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Originally Posted by Danzig
A: ignoring the vacuum that removal of hussein would create, hence the strengthening of iran we are currently witnessing,
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The situation in Iraq pretty much mirrors post WWII Germany, 2 to 3 years of insurgency and 10 years to get things stable enough to turn things over to the German people. So it wasn't totally unexpected, or ignored. The insurgency in Iraq will be more successful, and last longer because ...
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B. the half assed way we have gone about this 'war'.
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This is exactly the problem! And the reason we were successful in Germany. We took care of the situation with both halfs
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we didn't get the support necessary, everyone thought saddam was a paper tiger, and that continuing the un sanctions, etc, would keep him on a short leash.
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Hussein had proven he was not a paper tiger by his history. He Almost immediately attacked Iran after he took power and as soon he could after he recovered from that went into Kuwait. Through the 90's he showed every indication of continuing that pattern by adapting very well to the increased international scrutiny and building his financial warchest right under the nose of the UN.
Unfortunately sanctions only work with a compassionate gov't, otherwise it just punishes the people and is terribly misguided. The Iraqi people suffered due to the sanctions, but there was no way they were going to put pressure on Hussein to comply with the mandates as a result of those sanctions - he would just kill them. Hussein simply took advantage of the oil for food program to build his war chest and starved his people. The only thing sanctions did was give him an excuse to offer his people for their suffering ("It's the great satan's fault") and buy time.
I vote for "B" above - This discussion can go on for ever, but I need to get back to handicapping
- take care,
Bill