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The administration has an obligation to the American people to provide what it promised

Reader comment on item: War as Social Work?

Submitted by Alex C (United States), May 7, 2003 at 20:09

Because the war was sold to the American people on the premise of freeing the Iraqis -- what greater proof than the name "Operation Iraqi Freedom" -- the administration has an obligation to the American people to provide what it promised.

Many of us "bought" the war because we were convinced by the administration that Saddam was evil and that the war would help Iraqis.

If the war was sold to us only on the premise that Iraq is a security threat, then Dr. Pipes would have a point. But it would be a denial of the obvious to claim that that was how the war was spun, or fought for that matter, as Iraqis were promised freedom and a better life for supporting us. To say that and walk away would be akin to Iraqi soldiers attacking our troops under the cover of surrender.

It was clearly promised to Americans that the war would make life better for Iraqis. And it was promised to the Iraqi people that this was was for their freedom. To walk away now and break those promises would be morally wrong and unworthy of our nation. (not to mention strategically short sighted, as how many North Koreans would support us if they knew we could care less about their fate, that we only cared for our own)

Alex C
Submitting....

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Reader comments (51) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
1A new military strategy in Afghanistan that might work. [353 words]Bill PazaratzNov 6, 2010 22:46179994
"War As Social Work" [201 words]Renee BouvierNov 8, 2007 15:32113438
Enhancing America's Security vs. War as Social Work [22 words]jennifer solisOct 13, 2007 14:40111385
WELcome democracy [92 words]samanJul 12, 2005 22:1623422
The Long Term [180 words]AdamJul 23, 2003 11:5010178
War as Social work [164 words]A.K. LenceskiMay 23, 2003 02:149196
A problem [605 words]David IseckeMay 14, 2003 17:489069
Brilliant! [26 words]Carmen Waggoner, Ph.D.May 14, 2003 11:159053
reason for military intervention [102 words]dave morrisMay 9, 2003 19:528979
Real war [189 words]A.A.May 9, 2003 18:388978
Strengthening alliances [247 words]Antonio ChavesMay 8, 2003 14:278960
USA saved Aussie bacon as well [166 words]Craig LawrieMay 8, 2003 00:418939
Social Work and National Interest [171 words]William KinneyMay 7, 2003 23:018937
The administration has an obligation to the American people to provide what it promised [223 words]Alex CMay 7, 2003 20:098934
Altruism benefits no one [125 words]Maryallene OtisMay 7, 2003 18:418933
Thank you for calling attention to the media's spin [171 words]K WallMay 7, 2003 16:308930
How about DeSoto property rights? [48 words]Jules C.May 7, 2003 13:178929
Well Done [14 words]Moshe CohenMay 7, 2003 12:488927
Then why....? [73 words]Barbara RunkelMay 7, 2003 05:428921
Remember 9/11 and American security? [160 words]Ivan BarnaMay 7, 2003 01:268919
Amen [131 words]Jim FitzgeraldMay 7, 2003 01:108918
Well put! [15 words]PennyMay 7, 2003 00:018916
The road to hell [16 words]Vivek L. DevMay 6, 2003 23:358915
It doesn't follow [226 words]Jim RyanMay 6, 2003 21:498914
Unique point of view [22 words]Ann CiccolellaMay 6, 2003 19:568912
Brilliant Insight [62 words]Peter H. RonaiMay 6, 2003 19:328911
Whose Security? [305 words]Giulio BattistonMay 6, 2003 18:328909
Take a Spin [5 words]N. HayesMay 6, 2003 18:288908
Americans help make the economic recovery become possible... [84 words]Tilman WinklerMay 6, 2003 18:188907
Islamist Schools [95 words]Graham Rael-BrookMay 6, 2003 16:538906
Nation Building [152 words]Paul M. NevilleMay 6, 2003 15:008904
Very well-said about war [125 words]rjalexandMay 6, 2003 14:518903
Amazing [51 words]Larry BensonMay 6, 2003 14:298902
War against Iraq [72 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Samir Khalil SAMIR, SJMay 6, 2003 14:098901
Philanthropy is our interest! [191 words]AvrahamMay 6, 2003 13:368900
I respectfully disagree [128 words]Boris GurevichMay 6, 2003 13:268899
Surrender And Be Free! [176 words]EdMay 6, 2003 13:208898
Thank you: intelligence with common sense [25 words]Marcella JenkinsMay 6, 2003 13:158897
Social work required [131 words]JockoMay 6, 2003 13:108896
Right on!!! [107 words]Jacob B. Padgug, Ed.D.May 6, 2003 12:588895
A ray of sanity [126 words]Patrick BramwellMay 6, 2003 12:148894
Other Wars [88 words]Jeff FosterMay 6, 2003 12:068893
Pipes says what Bush Admin Thinks [180 words]Larry DerfnerMay 6, 2003 11:278892
With respect, this time you're off-track. [239 words]David ScholemMay 6, 2003 11:198891
Iraqi Freedom [24 words]Ron WeinerMay 6, 2003 11:178890
Germany after WWII [54 words]G.C. Colan, Esq.May 6, 2003 10:568888
"Moral" interests [233 words]Ali LebanonMay 6, 2003 10:138884
The Ultimate War Goal? [146 words]Alain Jean-MairetMay 6, 2003 09:578882
Dr. Pipes has identified a MAJOR guiding principle. [86 words]DSm.May 6, 2003 09:518880
Nemesis of Islamists [180 words]R.D. CrockettMay 6, 2003 09:198879
Oh how the truth hurts! [155 words]Daniel LenardMay 6, 2003 09:168878

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