Saudaurkar - you're the one making the judgement over whether going to war over oil is evil, not I. I'm saying it is a contributory factor, which in itself is not a judgement - really simple, huh?
Tell me, why haven't the resolutions held against Israel for 40 years been upheld? Maybe the UN is irrelevant (to coin a Bushism). But it became so, long before Saddam arrived on the scene.
Iraq and Saddam are the US's puppet, atleast that's what a lot of you (yes, you included Dowding)
I think you'll find that generally, I refer to UK/Western world as well as the US in these matters. There was little between their policies towards Iraq during the 80s.
...so why the hell can we (the US) not deal with our own problem?
That would be fine if the consequences were solely confined to US interests and US territory. But we know that is not the case. An increase in instability in that region is the last thing we need, a sudden rise in militant Islam in a post-War Iraq is the last thing we need.
When the Shi'ites rose up in Basra after the last Gulf War, they weren't shouting 'Praise the US! Well done Brits!'. It was 'Praise be to Allah!'. That scared the Western world toejamless.
Iraq consists of 3 ethnic groups - the Kurds, the Sunni and the Shi'ites. Currently, it is ruled by the Sunni minority, with 60% of the country made up of more hard-line Shi'ites. There's going to be one awfully big back-lash against the moderate Sunni after Saddam is gone. A huge blood-letting that will rival some of the scenes from the Former Yugoslavia. Who will take power? Shi'ites of the fundamentalist flavour. This would be so, even in a democratic society, given the demographics. The place will be prime ground for Al Queda recruitment. I'm not sure a Western friendly society could be created there.
The question is this: are Americans willing to see American blood spilt in the attempt to prevent civil war from breaking out in Iraq? Because that's what I believe it will come to in the end. Or will the US simply disengage and leave it to UN peace-keepers?