Why should the US continue to occupy Iraq?
 

For the supporters of the US occupation, why should the US continue to occupy Iraq and for how long?

Re: Why should the US continue to occupy Iraq?
 

The US does not occupy Iraq. They are invited guests!

Re: Why should the US continue to occupy Iraq?
 

pride

Re: Why should the US continue to occupy Iraq?
 

1 jillion years

Re: Why should the US continue to occupy Iraq?
 

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pride

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It seems to be coming down to that right now. People just don't want to be "losers" when it comes to war. Even though most of them don't want to be "volunteers" when it comes to war either. It's maddening to listen to these arguments sometimes.

Re: Why should the US continue to occupy Iraq?
 

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For the supporters of the US occupation, why should the US continue to occupy Iraq and for how long?

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I'm not an Iraq war supporter, and I'd like to see an answer to that question which doesn't involve a nebulous time-frame or shifting goals.

It's not a good enough answer to say "until Iraq has a stable, vibrant and healthy democracy in place, and can look after its own internal security needs". Why isn't that a good enough answer? Because that might never happen (at least in our lifetimes). Is the USA to stay for 50 years if it still hasn't happened? 20 years? 70? How long is the outside time parameter if those goals are NOT achieved?

Another problematic question you posed for us: why should the U.S. stay in Iraq? The typical politicians' answer is that "the stakes are high" and "we can't pull out without the country making more progress" Well, again...what if that doesn't happen? How long is the USA to keep riding jockey on a losing horse?

The big fallacy is the underlying presumption that a modern liberal democracy can and will occur in Iraq, if we only stay long enough. Why isn't this assumption openly often questioned? Why do politicians seem to accept it as a matter of fact and faith???

Once again the average American is proving wiser than our elected leaders. How perfectly ironic.

Thanks for reading.

Re: Why should the US continue to occupy Iraq?
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
For the supporters of the US occupation, why should the US continue to occupy Iraq and for how long?

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm not an Iraq war supporter, and I'd like to see an answer to that question which doesn't involve a nebulous time-frame or shifting goals.

It's not a good enough answer to say "until Iraq has a stable, vibrant and healthy democracy in place, and can look after its own internal security needs". Why isn't that a good enough answer? Because that might never happen (at least in our lifetimes). Is the USA to stay for 50 years if it still hasn't happened? 20 years? 70? How long is the outside time parameter if those goals are NOT achieved?

Another problematic question you posed for us: why should the U.S. stay in Iraq? The typical politicians' answer is that "the stakes are high" and "we can't pull out without the country making more progress" Well, again...what if that doesn't happen? How long is the USA to keep riding jockey on a losing horse?

The big fallacy is the underlying presumption that a modern liberal democracy can and will occur in Iraq, if we only stay long enough. Why isn't this assumption openly often questioned? Why do politicians seem to accept it as a matter of fact and faith???

Once again the average American is proving wiser than our elected leaders. How perfectly ironic.

Thanks for reading.

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Good post, John.

Re: Why should the US continue to occupy Iraq?
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
pride

[/ QUOTE ]

It seems to be coming down to that right now. People just don't want to be "losers" when it comes to war. Even though most of them don't want to be "volunteers" when it comes to war either. It's maddening to listen to these arguments sometimes.

[/ QUOTE ]

George Carlin had it right 30 years ago regarding Vietnam...

"Pull out? Doesn't sound manly to me, Bob!"

Re: Why should the US continue to occupy Iraq?
 

How long did we occupy Japan? Germany?

What makes you think if we pull out before there is a stable government that we won't be back in, and face far more difficult problems as the insurgents have time to regroup?

obviously there is no chance for democracy

Re: Why should the US continue to occupy Iraq?
 

[ QUOTE ]
It's not a good enough answer to say "until Iraq has a stable, vibrant and healthy democracy in place, and can look after its own internal security needs". Why isn't that a good enough answer? Because that might never happen (at least in our lifetimes).

[/ QUOTE ]

Agreed. The majority in Iraq is composed of Shia Muslims who believe that the only premissable form of government is a theocracy. Shias also believe that the Sunnis killed the direct decendents of Mohammad and usurped the leadership of Isalm. Democracy will only work when the ruling majority grants freedom to the minority. The argument, therefore, that continued occupation will accomplish this is a complete fantacy. If we stay for 10 more months or 10 more years, the outcome will likely be the same. The only difference will be the human and financial costs.