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So what was the point of the invasion, then?

Reader comment on item: Iraq's Cosmetic Election

Submitted by Matt (United States), Mar 9, 2010 at 14:20

If you understand that an American withdrawal means growing Iranian influence in Iraq, then why did you support America invading in 2003, while simultaneously claiming we should withdraw immediately instead of nation-building and fighting a COIN war? That has been your position for years now (unless you have since renounced it, and I cannot recall you ever doing so). I have been asking you this question for years, and while you have replied to a few of my comments, I remain unsatisfied with the answers you have given.

How can you recognize this:

"Tehran has aspired to seize effective control of Iraq since the U.S.-led overthrow of Saddam Hussein in 2003. With many levers at hand, from mosques to schools to militias to politicians, the Iranian despots are well placed to inherit the country."

And yet still argue that invading Iraq was a good idea? Everyone knows that Tehran has had substantial influence in Iraq since the IRI began; nobody knew this better than Saddam himself when he was alive and in power. Do you believe that a Shi'a-dominated Iraq with a Tehran-allied regime is somehow preferable to an anti-Iranian Baa'thist regime?

You can argue that the U.S. was right to invade Iraq (as you have been doing for years), OR you can argue that withdrawing from Iraq and allowing Iran to "inherit" the country is very bad (as you are doing in this blog entry). You cannot argue both at the same time. Perhaps you should clarify your position.

Submitting....

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".

Daniel Pipes replies:

I supported the invasion in 2003 because (1) Saddam Hussein was a dangerous monster and (2) if not for coalition bungling, matters will not have to end with Iranian domnation of Iraq.

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Reader comments (29) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
What music company do you like? Mojoheadz record label is a Extraordinary! [46 words]BonaUnreataJan 14, 2021 06:28262843
Only stable Islamic governments are monarchies [220 words]PPSApr 1, 2010 02:53170838
Good reason to be despondent... Iraqi cities will burn and we will abandon her, says prophet Jeremiah [104 words]Jeff AhrendtMar 31, 2010 12:51170824
The problem with cosmetic democracies [59 words]markiecorkMar 30, 2010 07:19170769
Only assuming Iranian clerics stay in power [77 words]SandyMar 16, 2010 14:01170233
Iraqi children can ink their fingers when their parents vote [245 words]John in Michigan, USAMar 13, 2010 20:29170089
I agree ! [170 words]Nelson HortonMar 11, 2010 16:46169988
A rather demeaning world attitude? [71 words]Furor TeutonicusMar 10, 2010 02:49169920
For once I disagree with Prof. Pipes [146 words]G BormanMar 9, 2010 21:55169914
yes that is what probably will happen, but , it would be nice to think that maybe, the good people of Iraq will use this gift of freedom to continue to keep said freedom. ...Mar 2010 [65 words]Phil GreendMar 9, 2010 21:18169913
Realism Personnified [54 words]ZentristMar 9, 2010 20:15169910
The Issue in Iraq is Islam, Nothing but Islam [1444 words]Prof. Paul EidelbergMar 9, 2010 20:03169909
Nothing but Islam [36 words]Nenette GrunbergMar 10, 2010 14:50169909
re: The Issue is Islam, Nothing but Islam [98 words]MattMar 13, 2010 10:45169909
Come see for yourself. [15 words]Francis BrookeMar 9, 2010 18:38169906
Yes. The job must be finished. [99 words]Abu NudnikMar 9, 2010 15:28169898
Dr. Pipes, I have to disagree with you here. [264 words]Aymenn JawadMar 9, 2010 15:15169895
So what was the point of the invasion, then? [250 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
MattMar 9, 2010 14:20169893
RE: [82 words]MattMar 30, 2010 10:52169893
Cynical Mind [247 words]Nenette GrunbergMar 9, 2010 13:27169892
Islam & Democracy Do Not Mix [102 words]Mike RamirezMar 9, 2010 13:18169890
Iraq votes [74 words]2outspokenMar 9, 2010 13:05169889
Anticipating Iraq's Final Assimilation [346 words]M. ToveyMar 9, 2010 12:30169887
Forwarded Sentiments of Dr. Pipes Premonitions Coming True [125 words]M ToveyJan 14, 2021 18:54169887
When Elections Trump Civic Institution Building & The Teaching Of Tolerant Norms, NOTHING Civil Can Emerge [131 words]Adina KutnickiMar 9, 2010 12:24169886
Cheer Up [89 words]Wayne LucasMar 9, 2010 12:08169885
The end of Iraq [71 words]Tarek FatahMar 9, 2010 11:58169884
End of Iraq at the hands of the Kurds, as seen by Jeremiah [120 words]Jeff AhrendtMar 31, 2010 13:22169884
Thanks [27 words]Ray in SeattleMar 9, 2010 11:26169883

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Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".

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