Vote in our Iraq anniversary poll

Opinion Polls & Market Research

Comments

[Miguel]

You're so biased.
Put the "no" above so people will fall for it, as almost any poll puts the "yes" first.

Shame on you.

[backlash]

For those of us who opposed this travesty from the onset, "we told you so" just doesn't cut it, does it?

[musafir]

With all the facts that are now known about what the Bush-Blair team did to begin the war, anyone who still supports the war has got to be blind, deaf and dumb.

[marta]

McCain said it will be Humiliation if we leave Iraq now, but the Humiliation began with the BUSH LIE, and we invaded Iraq!

[gussmith]

Who possibly could be the 19% who think the Iraq disaster was worth it? Let's have a survey of only the affected families - those of deceased soldiers and those caring for the interminably wounded who will never be the same. Money is not enough of a stake to have a vote.

[Chuck D K]

The worst military, political blunder ever undertaken by western powers. It will take generations for the reprecussions to play themselves out - if ever. That part of the world has a different sense of History than the West. Time is not measured by the next iteration of cell phone or computer chip.

[Mike Brannigan]

The rule of thumb is: Never follow the US into any conflict. They are just the stupidist people on this earth.

[CheneyIsADick]

Since when can one ask if a crime was worth it.

As a kid I learned that "Crime doesn't pay."

For the people in the White House (I never use the titles they've put on eachother), this isn't true yet.

I'm hoping that some day politicians in the US will grow a collective conscience and testicles.

[Colin Moon]

I am hoping that one day Mr Blair will be brought to account for his gross deception of the British people.

[Frederic Major]

Whose sacrifice ?
Did US and its allies who invaded Iraq in 2003 ask the poor Iraqis if they want to sacrifice their lives?
Why we always calculate the number of Americans dead (~ 4000) and never mention the many hundreds of thousands Iraqis killed.
So, why ask this question "Was it worth the sacrifice" ?

Frederic

[kevin merry]

The entire invasion was based on a lie. The continued occupation is the neo-cons way of securing energy, increasing the money supply, supporting the myth of the war on terror, and staying in power. A total farce and disgrace to the so-called western's superior political system.

[Charles Propst]

WORST BLUNDER IN WORLD'S HISTORY PERIOD

[Ian Lowe]

It was not worth one single british life to bring about "regime change" in Iraq.

We have swapped a dictator who had little interest in us for (yet another) hotbed of islamic fanatacism filled with people who want us dead.

The sooner the middle east runs out of oil the better - then we can leave this backwards hole to it's sorry fate and not waste another drop of british blood on the place.

you have got to be kidding. get the hell out of Iraq now.

[Rick]

Another windfall for the bankers
and military industries at the expense
of society and civilization. Ten years
of economic depression to look forward
to. High oil prices to pay for a destroyed Iraq and maybe pave the way
to a war with Iran. Time to get off the oil tit don't u think?

[tiger]

I quess you censors comments

[Rog Cooper]

The stupidest and most self defeating, unprovoked attack since Pearl Harbour.
Hundreds of thousands dead, tortured, maimed and homeless, the American economy turning into a basket case and two monstrous war criminals still free to mix with ordinary decent folk.

[Jilly]

It WAS for oil.
Blair DID mislead the British people.

[Alex]

How can anyone approve of an illegal war, started for political gains, supported by falsehoods and lies which have damaged the reputation of all western countries for the foreseeible future, suceeded in only one of innumberable objectives (Assassination, this time by court order, of Saddam) which infact created a power vacum which will cause turmoil in the middle east for years and starts a system of allowing the death penealty for world leader, which hopefully current and ex-leaders will come to regret. It brings shame upon all educated and civilised people that we didn't strip our leaders from powers to prevent the attrocities which have now befallen all the familys and peoples affected by the invasion.

[Richard Matthews]

The Downing Street memo should make any decent person cringe. And you can't manufacturer a casus belli, point fingers at another government's shortcomings, then launch an illegal invasion and expect that the attacked country will hail your army as heroes, or that the rest of the world will see your politicos as anything more than corporate industrialists' pawns. Selah.

[GERALD MCCARTHY]

No. Not worth one life lost. A lost cause in another lost war. Bring the troops home.

[patria austria]

the people have cast their verdict,british imperialism is dead subject.brig your paid killers home, now

[bazza]

the worst ever - thnk you neo cons everywhere but a big special thank you to American neo cons! You guys really rock!

[EMMANUEL]

The western world has finnaly exposed themselves to the lowliness of moral ant hill they stood to preach civilization and practice toture,lied of wmd,manipulation of truth,death of half of a million fellow human in bring democrazy to them.moslems too themselves to blame for the greed of their leaders who sells them cheap

[M.J]

it worths it if the USA fights for peace, but no, America fights for it's own interests... when i say the USA i mean the government not the people.

[Thomas Poulson]

The Iraq war is the wrong war. The USA should have spent all its time chasing Osam bin Laden and destroying Al Qaeda. Instead we are being bled white (financially) in an endless useless war. Bush is an incompetent fool.

[Wrench]

We face real threats in the world. Don't give me this 'blood for oil' thing. If America were trading blood for oil we would've already seized Iraq's oil fields and let the rest of the country go to hell. And don't give me this 'Bush Lied; People Died' crap either. If he were the liar you morons take him for, he could've easily had chemical weapons planted in Iraq so they could be 'discovered.' Instead, he owned up to the fact that the intelligence was faulty
Let me remind you that the rest of the world thought Saddam had the goods, same as me. Let me also remind you that regime change in Iraq was official US policy before Bush came into office. Some guy named ' Clinton ' established that policy. Bet you didn't know that, did you?

You idiots need to understand that we face a unique enemy. Back during the cold war, there were two major competing political and economic models squaring off. We won that war, but we did so because fundamentally, the Communists wanted to survive, just as we do. We were simply able to out spend and out-tech them.
That's not the case this time. The soldiers of our new enemy don't care if they survive. In fact, they want to die. That'd be fine, as long as they weren't also committed to taking as many of you with them as they can. But they are. They want to kill you, and the b______s are all over the globe.

You should be grateful that they haven't gotten any more of us here in the United States since September 11. But you're not. That's because you've got no idea how hard a small number of intelligence, military, law enforcement, and homeland security people have worked to make sure of that When this whole mess started, we were warned that this would be a long and difficult fight. I'm disappointed how many of you people think a long and difficult fight amounts to a single season of 'Survivor.'
Instead, you've grown impatient. You're incapable of seeing things through the long lens of history, the way our enemies do. You think that wars should last a few months, a few years, tops.

Making matters worse, you actively support those who help the enemy. Every time you buy the New York Times, every time you send a donation to a cut-and-run Democrat's political campaign, well, dang it, you might just as well FedEx a grenade launcher to a Jihadist. It amounts to the same thing.

In this day and age, it's easy enough to find the truth. It's all over the Internet. It just isn't on the pages of the New York Times or on NBC News. But even if it were, I doubt you'd be any smarter. Most of you would rather watch American Idol.
You guys will never get it because its always all about YOU! If Iraq wasn't worth it, then tell me what would be worth it and I will tell you what's important to you. I'll bet that you'll pick something that has to do with yourself and no one else.

[bobby]

neo-con: just a catch-word for greedy bastard. everyone responsible for this abomination should be tried and thrown in jail (an iraqi jail, please).

[Lawrence Hill]

We should have listened to France. They were right.

[Wrench]

If Iraq wasn't worth it, tell me what would be and I'll bet I can tell you what you care about most. I'd also be willing to bet that what you pick has something to do with yourself; I'd be amazed if it was truly altruistic.
We face real threats in the world. Don't give me this 'blood for oil' thing. If I were trading blood for oil America would've already seized Iraq's oil fields and let the rest of the country go to hell. And don't give me this 'Bush Lied; People Died' crap either. If Bush were the liar you take him for, he could've easily had chemical weapons planted in Iraq so they could be 'discovered.' Instead, he owned up to the fact that the intelligence was faulty
Let me remind you that the rest of the world thought Saddam had the goods, same as me. Let me also remind you that regime change in Iraq was official US policy before I came into office. Some guy named ' Clinton ' established that policy. Bet you didn't know that, did you?

You need to understand that we face a unique enemy. Back during the cold war, there were two major competing political and economic models squaring off. We won that war, but we did so because fundamentally, the Communists wanted to survive, just as we do. We were simply able to out spend and out-tech them.
That's not the case this time. The soldiers of our new enemy don't care if they survive. In fact, they want to die. That'd be fine, as long as they weren't also committed to taking as many of you with them as they can. But they are. They want to kill you, and they are all over the globe.

You should be grateful that they haven't gotten any more of us here in the United States since September 11. But you're not. That's because you've got no idea how hard a small number of intelligence, military, law enforcement, and homeland security people have worked to make sure of that When this whole mess started, I warned you that this would be a long and difficult fight. I'm disappointed how many of you people think a long and difficult fight amounts to a single season of 'Survivor.'
Instead, you've grown impatient. You're incapable of seeing things through the long lens of history, the way our enemies do. You think that wars should last a few months, a few years, tops.

Making matters worse, you actively support those who help the enemy. Every time you buy the New York Times, every time you send a donation to a cut-and-run Democrat's political campaign, well, dang it, you might just as well FedEx a grenade launcher to a Jihadist. It amounts to the same thing.

In this day and age, it's easy enough to find the truth. It's all over the Internet. It just isn't on the pages of the New York Times or on NBC News. But even if it were, I doubt you'd be any happier. Most of you would rather watch American Idol.

[Edmund Burke]

The Iraq disaster puts the Conservative Party in a very difficult position. Two of the fundamental principles of Conservatism are a) the rule of law and b) the Atlantic alliance. However, the Anglo-American invasion of Iraq, without a UN mandate, and without any threat to either country on the part of Saddam Hussein, was a serious breach of international law, which threw these two principles into conflict with each other: the invasion was just plain illegal.

What it boils down to is that in launching the invasion, George Bush Jnr clearly considered that cowboy justice took precedence over international law, whilst Tony Blair, an Oxford graduate in Law, followed him like a lap-dog.

However, time moves on: Blair is no longer PM, and the Conservative Party, in formulating its potential future foreign policy, will have to look carefully at the two basic principles outlined above, and decide which to ditch in favour of the other. They have to face the fact that in terms of the rule-book of international law, George Bush Jnr, the conqueror of Iraq, is a criminal.

[zama]

it was morally right to invade Irag.millions perished under saddam.Politics that WMD were not found after invasion are misleading.Saddam USED THEM!!

[Dennis K]

As an American who opposed both the election of Bush the Two'th AND this monstrous debacle which he and his minions created, I must speak out in defence of millions of us who are no longer being represented by our government, our news media or the institutions so carefully crafted over centuries to watch out for us. Through gross malfeasance of the corporate news media in cahoots with the hare-brained neo cons and the uber-arrogant oil cartels, I am afraid that America has already lost any meaningful semblance of democracy to which we might have once laid claim. This up coming election will show whether we have any chance of regaining it.

[Felix Turner]

What was Iraq? It was an impoverished desert. What was Afghanistan? An impoverished desert. Afghanistan has made amazing progess in the last few years and in Iraq it is not the fault of soldiers that it's all messed up but the fault of of Muslims killing Muslims

[ae2828]

If Bush and blair thought that it was worth it to go to Irak they should have send their kids there, Not the rest of us kids.

[Stan Lippmann]

This debate is like the Hillary vs. Obama debate. Most people have figured out what is really going on by now and know that 9/11 was an inside job by Cheney/The Queen/ The Mossad/ the Al-Qaeda branch office of the CIA.

The rest was preplanned before 9/11.

It doesn't seem to have gone as planned. Now the British are desperately pushing phony stories to get the Iran war started before Bush leaves office. Britain is not the greatest friend to America, it is her greatest enemy. To the people of the world: Cut the Americans off from money, dump the dollar, fight them, defeat them. If the Americans have money for much longer, they may very well carry out the British Imperial plots further.

[Greg]

Most of the press and media in the West tend to report the worst of non-western cultures and neglect positive events in these regions. It is inevitable that under such influence alot of Westerners are quick to belittle a foreign nation and raise arms to "change" them according to their own yardsticks.

The invasion of Iraq seems to be a result of such bias. Now more of the world feels animosity towards those who cannot fully appreciate their humanity.

I think real freedom is expressed by the ability to choose, but when the information needed to make choices is skewed, one's freedom becomes hampered.

[jim]

Mr. Wrench.

I don't criticize your point of view because clearly, it's all you know.

Your narrowness is quite striking and your ignorance of history even more so.

There'll be no checking back to get your response to this...so don't bother. Just take a few weeks and read some history. It would do you a world of good and save you a great deal of time.

[Mark]

I do not have or know all the "facts" regarding the decision to go to war in Iraq. By facts I mean being in the room with the people who discussed and charted this coarse in Iraq. I don't think all the facts are published (unedited) and on public display.
So I will refrain from stating as "fact" What I think and believe to be the case. (If anyone has the "all true facts" I, along with millions of others would like to see them.)

Is the invasion worth the sacrifice?
I believe only time will tell. It just does not seem right to say loss of life is worth it. Whenever there is a passionate unresolved conflict, the possibility for loss of life is always there. I would have a very difficult time telling parents that there son or daughter lost there life based on a decision I made. I think and believe are leaders think the same way. It isn't easy to be totally ruthless. It takes more strength then you might think. Very few people in this world are that way.

Is it worth the financial cost. Again I think only time will tell. Lets remember that most of are "bad" days here in America are still like living a dream in most other countries. From oil to heat are homes, cook are food, or drive our cars, to being able to openly and passionately voice and discuss our thoughts and beliefs.

I think the best way to reduce the cost is at the end of the day learn to forgive and forget so that we can move forward to solve this crisis.

[Bigger Picture Seeker]

I was surprised at Edmund and Bobby(you two are same guy, right exact post).

looks like you don't even realize most 9/11 attacker come from Saudi and Iraq. Iraq has nothing to do with 9/11. American Chief UN weapon inspector stated that there are no WMD over there and American FBI chief interrogator of Saddam, Piro also stated that he found absolutely no relations between Al-Qaeda and Saddam. All these inspectors are American sent and yet somehow you can choose believe in what you like to believe, not what the real field persons over there have said. Does Saddam post a threat to US-may be. Does it post a thread to US domination of the world, may be. So our government decided to do a preemptive strike. May be justified, may be not depends where you stand. If other countries preemptive strike US, I bet you would say they are wrong. I guess 9/11 is an preemptive strike by Al Qaeda, so of course we(including me, say they are wrong and willfully hunt them down.) However, Iraq is not one of them. They were enemies with one another. When Saddam invade Kuwait and threatening the security of Saudi, Bin Laden offer Kuwait the service to take out Saddam. But Saudi's royal family decided to ask Bush Senior to kick Saddam's behind. This is history and well known fact, how can you forget this common knowledge?

[MM]

Has anyone read the lead up to Pearl Harbour? If you have you will know this invasion bears no relation to that of Japan. Iraq didn't have half it's forces sat in the middle of the Atlantic or Pacific. It is a cynical view but if the security of oil results and considering all countries to infact put a price on human life - then i'm sorry to say that yes it probably was worth it. To be naive enough to think this is the first time western nations have invaded a country for resources would mean you were 6 years old?

[jack dunlop]

most americans would just like to sit back and watch the world go by...good or bad its no matter util it comes to home and in their backyard and they say...what the hell happened...im a korean vet and we got the same treatment as the nam vets and now the iraq vets will be the new warmongers...some country we live in today that would stand by and watch some poor little guy get his face shoved in the dirt...as to the heroes that gave their lives in iraq god bless them and remember we lost over 50,000 service personnel in korea thats a far fling from 4000 in 5 years...my only problem with the last three or four wars is that we did not stay and win. we pulled out and thats a slap in the face to every service man and woman...if we are not going into the battle to win then it must be something else...could it be money for the businessmen that support the logistics...??????

[mohammed]

more than (3 TRILLION Dollars )spends . iraq is destroyed - more than 600,000 iraq's civilian are dead- civil war broken out - iraq economy is dead- iraqs oil stolen by western companies- iraqs future to come to one iraq again is amiracle - so many iraq's become a refuge.- so many iraq's families faces aburden by loosing one or more families memeber ....etc this is what the sacrifice worths

[Karl]

What a stupid and loaded question!!! Was there not a more biased way to lure a war tired populace to show its weariness? This is not about the here and now folks; this whole war is about securing a more stable world for future generations.

I think the real question should be "Looking back in 20 or 30 years, do you think history will judge that the Iraq war was prudent and worth it?". There are still plenty of apathetic selfish head-in-the-sand naysayers that would answer no to that question as well but it is a much more fair question.

The worst part about all of this anti-war rhetoric is that it is nothing more than a thinly disguised effort, supported by an ultra liberal media, to gain political power. What a sham!

What a selfish society we have become. If we don’t wake-up and realize that we have to face this mammoth evil down now we will condemn our children and grandchildren to suffering unimaginable consequences because of our apathy. Don’t tell me we started this… how many times over the past 20 years have you heard these people say “death to America”? Do you think they didn’t mean it? Don’t tell me that fighting terrorism has nothing to do with invading the sovereign nation of Iraq. This has been two wars. The first to overthrow a tyrant that the world recognized would not live by the peace accord he signed at the end of the Gulf War and supported global terrorism with Iraq’s wealth and a second based on the insurgency “terrorists” and well armed sectarian militias formed from Sadam’s army melding into the general population when they realized that facing our overwhelming armed forces head-on was suicide.

[Joyeb]

As soon as Saddam was gone,it was most evident the threat to USA also disapeared. The threat to US and allies was and also is at present from Pakistan,Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia. There is no threat from Iraq. The situation in Iraq cannot be solved by US which tries in vain.To win this war,US bribed Iraqis to get success in terror attacks and continued to ignore the majority interest. Simply put,Iraq can be easily handled by pulling in Iran which can control the majority
more easily than US or its puppet prime minister.Let Iran handle the situation making it much more easier for US to withdraw if at all US is sincere in withdrawing..Joyeb

[david addison]

America ,greatest fighter of third world countries ever.

[Keith]

Hate is terrorisms fuel. Has the Iraq war increased or diminished hate in the Middle East?

Of course that was a rhetorical question. The world is far worse off and the US in particular will be paying a hefty price for decades to come. I’m sure history will judge this Iraq War as the biggest blunder in the history of the world and the beginning of the end of the far right controlling America.

[DAn]

We face real threats in the world. Don't give me this 'blood for oil' thing. If America were trading blood for oil we would've already seized Iraq's oil fields and let the rest of the country go to hell. And don't give me this 'Bush Lied; People Died' crap either. If he were the liar you morons take him for, he could've easily had chemical weapons planted in Iraq so they could be 'discovered.' Instead, he owned up to the fact that the intelligence was faulty
Let me remind you that the rest of the world thought Saddam had the goods, same as me. Let me also remind you that regime change in Iraq was official US policy before Bush came into office. Some guy named ' Clinton ' established that policy. Bet you didn't know that, did you?

In Response to this post. Bobby you are very quick to briefly view the facts and insult others without critically analyzing the occurrences. When we entered into Baghdad, the only thing we did, besides nothing to stop the looting was secure the ministry of Oil. That is a clear indication of our purposes within the country. And planting WMDs is a bit trickier than you make it out to be. For example, every nuclear weapon can be traced back to the exact manufacterer. We supplied Iraq with many of the former WMDs, however this was years ago. It is not a small task to fraudulently show a WMD program, when one does not exist, particularly under the scrutiny of the world eye. You also mess up your facts that regime change started with Clinton. It started with the first Bush administration, who decided not to proceed into Iraq, because there was no exit strategy as members of the 1st Bush admin signed onto such as Paul Wolfawitz and Rumsfield. And the policy which was established was not regime change by war. Rather it was through internal rebellions, embargoes and so forth. So before you are so quick to criticize others, you need to re-analyze your own rationale.

All studies show that the world is more dangerous today and that jihadists are recruiting now more than ever. So even if the world is getting more dangerous, shouldn't it be allowed to do so, without further death of US citizens. By being against the war, I am supporting our country more than those saying to stay there. I am showing my love for the country to the extent, that I refuse to sit by and see the unwarranted death of more Americans.

[Mark McVay]

Bush and his supporters are a disgrace to America. I'm a cobat veteran. My wife is a career USMC officer. We both opposed the invasion of Iraq and continue to oppose its occupation. The Bush presidency has been a disaster on so many fronts that it will take America decades to recover if, indeed, it can recover.

[Brains not Brawn]

Dear Wrench:

You are completely misguided. Among other things, you are under the mistaken notion that all Muslims are terrorists. False - most of them are quite reasonable, you should get to know one or two. You think the war has made us safer. False, check the leaked NIE report (more terrorist recruitment *because* of the war). You think the current projection of US $3 trillion spent so far is worth it? False. Bin Laden himself wants to cripple our economy by drawing us into these quagmires.

I'm going to donate twice as much to the Democrats after reading your pathetic post, and I've got plenty to send. So congrats.

[Hugh Croft]

I thought this poll was intended as a satirical joke.

[Rod Garr]

The deception by the politicians on both sides of the Atlantic was the biggest issue. The reason for the war was WMD. When no weapons were found it became a war to fight terrorism and rid Iraq of Al Qaida, who in fact were never in Iraq prior to the war; they hated Saddam and he hated them. Now Iraq is a breeding ground for terrorists. And now we have more deception; Bush is paying off the tribal Sunni's not to fight, while at the same time pretending his "troop surge" has worked. It's the "money surge" which has worked, not the troop surge. If these same politicians made such catastrophic blunders in say a private corporation they would be long gone!

[Ron Price]

I guess that if this war was "morally correct", then we will be off to Zimbabwe next!

[Zappy Corleone]

"What was Iraq? It was an impoverished desert" I suggest you read a History Book Felix.

[Jip]

I agree with you Karl completely!

[Terry]

Just sit down and make a list of the number of countries the US has bombed over the years, and think whether in each case it was worth it or not.

And latterly, what hard evidence was there of the threat to the US and the UK from Iraq?

[James Tober]

Fact is that Civilisation is at war with Islam and this is not a war we can afford to lose. President Bush may not be the smartest guy on the planet but the one thing he and his advisors realised after 9/11 is that to do nothing is not an option.
Afghanistan was the home of Al Quada and obviously, had to be attacked. It is a fact that Sadam Husain was a major sponsor of jihadist terror groups inc. Al Qaeda affiliates, he provided training, money and a safe have for such groups as the Abu Nidal organisation, Islamic Jihad, Hamas and the PLO.

Muslim terror has to be defeated. Muslim terrorists do not fight due to any injustice, they fight because they hate non muslims.
The world is now a more dangerous place I often hear people say, and that Iraq and Afghanistan has encouraged recruitment for Islamic terror. In other words do not fight back against the forces of evil because this will only make our enemies angry! Can you imagine if we had the same attitude during WWII? Lets not fight the Nazis it will only make them angry.
Unfortunatly the Anti War Brigade would much rather surrender to Islam and sacrifice all our freedoms rather than fight back.

[Steve B]

Sorry, Backlash, you missed this one. ;)

Musifir, when the dems pull us out and allow the development of a nuke, which will eventually light up an american city, that's when " we told you so" won't cut it.

Well, Marta, that translates into about one fifth of your friends and neighbors. They should all sign up for disability, I guess.

Gussmith, you're an idiot.

Chuck, when you lose a son, the price always seems too high, but nevertheless, I would suspect that the Mothers and Fathers of our lost soldiers would still support the values their sons gave their all for. I grieve with them.

Not a blunder, Mike. And how would you be able to speak for all of the rest of the world? Have you talked to everyone?

Okay, Chenyisadik, I guess our intervention in WWII was a big mistake then.

Colin Moon, some crimes are worth it. I'm hoping that someday people like you will grow testicles.

Frederick Major, I wish we had more politicians in America with Mr. Blairs sense of honor.

Charles, you're an idiot.

Holy Cow, Jilly! You mean you're not going to blame America for the attack on Pearl Harbor?! I'm truly astounded.

Ian Lowe, the worst blunder in history was when Saddam refused to allow inspectors to search for WMD, but instead transported them to Syria. It resulted in the destruction of his country, and his death.

And I would bet a pound or two that Stan has not been to Iraq.

This is a poll where 81% of those voting are wrong. You let emotion rule your mind, and the question this poll poses was design for that purpose. Perhaps we should ask, "Is it worth the cost to ensure the freedom of the 25 million Iraqi citizens who will eventually enjoy that wonderful gift?" And you women who posted here - does it not matter to you that under Islamic law you are chattel? As well as your daughters, who had no say in the outcome of their own lives?

I have seven children and eighteen grandchildren. Two of them have been in Iraq, and I have been fortunate enough to not lose either of them. But I can tell you this, I would spend them all as well as my own life to secure freedom for that nation. And I don't care what the price of oil is. That should be the least of our concerns.

[EMMANUEL]

If wishes were horses,the ghost of those that lost their lives on this macabre of lies,deceit ,incompetence may hunt every moron that planned this war and for those that said that the war Worth it ,may their love ones enjoy the benefit of 4000 American and 500000 of irag

[simon, london]

god rest saddam, slayer of terrorists, educator of women, bringer of peace.

[Graham J Marriott]

On 5 Dec 1956 Aneurin Bevan critized the government for invading Egypt in the Suez conflict.
He said a government changing it's reason for going to war is a very dodgy basis for going to war. Ring any bells re Iraq. First Weapons of Mass Destruction then getting rid of Sadam and then preventing terrorism. Perhaps Mr. Blair should have studied history and read Bevan's speech!!

[Tom Tucker]

Is there any doubt that the Iraq war has increased the number of angry radicalized "terrorists" in the world today? It only happened because Bush couldn't find Bin Laden in Afghanistan and needed to score political points with the US electorate after 9/11. It saddens me immensely that my tax money has gone to fund a bullet that has probably killed an innocent civilian. And now Blair wants to lecture us on faith? You couldn't make this stuff up...

[Charles Case]

It is easy enough for a country with the power of the US or Britian to seize a country, and by doing so take over the area of a civil war,and occupi it. That in no means, means they defeated the people or stoped the civil strife. Only that they are now policing a civil war. Neither the US nor Britian has the troops to police a war.Certainly the Iraqes have no reason to. Not to there way of thinking neither Suni or Shiat want anything but there own private hell.

[Mark Walker]

i think it is very sad for both us british (i cant say english because its now racist and politicaly incorrect) and americans alike because we believe we live in democratic society where the people believe they have a say on major decisions our goverments take. its sad because the goverment will do what it wants with out a care for what its people want, the war were in now for example it was as clear to the people of england then and america that it would be and is a war not for morality but of greed and power, our goverments took us into a war we didnt want and with out a thought for the after effects on iraq. However now that our are there our goverments need to stop talking jiberish and actually emerge with a plan and action it 100% rarther than fighting one skirmish after another claiming a death toll a victory.

[Amanda]

Indeed, the majority (more than 80%) of suicide attacks in Iraq after the invasion, was done by Saudis (and other nationalities) and NOT by Iraqis. Wake up. The media is key here, working together with the gov., to make the lies seem plausible. Think for yourselves and dont buy everything the media tell you!!

btw. I believe the 600,000 dead civilians is an estimate, in reality it may be as much as ONE MILLION dead. Also, another reason for the war was the fact that Iraq switched its reserve currency from Dollars to Euros in 2000. This meant a great threat to the Dollar if others were to follow. Saddam was a CIA guy, but he stopped following their orders. He was doing his best for the country (in economic terms), now everything has been privatized, economy is in pieces, there is a civil war happening and Iraq has no longer any power in its region at all!!! Oh and dont forget the oil, but we all know that. Do read the book "The Grand Chessboard: American Primacy And Its Geostrategic Imperatives" by Zbigniew Brzezinski (Jimmy Carters National Security Advisor) and you will know better.

Good night and good luck.

[Peter Darlington]

Mr Bush is standing down soon. When he is gone the US and UK forces will retreat!
Are there any plans made how we are going to pay for our destruction of Iraq?
All taxpayers money spent on this illegal war will anybody be hold responsible for this waste of lives and money?

[Julie Howell]

There have been a great many comments over the years about how WMDs were not found. What I want to know is this: if a small envelope with a teaspoon-sized amount of anthrax is enough to clear out an entire government building, why in the world do people think that WMDs came in 55 gallon-sized drums?! For heaven's sake, people, this isn't the time of cave men and we don't have to look for huge containers full of big, stone mallets. Saddam buried entire jets! Do you think he couldn't disposed of CHEMICALS?? How much have many of you even read about the Iraqi war? Do you remember reading, very early on, the interviews with some of Saddam's scientists who were ordered by the regime to take the chemicals they were working on home and bury them and their equipment in their back yards?

As for asking the Iraqi people if they wanted Saddam in power or not, I can't even believe anyone in the world is stupid enough to make that remark. Perhaps those who talk that way ought to volunteer to go to Iraq the next time a mass grave is found and help dig up all the people that Saddam put there.

Listen, folks, there are too many people in this world now for the kind of tyrannical leadership of Saddam Hussein to exist. Traditional muslims abhore violence which is probably why they don't 'rise up' against militant muslims. If you haven't figured out by now that the militant muslims are no different than Adolf Hitler's regime or that of the Japanese in WWII than you've entirely missed the boat. The biggest difference is that the militant muslims make Adolf Hitler look like an immature schoolboy!

Those of you who think that the coalition forces are fighting non-Iraqi militants, you don't know much about Muqtada al-Sadr, do you? He doesn't care what nationality his insurgent followers are, as long as they do his bidding. al-Sadar runs more 'hot and cold' than the water taps in my kitchen! By doing so he's reminding the world that, with a wave of his hand, he controls when his 'army' kills and when they don't. I, for one, would most certainly not want such a tyrant as an ally.

For those of you who seem to dislike America, Americans, the American military, etc. etc.: I'm sorry that you feel that way. The United States of America is the greatest country in the world. We've helped more people and countries out of difficulties than any other country on earth. We've given more monetary aid to others than anyone else. And, as much as some of you continue to complain about America, we will be there to help you in the future, if you need us. We are fiercely proud of our country and what it stands for. Don't be fooled by our quarreling amongst ourselves; when it's time for us to stand together, we're there. Like one of the Colonies' Revolutionary War flags said, "Don't tread on me."

God bless America!

[JustMe]

EMMANUEL | 10 Apr 2008 01:21:44, I couldn't have said it better myself.

[J. N. Linger, D.D.S.]

The first Gulf war denied Saddam the ability to capture and control the oil from his neighbors. The Iraq war denied him the ability to provide sanctuary for Al Quida driven out by the Afghan war. It also prevented him from developing, with the help of other contries, more sophisticated warheads and missiles to deliver them. It also rid the citizens of Iraq from the fear of living in a ruthless police state.

[mike]

History shows America empowered Saddam's rule to fight the war against Iran, similarly they empowered the mujahadin and bin laden to push the russians out of Afgahnistan. Saddam was a typical arab dictator, he protected his own tribal religous interests,with little interest in the west, that is how the middle east is ruled.History also shows once huge oil reserves were discovered under the sands of Arabia, oil the west needed, the financial material wealth flowing from this industry corrupted arab leaders and slowly corrupted the traditions of the arab people, whoever held control would enjoy this wealth and all it could buy. All conflict since centres basically on the survival of 2 seperate philosophies, Western capitalist needs feeding self iterest, and muslim religous opposition to the corruption western values had on their people and traditions. Wealth buys power and power is sustained by military strength, America has that strength a by product of the cold war,they sold it to Saddam to feed his war against Iran. America lost its justification for holding this strength when communist rule collapsed in Russia, the industrialists and militarist leaders benefiting from the american war machine needed another cause if they were to retain there power - enter George Bush -enter 9/11 - enter the terrorist threat - enter the war against Saddam and Iraq - enter the death of brave soldiers and innocent civilians - enter the justification for revenge against the west, by those who have seen loved ones slaughtered by american ordance and the carnage created by the war spawned from the american invasion -enter the power struggle by self interest groups in Iraq to grab the control and power vacated by the removal of Saddam - enter the laws empowering intelligence agencies and military leaders in America to defend against the terrorist threat - enter a dawning emergence these factors were deliberately predicted beforehand and self generated as a result of calculated decisions taken within the corridors of power by faceless individuals who had one single objective - to guarantee the survival of there own power base to feed there own personal self interests, lifestyles and greed. The realisation that civilian and military casualties have been no more than pawns in a game of chess played out by the powerbrokers. A completely futile war, a futile loss of life, the futile devastation of a country without moral justification or purpose. Our governments can feed us all the propaganda they choose to instill their excuses upon us. The greatest tragedy of all is having to justify by false claim our soldiers did not die in vain, that our leaders did not sent them and others to the slaughter without good reason. history shall show to the contrary, history shall show our governments perpetuate false myths, driven by corrupt selfish interests within our society.

[JACK]

The Americans using these commentaries as propoganda should realise one thing.Iraq was one bridge too many for a country that has 737 US bases around the World on every continent except Antarctica.
This is an awful lot of democracy to bring to the world in the guise of the quest for oil at the same time as denying countries their elected leaders.
Most Americans seem to believe only people like Mugabe does that .
If I was an American I would be questioning very closely how they're being paid for AND WHY while it's economy and its morality slips down the gurgler.
Iraq is an unmitigated disaster of inhuman proportions brought on the Iraqis.
Not to mention the troops that have died and are still dieing for a three trillion US dollar occupation .
There is and never will be a justification of the Iraq holocaust.
This invasion was deliberated long before 9\11 and during the period when Bush was asking for exemptions from the International criminal
Ccourt for Crimes against humanity.
THERE WILL BE HELL TO PAY !

[Sally Redstone]

Thank goodness for George Bush and Tony Blair in having the guts and moral conviction to intervene in Iraq. Matters are stabilising now, and soon Iraq will be prosperous, self governing, and free from the brutality of the vicious Saddam gang.

[LLPete]

Emmanuel, I expect Kool Aid is the beverage of choice at your family get togethers.

[dagored]

I am sick and tired of the above "big mouths" who reside as right-wingnuts who decry and belittle Democrats who are trying to stop Bush's war. What is this cut and run bullcrap?!? We SHOULD NOT even be in Iraq...our entry was heavy on numerous lies and mistatements and poor planning for the aftermath. You jerks who call Democrats cut and run folks make me sick...get a life or get a new brain!

[Philip Barton]

The largest problem in this military skirmish is the present lack of a clearly defined objective which can be measured, or for which "progress" is well-defined.

"Freedom" is not an objective. "Ending terrorism" is not an objective. "Securing a nation" is not an objective. Perhaps each is a perpetual mission statement, but there is never a finish line to be crossed.

"Regime change" can be measured: mission accomplished. Time will tell whether it was a good or worthy mission.

So why are our troops still there?

For those who claim the poll is biased because "No" appears above "Yes": the same argument can be used if "Yes" is above "No." Those claims discredit every person's ability to make their own decision. You presuppose people have no idea how they intend to respond until they see the options.

For those who feel a need to respond: Save yourselves the effort, I won't be back to read responses.

[pk]

Jack,
Learn to spell

[Joseph R. Schifino]

We should have been building synthetic fuel plants to turn coal into usable liquid fuel that we can burn in our on cars and trucks right now (see learnaboutcoal.com)as soon as the Shah was overrun back in the Carter years. We should have taken Canada up on its offer to build massive hydro-electricity turbines in the Bay Of Fundy back in 1989. We most certainly should have turned to liquid coal after 9/11. We win this war by becoming energy independent and not funding our enemies. They live in deserts and we provide much of their food. We win this war by siege, not by gunfire.

[MilitaryOfficer]

Elitists in Washington should put on a damn uniform and stand a post. We were lied to and now we're "bringing democracy" to a crap hole that doesn't want it or need it. They're too busy killing each other. Our grandchildren will still be paying for this. Thanks for nothing Bush.

[frank mosad]

Cheney, Bush and Rumsfield, war criminals at the least, its a pity they will walk and leave the chaos and destruction to the next president and the American taxpayers and the spineless Democrats are letting it play out.

[Dave Mende]

The only real threat to the world, as we speak, is america.Israel has determined to use america to conquer all. Now we are only watching the drama unfold. You are the son of your father the Devil, there is no truth in you.

[Romans Seja]

Blair developed 'Britain's special relationship' with the USA and got himself a global role (all ex-prime ministers earn more in the USA after leaving office!). He ran to Bush ignoring European Union leaders and the people who elected him in (thankfully I mistrusted him in 1997 and my conscience is clear). One day he will pay for his illness. I hope he never sleeps.

[nancy]

Mr. Linger I hope your a better dentist than historian. It amazes me how 19% of people are still defending this charade! propaganda really must brainwash-how can you hear all the facts and come to any other conclusion?? Saddam did not mix politics and religion and he did not like extremists-he kept them in check-enter usa and POOF all blown to hell...shame on you if the suffering of women and children and families does nothing to you-you must be dead inside already...for any person who says they are religious and supports this massacre-shame on you-God will not forgive such blind faith-What are we becoming animals?? worse than animals they dont wage wars! If the roles were reversed you murderers would be the first ones crying for help for justice--fix your own supposeded democracy before you go shovin it down others throats...

[E Hans]

Posted by: mike | 12 Apr 2008 09:19:58

The first Gulf war denied Saddam the ability to capture and control the oil from his neighbors. The Iraq war denied him the ability to provide sanctuary for Al Quida driven out by the Afghan war. It also prevented him from developing, with the help of other contries, more sophisticated warheads and missiles to deliver them. It also rid the citizens of Iraq from the fear of living in a ruthless police state.

------------------------------------
All fine and dandy and if you say it enough some people will start to believe it I suppose. Saddam threw Al Quida out of Iraq and had already stop his weapons programs. If you want to use the ruthless police state argument, then we better get busy, there are alot of them that we don't seem to care about yet.
Afganastan was perfectly justified and bungled by the Neo Cons agenda to get into Iraq as a base against Iran for nothing more than thier own goofy ideology, not for the protection of America or the spreading of Democracy blah blah blah.
The whole spreading of Democracy argument shows a stunning lack of understand in history that is enough to really worry the average person into thinking, just who is leading us anyway?

[philipcyl]

Was it because of "iraq" war 9-11 took place? At that time, there was no such thing as "iraq" war. Iraq war or not, they want to get you.

As long as there are people out there who are willing to go to the extend of planning and executing the madness of 9-11 attacks in the name of of certain religion, the argue ment of "safer before or safer after" makes no sense. It is more like "more alert before" or "more alert after."

[Munir]

No it was not worth the sacrifice of more than a million Iraqis dead, It was not worth the sacrifice of an unknown number of Iraqis injured or maimed loosing a limb or more...
It was not worth sacrificing the dreams of Iraqi children for a better future...or Iraqi women who lost their freedom to Mullas from Iran who are now the true rulers of Iraq through a quasi government, said to have been democraticaly elected, or to taliban like fighters who roam Iraq north and south, east and west.
Ask the 4000000Iraq displaced internally or externally, ask a mourning mother who just lost her son to a suicide bomber, or an american not so smart bomb if the war was worth the sacrifice.
It is said that those who have the right to speak are the ones who gave the ultimate sacrifice, who is going to poll more than one million out of the silence of death?

[pchan]

The extremist are killing more iraqis, blowing up more mosques than the coalition and some people are still not sure who their friends are. It is like the mafia threatening the people who love true peace and justice. They will say, "Don't you dare disturb us from our activities of bullying others and planning future attacks. If you do, we will create so much killings and then put all the blame on you. Weak minded people will also join us in blaming you for the "peace" they missed. So, just be satisfied with the type of "peace" we have to offer where we retain the power to bully anyone we want, how we want, and anytime we want" What Flawed reasonings!

[pchan]

I admire President Bush. It is so much easier to do what is considered to be popular according to poll if you are only concern about getting people to like you. It takes great courage and sacrifice to do what is unpopular to help those who aere oppressed and bullied by someone like Sadam.

[Emre Dalan]

Certainly, it is worth the sacrifice for corporatocracy. They like it, they want it. Having difficulties about role of corporatocracy in this matter, then read the books of John Perkins, "confessions of an economic hitman".

Emre, izmir

[tam]

yep, obviously the elites and politicians think its worth the sacrafice because its their bank account that have grown fat from it, but as for us, the people of the workd in general, this is effectively the "end war" IMO, after this there wont be another, lets just hope theres some of us left to see it!! thank you politicians, i would say "see you in hell", but i think the devil will have a special little corner just for you guys!!

[Edmund Burke]

A brilliant post by Jack on the "futile devastation of a country without moral justification or purpose". There was, however, a theoretical justification, which turned out to be false: at the close of the "first" Iraq War, which was authorised by the UN to evict Saddam from Kuwait, Saddam launched missiles against Israel - technically a non-combatant nation, but in his view the power behind the throne of the American war against him. The missiles carried conventional warheads, but theoretically the warheads could have been weapons of mass destruction. Some theorists even suggested they could deliver poison gas - not a fate that the Israelis would have welcomed, after the Nazi concentration camps. The protection of Israel was, in my opinion, the real reason behind the war launched by George Bush Jnr against the government of Saddam Hussein. Whether it was justified in terms of international law is an open question.

[pc]

When we rush in to save someone who is drowning, we do not do it with a business mind thinking about what the outcome will be. We might not get any personal gains and for all we know we might not even save the person in the water. Some people may even laugh at us and say that what we did was stupid. I am not an American but I learnt to have great respect for americans because of this kind of sacrifices. But if americans, themselves keep on seeing themselves in a negative light, it is natural that others will follow and do the same.

War is not to be compared to business but rather to a boxing match. I will be most happy if the oponent announces every moves he is going to make - like which round he intends to give up and so on.

[Cid Sinclair]

I thought the replies here were great. A lot of good points.
Have you ever considered the psychology here? Suppose a bunch of greedy guys from Texas were sitting around schemeing how they were going to make millions, when BAM! a terrorist attack, previously unimagineable, throws a huge monkey wrench into your plan.

"Dang Dubya...what are we going to do now?"
Hmmmm...we can't bomb anyone. We don't know who to bomb.
"But we gotta do something."
"I know! let's finish off Iraq. We can defend being attacked, bomb someone and get oil! It's a win, win, win situation. My Daddy will be proud!"
"Yeah, and the rest of them wackos wil think we're really badass for invading a whole country just to chase them. They'll think twice about doin that again"
"I bet we could make a buck or two off of this whole thing too...."

It's just a hypothetical conversation to consider. Who knows if it happened that way?

[Marcus]

You Brits will eventually be 'screwed off the island' by the
the ever increasing Muslim population. So better run and get in bed and make more 'English' (there I said the forbidden word!)citizens in self defence.

Marcus
Colonel,USAF (Retired)
Thinking of the many good times
I had being taught darts in your lovely pubs.

[yydelilah]

Now lets get this straight - the people who have really sacrificed are the unfortunate Iraqi people. Up to 100,000 innocent Iraqi men, women and children killed as a result of a crass decision by Blair & Bush. Servicemen and women have wasted their lives in a conflict that should never have been. This may be hard to swallow but true nevertheless.

[Dr Alan Marsh]

Virtually all the casualties have been caused by different Iraqi sects and tribes pursuing their own vendettas and struggles for territory. None of this would have been unleashed, however, without the invasion.

What many of us would like to see, far more urgently, is military action to liberate the poor people of Zimbabwe from their dictator and his party.

[Keith]

Iraq was not tied to al Qaeda, had nothing to do with 9/11, had no WMD, and was not a threat to anyone. The US and Britain wanted to control that part of the world--mainly for the oil and natural gas. Just look at the last 100 times the US and Britain have invaded and occupied another country. "Excellent reasons" are always given and they are always lies. The Downing Street Memo is unquestionably true.

[Karpy]

As an American, it has recently been my privilege to meet a couple of men who have served in the Army. Both wounded in Iraq and honorably discharged, they now work for the same employer as I. Each agree we should stay the course in Iraq, and that pulling out would embolden our murderous enemy and hand him an easy and lasting victory. This seems to be a pervasive opinion among the troops, as many have reenlisted for second and third tours. The thinking is opposed to our absurd politicians, who claim vast expertise of middle east affairs and promise to beat their equally ridiculous opponents in the race to cut and run from the fight.
No doubt those aspiring to be the next Commander in Chief view such thinking as quaint or simple. These people are part of the great unwashed after all, and clearly not qualified to think for themselves. Who can refute the awesome intellectual superiority of our arrogant and privileged elite? Still, one might ponder why those who have experienced their boots on the ground and lives on the line wish to go back and finish the job.

[Sam]

The problem wiyh the people of this country they all want to stick their head in the sand and pretend all is well as long it does not directly effect them. It is total stupidity to think that if we pull out of IRAQ we eill become safer. In reality it will show the public does not have the intestinal fortatude to take it to the enemy where they are and not wait for another 9/11. Maybe you want to see your families and freinds blood runing in the streets of our cities or maybe that is what it will take to wake people up to the real world. Dream on if you think this can't or won't happen. Just pull out and sit back and watch. It will come and all of you weak knees will then cry why didn't someone do something sooner. We have to show them NOW what we are made of or the fight will be in our cities next.

[Kevin]

Not only is it not worth it, it has never been worth it and that is what a great deal of us said all along--even before President Bush started his (and Cheney's and Rumsfeld's and Wolfowitz's) war. And it is their war, we must never forget that. Some of us protested starting this war before it started. The Senior President H.W. Bush thought his son's actions, in his own campaign, would be a big mistake.

He was right, of course, and now we have to live with the tragic results.

Even the Pentagon Institute recognizes that this war has turned out to be a "debacle"--their word--and will now end badly. What more evidence does anyone need?

And now Muqtada-al-Sadr is threatening an "all out war".

Thanks, W. It's really going well, right?

[Don]

If alsadr wants all out war we should give it to him by puverizing sadr city till not one building is left standing.