Quote from msfe:
while you´re at it - why not liberate and democratize Syria & Iran ?
Quote from candletrader:
Get lost, you evil arab loving scumbag...
Seems not to be much effort on the behalf of a real solution here.
I started this thread because the whole situation seems to have possible ramifications beyond what we thought we had bargained for.
No matter what one's stance is on this Iraqi campaign, I see potentially devastating escalation if we (the US) cannot accomplish our goal of deposing Saddam (which I believe is necessary) without alienating the entire arab world. It seems from what I read and the television reports I see, our "high road" approach does not seem to be going over quite as well as planned.
Our guys are in battle situations that should have been but were not anticipated. Our expected welcome as liberators has been hampered by the brutal tactics of Saddam and his henchmen.
Again, why was this not anticipated? We knew about this guy. We knew he is capable of anything evil.
Syria is supplying arms to Iraq. China apparently is as well. Kuwait has been attacked. Iran is creeping in. Demonstrations all over the place, including here in the states (weak and minor, but still there). Large demonstrations in the Middle East.
Israel not likely to "show restraint" if either attacked by Iraq like in Desert Storm, or by Syria, who is always happy to do anything they can to make progress on their official government policy...which is to eliminate the State of Israel.
And on top of all this, we now are hearing that Al Qaeda fighters are assisting the Iraqis. Which most likely means financial backing from out loyal pals in Saudi Arabia.
This does not look like a scenario that is under control.
A war between America and it's allies and the entire Islamic world can lead to no where good.
Seems to me, we need to wage a stronger war of politics of humanity and the kind of propaganda to make it clear to the world exactly what our objectives really are.
How much, if anything, does this campaign have to do with American frustration of not having found Bin Laden?
Where do we go from here?
Rs7