat attack. In 2001 we had the events of 9/11. All of this occurred prior to the Iraq War, Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo – eight years, five major terrorist attacks. Since the war – seven years, no major terrorist attacks.

Another result of the Iraq War has been the turn-around of Libya. In September 2003 on the anniversary of 9/11, the Libyans finally came to agreement on settling with the families of the Lockerbie bombing victims. After which, the UN lifted sanctions. At the same time, Libya renounced and dismantled their WMD programs and allowed for UN inspectors to verify and certify that those programs were dismantled. Libya allowed the type of unfettered access to inspectors that we never saw from Saddam. Seems Gadhafi figured a resurgent U.S. was no longer to be messed with. And gee, it has worked out pretty good for both sides. He is selling us oil again.

In geopolitical terms, you have to answer the initial question with a resounding YES!

4 comments:

hell yeah! said...

Do you mean if its good (in geopoliticial terms) for the USA, the weapon industri, the G8, and the elit of this world, that guys like you give their lifes for a illegitimed war in the middle east?

I agree, the answer is YES.

Now ask the people of the same area (not a copple) but the vast majority, what they think about the USA intervention and you will see they think otherwise.

If this is false for you, I dear you to do some investigation.

and I have a lead for you to start with:

If it was so clearly "good" reasons for the USA and allies going into Iraq...

1) why did they need an excuse, as the "war on terror" (9/11) to intervene?
2) how come the rest of the world does not agree?

and 3rd...

Who do the USA think they are playing guarding angels when the number of international interventions (with a negative result - from a moral and geopolitical point of view) is higher than your age on this planet?

(if you dont know about this, I will gladely hand you the link to the list)

I recogn your effort and the conviction that you are doing some good, doing what you do (is probably the only way for i.e. soldiers to cope with war experiences), but looking at this from a higher level, it is very clear that the USAs military interventions have never solved anything in this world, but only created a false tranquility in wich they can do business - regardless the actual situation of the native people.

hell yeah! said...

eh...and then a question for you if you dont mind...

since you train military forces...where you also involved in the previous training of Al Qaeda militia?

Thanks 4 your time

Tania

J. L. Krueger said...

Hell yeah,

In answer to your last snide question, you clearly know not of what you speak:

1. There isn't an "Al Qaeda militia".

2. No, I only train US and allied forces.

The fact that most of Western Europe is spineless, unwilling and incapable of dealing with the world's threats leaves those of us with spines, willingness and capablity to do the dirty work.

Your leftist drivel ignores the about 90% of what I pointed out in my post.

You get your information from leftist media. I get mine on the ground with the people in Iraq. I'll wager I have more YEARS in Iraq than you have.

Unknown said...

Dear J. L. Krueger,
I for one appreciate what You and people like You do for this poor sad world, and for the voiceless and defenseless ones.
I agree very much with You that the United States has lead the world in its concern for the other. I am sure this has happened at a huge cost to life and limb.
God bless You.