Post-war Iraq (and middle eastern) Sentiment Towards US

[Fox Body]

You know, there's something that's been really plagueing my mind since this war started and especially more so now. I am (in a sorrowful way) overjoyed that Saddam and his regime are slowly being strangled by the ropes of justice. I don't enjoy war, but feel this one is necessary. I am almost moved to tears when I see the oppressed, innocent Iraqi civilians (especially the kids) smiling and jumping for joy, being freed from the blackness that Saddam and his regime have put them through, but you know what, it sickens me to think about what happens when this war is over. I'm seeing obvious signs of ungratefulness already, some civilians (although they are probably mostly those from Saddam's hometown), Iraqi leaders who are looking to be in power as soon as Saddam's regime is ultimately destroyed, and other countries (man, don't even get me started on France ). It supremely disgusts me that our soldiers are dying for their freedom. I remember a thread that Hammer posted on how ungrateful the world has been in many other war situations. It is obvious that that will be the case here also.

Moreover, there are countries like Turkey and France. They kinda remind me of some selfish, snobby-nosed, no backbone kids in elementary school who didn't want to help you build a tree house, but after it was done, they'd be the first ones asking you can they come and play in it. Or the kid that doesn't want to be on your kick ball team until he sees that your team is obviously gonna win. I don't wanna hear anything from them after this war is over, France is "embarassed" Stupid. And Turkey get's nothing from the US. They had their chance.

[cyberstang5.0]

I couldn't agree with you more.

[7000rpmisheaven]

The ungratefullness makes me upset too. But after all is said and done we did what we did because it was the right thing to do. Whether anyone hates us or loves us for it doesn't change that.

[Mr 5 0]

The U.S. goals in the Iraq war were to remove Saddam Hussein's regime, find and destroy his WMD and free the Iraqi people from Saddam's oppression. Along with these we will also reap the benefit of removing one more country for terrorists to live and train in and we'll cut off yet another source of terrorist funding. We've already accomplished the majority of our original goals. Shaping a viable, democratic post-war Iraq will be difficult but it's possible. We did it after WWII, in Germany and Japan. We can do it in Iraq although it won't be easy and no Iraqi government will be perfect.

That some Iraqi's may not appreciate all this is predictable but most do welcome the American overthrow of the Baath party and Saddam Hussein's corrupt, murderous regime. That various Iraqi political factions will be seeking to assume power post-Saddam is also very predictable. That France (and other nations) that opposed the war for months and worked hard to stop us from engaging it will now seek to have a role in post-war Iraq is also not a shock. The arrogance of the French knows no bounds and the U.N. seeks to pretend it still matters in world affairs, although no one os fooled anymore. The U.N. is worthless.

The undisputable fact is that the U.S. overthrew a ruthless, well-prepared dictator within three weeks and with something around 100 American fatalities and only minor physical destruction of the country's infrastructure. Soon, we'll find and destroy Saddam's WMD. The people of Iraq are free of Saddam's tyranny and the rest of the Arab world is seriously pondering the wisdom of supporting and harboring terrorists. My crystal ball is no better than anyone else's but I would say that the decision to go to war in Iraq was a just and moral one and that the whole thing has turned out well, or as well as a war can ever turn out; with small casualties, especially among the Iraqi civilain population, whom we avoided targeting in a way no other nation at war has ever done with civilians. Not that the mainstream TV networks or print media will admit any of this, as they didn't want the war to begin with and they are plainly not happy to see the positive results as they fear it will politically benefit President Bush. So what? George W. Bush staked his re-election on this war and did so against the odds and with furious Democrat opposition as well as tough foreign opposition, too. President Bush did what was right and most reasonable people, even those that oppose war in general, now understand this.

It was never about 'oil' or 'U.S. globalization' or any of the other cynical liberal theories for the war. President Bush, his administration and the majority of the American people backed the war in Iraq because it was right. It's ending well and I have nothing but praise for the Bush administration, the U.S. military and the people of Iraq who have made their feelings known as they hug and cheer the American soldiers in Iraq. We don't want their oil, their land or their labor, we just want a Saddam-free, terrorist-free Iraq and soon, we'll have it and the Iraqi peole will reap most of the benefits of that, as they should. France - and Kofi Annan (of the U.N.) - can go pound sand.