69 million page views

What if the US had not invaded Iraq

Reader comment on item: What If the United States Had Not Invaded Iraq

Submitted by Joseph Goldyne (United States), Sep 12, 2005 at 03:12

Whereas your comments re. the realative benefits vs detrimental fallout post-invasion of Iraq are presented with an inclination to fairness, you must admit that you have not taken into account the considerable loss of American Lives. After all, the emotional heart of the debate as to the worthiness of the invasion has to do with the value of young lives vs. the choice of an Iraqi invasion as the major US response to the global Terrorist threat.

In retrospect, it seems that our activity should have been enhanced in Afghanistan and the border areas where Osama was undoubtedly hiding. Saddam was a psychopath and a US-buttressed tyrant for years. His people did indeed suffer miserably, but in the Chess of global threat, the invasion of Iraq was not a brilliant move. It has stirred up other dangerous players and has made the steps to many needed victories (accords with allies, public sentiment in the Middle East, stable economies here and abroad) that much harder to achieve. The invasion, in other words, was a bad choice — a pace-setting choice, to be sure, but the wrong pace in the wrong place.

Please write an article on the probable long term consequences of this Iraqi invasion, an act of prediction, and follow it up every 6 months with an update to see how accurate you were. You do good work.
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".

Submit a comment on this item

<< Previous Comment      Next Comment >>

Reader comments (99) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
1the REAL war...read me... i'm opinionated* [259 words]AlexandraApr 10, 2007 18:2588985
2Alexandra is an uninformed citizen. [297 words]Jose VasquezApr 23, 2007 18:2088985
Brainwashed [190 words]gerald abacusJun 21, 2007 14:0188985
The real reason for the Iraq invasion [364 words]DaveDec 30, 2006 19:4471176
I disagree strongly. [289 words]SanchezDec 22, 2006 17:2170252
We have no choice. [34 words]Alyn P.Dec 19, 2006 16:4270025
what never would have happened [18 words]Jake GoudeauDec 19, 2005 19:5130216
What if the U.S. had not invaded Iraq: Cheap Russian oil [73 words]LarryDec 9, 2005 12:1529703
RE: Anatoly Tsaliovich [532 words]LorenNov 28, 2005 16:1028927
saddam as an ally? forget it [67 words]jeremyNov 21, 2005 18:1428665
Responce to AB [82 words]John GiannascaOct 24, 2005 01:3627241
What about the Weapons of Mass Destruction [54 words]ABOct 3, 2005 11:2826561
iraq doesnt need weapons of mass destruction [10 words]tylr bowdishNov 9, 2006 08:3526561
The place of Israel in this debate [229 words]andySep 30, 2005 15:3726495
please explain [95 words]freaked-outSep 26, 2005 13:5926327
Response to: BUSH FAILED POLITICALLY???? [403 words]Roy McIntyreSep 24, 2005 21:4426270
i dont get it [90 words]taylor marrtchionApr 10, 2008 10:1926270
What makes you think USA succeeded militarily? [233 words]Farhan KhanSep 20, 2005 02:1526037
BUSH FAILED POLITICALLY???? [68 words]Susan LeeSep 18, 2005 19:2826006
The French have attitude [165 words]Nidra PollerSep 18, 2005 16:4126003
TO FIGHT OR NOT TO FIGHT: THERE IS NO QUESTION [750 words]Anatoly TsaliovichSep 17, 2005 12:3025980
Response to Anatoly Tsaliovich [431 words]SanchezDec 23, 2006 22:1225980
Repetition of U.S. Neocon Propaganda [74 words]Raymond MooreSep 17, 2005 03:4725974
Iraqis - an Effective People would be more effective [120 words]George M Weinert VSep 14, 2005 13:5525829
Give freedom a chance [545 words]Tom KarrasSep 14, 2005 02:0325800
Exception to comment on handling disaster [985 words]David DavilaSep 14, 2005 01:4325799
Do What?! [138 words]JessSep 5, 2006 15:2625799
Invasion of Iraq - opportunity, not a goal [290 words]BorisSep 13, 2005 17:5725777
Here or there? Make up your mind! [309 words]Nick NicolleDec 20, 2006 18:4925777
The Iraqi War aftereffects could be different if self determination allowed [226 words]David GoshenSep 13, 2005 16:2825771
Yin & Yang [227 words]YovenSep 13, 2005 16:1225770
Your alternatives are too limiting [133 words]Avram KaliskySep 13, 2005 15:5625769
"Muslim unrest has been exacerbated by the war. " -Disagree [107 words]AndrewSep 13, 2005 11:2325758
A Case for War and Regional Transformation [963 words]Aidan MaconachySep 13, 2005 10:4325756
This one does not make sense [106 words]StanSep 13, 2005 03:0825737
up and down sides [185 words]John PhilipsSep 13, 2005 01:5625736
Lost cause? [150 words]Douglas BoggsSep 13, 2005 01:1325734
Response to Pipes' Response To My Response [102 words]Jonathan RickSep 12, 2005 22:5025732
war and victory [97 words]bob richmanSep 12, 2005 22:2925730
Iraq [137 words]KISep 12, 2005 21:3425729
We Should Have Been Smarter... [100 words]Dan FriedmanSep 12, 2005 17:2025727
Their hate is their shame [131 words]Jason PappasSep 12, 2005 16:4225726
Lebanon, Shia's, leftists [140 words]Henk TwerdaSep 12, 2005 16:2925724
Deliberately Sucked In [161 words]Darwin BarrettSep 12, 2005 15:4825723
Al-Qaida link was true [42 words]TerrySep 12, 2005 15:0425722
What if USA had not invaded Iraq ? [113 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Irving D. CohenSep 12, 2005 14:1525721
monetary cost of the Iraq wa [70 words]Jerome Kay M. D.Sep 12, 2005 12:5825718
Going in is easy. How about going out [234 words]yuval Brandstetter MDSep 12, 2005 12:5425717
not the entire story [152 words]Jerry MSep 12, 2005 12:5425716
Response to Jonathon Rick [65 words]ReportSep 12, 2005 12:2925713
Benefits vs. costs of Iraq war. [263 words]Andrew FreedmanSep 12, 2005 12:0825710
What about the cost? [67 words]David OldsSep 12, 2005 11:2525709
1Leaving Saddam Alone [56 words]Laurinda BurnsSep 12, 2005 10:3625706
I agree [17 words]Frank MorganAug 11, 2007 23:2625706
war [215 words]kim segarSep 12, 2005 09:5625703
Yes, there are many positives and negatives [720 words]MaggieSep 12, 2005 05:1125700
i love bush [48 words]Malynn OchsnerJul 18, 2007 12:3825700
A few more important points [267 words]Josh GSep 12, 2005 04:5725699
Much Too Early [352 words]Anatoly OstrovskySep 12, 2005 03:3825696
Iraq invasion was right [609 words]Amitabh tripathiSep 12, 2005 03:2425693
What if the US had not invaded Iraq [228 words]Joseph GoldyneSep 12, 2005 03:1225692
Democracy in Iraq??? [372 words]SULTANSep 12, 2005 02:4925691
As an Israeli I am ecstatic that Saddam is gone! [308 words]Kenneth S. BesigSep 12, 2005 02:4725690
The appeaser feeds the crocodile in the hope that it will eat him last [184 words]AndreSep 12, 2005 02:3225689
America's Weakness [395 words]WalterSep 12, 2005 01:2225688
I very much agree with you [107 words]JessSep 5, 2006 15:3225688
A Bit Oversimplified [181 words]Ira KatzSep 12, 2005 00:4125687
benefits overstated [63 words]elmer eisnerSep 11, 2005 23:5425685
Too little of the positive is noted [91 words]Yair WeinstockSep 11, 2005 22:5325684
Thank you for your messages... [155 words]Howard LucasSep 11, 2005 22:2225683
September 11th Column On Pros & Cons of Invading Iraq [69 words]Ken HuehnSep 11, 2005 21:3325682
if we hadn't what would be happening [29 words]christina wilbournMar 14, 2007 11:0725682
Negative results to the American invasion of Iraq!! [203 words]Tzvi TamariSep 11, 2005 21:0925681
I pray for Bush, America and Iraqis [109 words]Risa RahmawatiDec 13, 2007 23:3825681
Same old tune [152 words]John SwedbergSep 11, 2005 21:0225680
A difficult balancing act [896 words]Reuben HorneSep 11, 2005 20:4725679
Regime Change [71 words]David W. LincolnSep 11, 2005 20:4025678
The Pentagon Failure [236 words]Leonard MarkowitzSep 11, 2005 20:3625677
what might have been [298 words]john w. mcginleySep 11, 2005 20:2325676
what about other costs [31 words]Howard GoldSep 11, 2005 20:0725675
What is your point? [73 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
HannahTheStar@aol.comSep 11, 2005 19:4925674
simple response: [223 words]Jascha KesslerSep 11, 2005 19:4625673
No Alternative [285 words]PatSep 11, 2005 19:4525672
What If the United States Had Not Invaded Iraq [55 words]PHILLIPSep 11, 2005 19:2725670
Effect of Iraq war on Egypt and Lebanon [29 words]BottomfishSep 11, 2005 19:1425669
Insights for a thankful public [90 words]Thomas Earl CannadySep 11, 2005 18:5825668
What security-related benefits? [202 words]AaronSep 11, 2005 18:4425667
And that's why the red sea is safer..... [49 words]Sharmake IbrahimSep 11, 2005 18:2625666
al-Qaeda's links to Saddam [17 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Norman TregorSep 11, 2005 18:2025665
Links To al Qaeda? No [388 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Jonathan RickSep 11, 2005 18:1425664
what if [95 words]Donald W. BalesSep 11, 2005 17:2725661
politics and security [143 words]Peter J. HerzSep 11, 2005 17:2725660
Who failed "politically?" [183 words]Lee D. CarySep 11, 2005 17:1925659
WHAT IF THE U.S. HAD NOT INVADED IRAQ [223 words]Joe MurraySep 11, 2005 17:1925657
What we will never know [87 words]JaneSep 11, 2005 17:0025655
Bush administration had to do a reform in the American defence system [70 words]Dr. Uri MisteinSep 11, 2005 16:5125654
a bit optimistic view [71 words]maksmanSep 11, 2005 16:3825653
Iran could have had a new government, too [178 words]Henrik Ræder ClausenSep 11, 2005 16:0025652
Cost of War in Iraq [74 words]Paul BlumsteinSep 11, 2005 15:4725651

Follow Daniel Pipes

Facebook   Twitter   RSS   Join Mailing List

All materials by Daniel Pipes on this site: © 1968-2024 Daniel Pipes. daniel.pipes@gmail.com and @DanielPipes

Support Daniel Pipes' work with a tax-deductible donation to the Middle East Forum.Daniel J. Pipes

(The MEF is a publicly supported, nonprofit organization under section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code.

Contributions are tax deductible to the full extent allowed by law. Tax-ID 23-774-9796, approved Apr. 27, 1998.

For more information, view our IRS letter of determination.)