If the US leaves Iraq and a complete bloodbath ensues... - Page 3

Felix_Nietzsche · #21 04-26-2007, 01:46 PM

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Pretty comprehensive list. I'd add "not relieving Donald Rumsfeld of his job for 4 years" to the list, as well.

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It depends how much authority Rumsfeld was given by Bush.
Rummy works for Bush and had to work under the framework dictated by Bush. Rummy made a lot of enemies in the pentagon by axing the Crusader artillery project. Also pissing off several generals with his direct style of communication.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XM2001_Crusader

If Bush gave Rummy a free hand with the post war occupation, then Rummy deserves a lot of blame. If Bush placed hand cuffs on Rummy, then Bush is to blame. I can say from my contacts in the army that Rummy was popular with the rank-and-file types. I know more than most people to say I don't have enough info to know how good or how bad Rummy was....

LBK · #22 04-26-2007, 02:29 PM

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Iraq is so much worse off after Bush made the decision to take Saddam out. Worst political blunder in the last 200 years.

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I would have to say Saddam thinking he could take on the US is slightly worse. You could ask him, but I don't think he has much to say on the subject.

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Saddam obviously didn't really think he could take the US on. Saddams actions were no different than what Iran is doing or N. Korea is doing. You don't act weak as a leader in the middle east and expect to survive any political backlash in the form of a coup. Only difference is that Bush thought taking Saddam out would be easy and profitable at the same time where as N. Korea and Iran would be a real fight. He obviously miscalculated.

lehighguy · #23 04-26-2007, 05:10 PM

The guy was pretty crazy. I've even heard people say that he thought he had more WMDs then he actually had, because his ministers always wanted to tell him what he wanted.

latefordinner · #24 04-26-2007, 05:56 PM

Don't forget the literally million+ people who died as a fairly direct result of the sanctions and depleted uranium after the the first Gulf War. I hate to say things can't get worse, because they always can, but restricting the amount of deaths in Iraq to simply "20 here or there" is not accurate in my opinion.