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Operation Iraqi Freedom is a Failure

Reader comment on item: Pipes calls war a success

Submitted by Pro-Israeli Democrat (United States), Apr 10, 2006 at 12:21

First off, thank you to Dr. Pipes for allowing us to debate these critical issues, whether or not we agree. Debate is the essence of what America is about. This message is a call from someone who is a liberal on domestic policy and a mix of liberal, moderate, AND (in some cases) conservative on foreign policy for an administration that protects the civil liberties of Americans, and fights terrorism effectively, of which the Bush Administration has done neither. Instead it has turned Iraq into the primary battlefield in the war on terrorism.

In spite of what the right-wing propagandists on the FOX News Channel (which is our version of the Arab propaganda station Al-Jazeera) say, the fact is that the Iraq War has been a failure. We have diverted resources that should have been reserved for the war in Afghanistan, which I believe was justified. Furthermore, we have also lost a great deal of leverage that could have been using in stopping Iran's nuclear program. That, of course, is the greatest threat to the existence of Israel since 1973. Iran, meanwhile, exerts a great deal of influence in Iraq (I WOULD ARGUE THAT IT OWNS THE SOUTH) and is using that to gain the upper hand in its nuclear program. As a result, Israel is in grave danger, for the Iranian government is unpredictable and dangerous. I am not so much worried about Khamenei as much as I am about that NUTCASE Ahmadi-Nejad. He is a holocaust-denying disgrace to humanity. As a pro-Israeli Jew, I am very, very afraid. The loss of Tel-Aviv, more than anything else, would devastate me. Bush has let Israel down and few even care to recognize it.

Secondly, the Iraq war has, in Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak's words (as in the words of former CIA operative Bob Baer), created 1000 Bin Ladens without capturing the original one. AND THERE IS NO AL-QAEDA ANYMORE. NOW THERE IS A MILLION GROUPS THAT CALL THEMSELVES AL QAEDA AND THEY ARE TRAINING FOR FUTURE ATTACKS IN AMERICA AND EUROPE ON THE BATTLEFIELDS OF A FAILED STATE. I HATE TO SAY THIS, BUT IRAQ CANNOT FUNCTION WITHOUT AN IRON-FISTED DICTATOR (NOT A SADDAM, BUT A KAMAL ATATURK. UNFORTUNATELY, THERE WAS ONLY ONE ATATURK). NO BONES ABOUT IT: MAYBE WE SHOULD NOT WORRY SO MUCH ABOUT IRAQ BECOMING ANOTHER IRAN (ALTHOUGH THAT IS A CONCERN), AS IT BECOMING ANOTHER LEBANON OR SOMALIA, WHICH IS EVEN WORSE. BROKEN NATIONS, MORE THAN ANY OTHER, PRODUCE TERRORISM. THE COUNTRY IS IN THE GRIP OF A CIVIL WAR.

Even if Iraq does stabilize, democracy in Iraq means Islamist rule. Capitalism, meanwhile, will not work for Iraq in the way it works for the US. It is meant for developed nations ONLY. I have no sympathy for Saddam Hussein...He was a sadistic, brutal tyrant, and I have seen shots of the destruction of Kurdish villages in the Al-Anfal campaign (1988) that made me shed tears. Before anyone condemns me as "anti American" or a "Marxist-Leninist" I am going to say that the 1991 Gulf War was justified, for at that time he was real threat (that we had built up during the 1980s, anyways). It was the right thing to do, and Saddam was a real &$%^&#$@.

Here is the problem: Our military exists to thwart foreign THREATS, and NOT for humanitarian purposes. That is what the multi-lateral action in Kosovo was for. In 2003, Iraq was not a threat...WHY NOT RE-DEPLOY AND FOCUS ON A MORE THREATING NATION LIKE IRAN. In my mind, George W. Bush is no better at fighting terrorism than he is at ANYTHING else. The Patriot Act does nothing except rob Americans of Civil Liberties (I dont care if they are Muslim, Christian, Jewish, Atheist, Hindus, etc). As for the Dubai Ports Deal, that would only put us in even more danger, for the UAE IS A TERRORIST SPONSER. Bush is not a terrorist-fight. He is a businessman, and should be compared with Richard M. Nixon for his wiretap programs. Any concerned American, in my mind should pause and ask themselves a simple question: what's next? What's fifty years down the road? What's 150 years down the road? A Monarchy?

The Administration, meanwhile, cares more about ending the separation of church and state and ending a woman's fundamental right to choose whether or not she wants to give birth than it does about fighting terror. To show that I am not biased against conservatives, I am going to say that Clinton was just as bad. He may have been even worse for blowing so many chances to kill Bin Laden. Then again, Reagan too failed to retaliate against Iranian Pasdaran units in Lebanon's Bekka Valley following the attacks on our embassy and marine barracks in Beirut. My point is this: we have yet to have a President who can fight terror effectively. AND HERE IS WHY: UNTIL WE GAIN INDEPENDENCE FROM OIL, WE WILL NOT WIN THE WAR ON TERROR.

If the Bush Administration cares so much about fighting terror, then why not go into SAUDI ARABIA instead. The money they could use to help the Palestinians they claim they care so much about get a state goes to Al-Qaeda and HAMAS' "Kill the Jews" ceremonies...and yes, the country is responsible for the 9/11 attacks. Problem is, oil seems to be more important than human life. Every time you fill up your car, you are funding HAMAS (which is a despicable, deplorable organization). In my mind, "Iraqi Liberation Day" is nothing to celebrate, for March 19th, 2003 should be seen as the day the "War On Terror" went awry, and as a result, the Islamic Extremists are winning. I am writing this message to show everyone that there are liberals (indeed many) who realize that there is a war on terror that we need to fight. It is not a matter of conservative or liberal. It is a matter of effective and ineffective.

Unfortunately, it is too late because now we have a broken nation on our hands. I am just as upset about the distorted image of America, the country that I grew up in, and love so much, and I know many people, both liberal and conservatives who feel the exact same way.
Submitting....

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Reader comments (107) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
1Fantastic... [8 words]LaNellApr 19, 2010 19:55171462
"Hello Muslims, You are adults but you need to listen to us". [215 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
AhmedMay 7, 2006 12:3544987
You choose your own destiny [213 words]Mike CarrollMar 11, 2007 20:2044987
dude...calm down [66 words]TiffanyApr 4, 2010 17:4644987
1maybe YOU should be educated on Islam [62 words]RickNov 10, 2010 18:1644987
Read more [128 words]AbzSep 27, 2013 05:5044987
America is Grateful [112 words]PopulousApr 12, 2006 11:5143031
Operation Iraqi Freedom is a Failure [1044 words]Pro-Israeli DemocratApr 10, 2006 12:2142857
Pro-Israeli Democrat [82 words]Sword of Islam & The Babies of BeslanApr 11, 2006 07:1642857
Why would they be grateful ?!! [148 words]UnbiasedApr 8, 2006 02:5842696
The House, the Burglar, and the Rescuer [323 words]John R.Apr 9, 2006 08:0942696
unbiased -- Your bias is showing [367 words]Robert D. KlimekApr 9, 2006 11:0442696
better analogy [73 words]BonnieApr 10, 2006 09:5242696
Analogy? [191 words]Sword of Islam & The Babies of BeslanApr 11, 2006 07:0842696
Why China [2 words]John RApr 11, 2006 07:2042696
the question is .. [155 words]UnbiasedApr 12, 2006 12:3442696
Re: [324 words]UnbiasedApr 12, 2006 13:2942696
False Compassion [832 words]Robert D. KlimekApr 15, 2006 12:1342696
to unbiased [127 words]ASMar 12, 2007 07:2342696
Assessing success [285 words]Bjorn MerkerApr 6, 2006 14:1042553
I agree Bjorn but... [254 words]Tim BushApr 8, 2006 16:2442553
Fall of the American Empire [172 words]horhayApr 4, 2006 15:2142324
The last bullet killing USA hegemony was fired by Cheney in a hunting -for oil- trip [237 words]HARRAKApr 4, 2006 21:3942324
horhay - Join the fight for freedom [412 words]Robert D. KlimekApr 5, 2006 12:1042324
freedom! [94 words]HARRAKApr 5, 2006 21:3742324
Saint Popeye [294 words]Robert D. KlimekApr 6, 2006 11:3942324
War is indeed a great success [110 words]Iraqi BoyApr 8, 2006 06:1742324
Disagree [148 words]Reality-based Life FormApr 4, 2006 11:3742307
The war in Iraq is a net loss [147 words]Trevor KiddApr 4, 2006 09:5042300
In Agreement [163 words]Pro-Israeli DemocratApr 11, 2006 15:0242300
The war in Iraq is a net loss [97 words]Al ZimmerJun 2, 2006 00:3342300
Re:The War in Iraq,A Success or an endless mess? [218 words]TTSApr 4, 2006 00:5942282
draw up some agreed borders [169 words]Donald OApr 3, 2006 21:3642278
THE WORLD'S GREATEST SQUANDER [195 words]Tim BushApr 3, 2006 21:0642276
Re: World's Greates Squander [81 words]UnbiasedApr 4, 2006 13:5242276
Pipes Calls War a Sucess [268 words]Thomas Earl CannadyApr 3, 2006 21:0342275
Is the problem "radical Islam" or something else? as in "values"? [298 words]J.S.Apr 3, 2006 18:1642265
Yes [312 words]John RApr 7, 2006 05:4342265
Democracy is more than freedom to pick a leader [407 words]Dr RJPApr 3, 2006 16:2242248
Eliminating Saddam equals War is Won [145 words]Jon HallApr 3, 2006 16:1242246
Two Wars, Not One. [152 words]John RApr 7, 2006 16:3242246
Pipes talk at Commonwealth Club [93 words]eliezer greisdorfApr 3, 2006 12:1342217
Patience will not work -- Saddamism is the norm [290 words]Robert D. KlimekApr 3, 2006 12:0142214
Islam is not totalitarian by definition [172 words]Ibrahim AliJul 21, 2007 03:1642214
Iraqi people [213 words]Jerry KrasnowApr 3, 2006 07:2042198
jerry [82 words]ahmad zafireApr 3, 2006 14:5042198
Winner & loser in War [96 words]Sol EndeApr 3, 2006 04:3042194
Why is Georges Sada Book and Claims Not Getting More Attention? [29 words]BrandonApr 2, 2006 23:3342174
Becase it does not matter [88 words]yuval brandstetter MDApr 3, 2006 17:0742174
Sada [18 words]BlackspeareApr 3, 2006 19:3942174
Sada identity verification [14 words]roger tompkinsNov 10, 2006 16:2542174
1source for this claim. [14 words]roger tompkinsNov 10, 2006 16:2842174
2Maybe More Folks in US should take time to read Georges Sada's Book. [234 words]KathyJan 2, 2007 22:1142174
1EVERYONE SHOULD READ "SADDAMS SECRETS BY GEOGES SADA [83 words]DAVID BERNARDJan 9, 2007 09:3342174
1The media, "Searching for the truth", does not recognize it. [97 words]Wm P ThompsonApr 27, 2007 22:4642174
1Saddam;s secrets [112 words]Brian RushfeldtJul 14, 2007 13:2842174
3Georges Sada [111 words]Jennifer YonSep 24, 2007 02:4042174
1I'm afraid Iraqi General Georges Sada is telling American Christians what they want to hear [113 words]Charles MartelSep 24, 2007 15:4442174
2Sada is guinuinely enthusiastic [116 words]Lamarr StevensNov 5, 2007 14:5442174
Saddam's Secrets by Geoges Sada [525 words]Stephen HughesAug 27, 2009 22:3542174
1Why is Georges Sada's book not getting more attention? [52 words]CaroleJan 29, 2010 12:2942174
Mainstream Media [87 words]GeorgeFeb 4, 2010 17:0142174
3Many people have short / selective memories [71 words]LaNellApr 19, 2010 19:5342174
2Georges Sada's book [58 words]Roger PankowAug 3, 2010 00:5842174
Tony Blair: British public is being unfair to him [142 words]SM ISACDec 30, 2010 16:5942174
Unknown General [60 words]SamirSep 7, 2012 08:5342174
1Lest we forget, "Tyrants come in Twosome" in the Middle East. [220 words]Jay ChahinApr 2, 2006 20:3642165
Family run regimes [198 words]rickApr 3, 2006 12:3442165
chahin family [74 words]almaApr 20, 2007 14:3742165
My mother in laws maiden name is Chahin [100 words]ConnieMay 12, 2007 21:0842165
Chahin & Kawas in Honduras [22 words]SteveMar 1, 2009 21:2142165
Chahin-Kawas [56 words]Christopher KawasMar 19, 2009 04:2142165
A Chahin from Honduras [46 words]IsabelApr 29, 2009 23:5142165
Chanin married to Kawas? [42 words]Connie SheetsJun 7, 2009 22:2642165
brilliant but optimistic [156 words]mori krantzApr 2, 2006 16:0442146
The penetrating voice of reason and expertise [8 words]John GellesApr 2, 2006 15:4142144
Democracy or Islam? [244 words]Roy WeinbergApr 2, 2006 15:2142142
Islam and democracy enemies? Hardly! [154 words]roger tompkinsNov 10, 2006 16:1942142
Splenidly Bracing [54 words]Cynthia GrenierApr 2, 2006 14:5742141
Iraq War Interview [427 words]Maurice PicowApr 2, 2006 14:5242140
Sagacity [168 words]Rash1144Apr 12, 2006 10:3842140
History [295 words]BlackspeareApr 2, 2006 13:3042136
Gratitude Through Actions [298 words]RPaineApr 2, 2006 12:0842128
Re Gratitude Through Actions [76 words]RachelApr 3, 2006 14:2542128
RP - Check out this book [218 words]PatApr 3, 2006 16:1742128
To Rachel and Pat [470 words]RPaineApr 4, 2006 22:3742128
In Defence of Iraqi War and in defence of Bush [436 words]Melvin HassanApr 2, 2006 11:5142127
Dr Pipes: from neo-concervative to neo-democratic [141 words]HARRAKApr 2, 2006 10:3842121
New Middle East Superpower [233 words]HARRAKApr 3, 2006 15:0542121
A Success? [90 words]fred binkleApr 2, 2006 10:3842120
replacing a known evil through a worse or unknown evil [42 words]G. BisvasApr 7, 2006 14:3242120
How lethal can the civil war get? [136 words]Michael TurnerApr 11, 2006 13:4842120
Political correctness [147 words]Allen WeingartenApr 2, 2006 10:1642119
Future Involvement in War in Iraq [257 words]William J. SturmApr 2, 2006 10:0342117
War a Success [90 words]PhillipApr 2, 2006 10:0142116
What needs to be addressed [99 words]David W. LincolnApr 2, 2006 09:4742114
1Why no Kurdistan? [218 words]Mark HotzApr 2, 2006 09:3642113
Bush props [86 words]G.BisvasApr 3, 2006 08:0242113
Kurdistan- Mark Holt [75 words]BlackspeareApr 3, 2006 12:4042113
The Kurdistan Petrostate Quasi-Exit Strategy [743 words]Michael TurnerApr 11, 2006 14:2242113
Iraqi Kurdistan – The 18% Solution [167 words]Peter CroccoApr 12, 2006 11:5142113
Something I read [40 words]Stewart R. Gable Colonel USAF [Ret'd]Apr 2, 2006 09:2242112
Not Icing [54 words]StanApr 2, 2006 08:5842111
the real war is muslim vs taliban and radical islamist regime [75 words]ahmad zafireApr 2, 2006 08:3142110
Iraq will be devided into 2 or 3 parts soon - A Prediction [202 words]Iraqi BoyApr 3, 2006 04:5542110
Why the invasion of Iraq. [213 words]Geoffrey LewisApr 2, 2006 05:4142105
Invasion [35 words]BlackspeareApr 3, 2006 19:4542105

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