Quote:
Originally posted by FlyingIguana
then don't come out and say that you're going in to free the iraqi people when thats not the purpose.
if the states prosecute saddam that looks very bad in the eyes of an arab. if you're an american you have a big target on your back. you don't know when a terrorist organization will strike or where it will happen. if the bush government continues to piss off the arab world, the probability of another major terrorist attack on american soil increases.
obviously nothing that american does will please the arab world. you guys need to try and step back a bit and let the international community get involved. try to win the PR battle and not make things worse than they already are.
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There were a list of 8 or maybe 10 goals for the military campaign given by the Pentagon at the beginning of this campaign. They included such items as "secure the oil fields", "rid Iraq of it's WMDs", and "replace the regime". No one has changed those goals.
That the administration chose one of those goals and marketed it as "Operation Iraqi Freedom" was well, good marketing. What was the most important of the objectives? I think quite clearly it was "Replace the regime. Remove Saddam from power". All else falls from there. "Replace the regime" IS "free the Iraqi people" - same thing, phrased better. Good marketing. Admittedly.
As far as whether the US should step back or not. and let the international community get involved.
That's certainly debatable. Seems to me we should try and get to a point as quickly as possible where Iraqi's decide who is involved or not. I doubt the Iraqi's want Russia being involved RIGHT NOW in a situation where they are saying not to lift the sanctions yet.