Yes I do, as has happened many times before, (Panama, Haiti, Nicaragua, Cuba) we interfere and back the lesser of two evils.(as we see it) Then we have a mess on our hands later. Either we are bit by the dogs we backed, or they are so repressive that a military or religious coup puts dictators or theocracies in charge. At one time, Sadam was considered a friend of the US. We gave him weapons and support in his war with Iran in the late 70's.
Actually Saddam got the vast majority of his weapons and aid from neighboring countries which were more afraid of Iran than they were of him (and which now are very uncomfortable with Iran again)
Between 1983 and 1990, the total dollar amount of arms exported to Iraq by the US was estimated at 568 million. Yes, a small portion of total arms sales, but significant nonetheless. source Stockholm International Peace Research Institute
Why is Iran the boogeyman now. Saddam and Iran weren't friendly before, now Iran is supposed to be the big arms supplier...are we supposed to believe this too? In fact they were warring...now we are supposed to believe they are funnelling guns to bin Laden and al Qaeda? Whoever al Qaeda is? What neighboring countries were those? al Qaeda that was never welcome in Iraq under Sadaam, but now they are there in force since the US invaded. What countries did he get his arms from?
Because they are all arabs/muslims we supposed to believe anything we are fed? Iran and Iraq have been foes for years.
Remember the Iran Contra affair? We supplied arms to Iran! And used the money earned to support the Contras in Nicaragua! And you are right Gardner, why are we now turning our attention to Iran? Human rights violations all over the world, but we have to stick our noses in where the oil is! What is the threat? NONE!!! Why is the Iranian Revolutionary Guard now on the official terrorist list? What type of Orwellian logic are we using? Congress needs to stand up now and stop the madness!! Or they are going to have some big domestic problems on their hands, not to mention all the "terrorists" they will be creating.
Where is congress on this? Hillary won't talk about it because she knows it's coming. Most of the other candidates except Gravel and a few others play dumb, like they did before Iraq. And all of them sat on their hands during the seige of Lebanon. All the pundit shows are talking about three new studies due this coming week that will either justify escalation or stall it. These powerbrokers will have to answer someday, I don't think they have the strength to actually be leaders.
That's simply BULL! Iran is one of the most developed countries in the area, and one that shares more ideologically with their neighbors than Israel or the US and the western world ever can. Sure Sadaam didn't get his arms from Iran, he was waging war with Iran. Why should they supply him. Iraq was armed by the US and Israel.
Even tho Iran is classified as semi developed? How big a area are you saying, the Persian Gulf States.?
Iran was armed with US weapons along with Syria and Libya. Most if not all of Irans aircraft were american made, so were their tanks. Iraq was armed by the Soviets and the French, migs, mirages and t72 tanks, come on gardener.
I would have thought Turkey, a democracy which manages to be richer than Iran without oil, would be considered more developed. But when Gardener says "developed" he means "hates America and therefore must be a good country".
Where has Gardner, or anyone else said Iran, or Iraq, are "good countries? Where has anyone said that the qualities of a good country must include hatred for America? Why do you feel the need to put words and implications in others mouths? I would not live in Iraq, Iran or Afghanistan. I do not agree with the way these countries have been run. But that is no excuse for war. Nor does it excuse the way the west has interfered in these countries and others.
I think you are mistaking sympathy with a realistic look at the world. I do not sympathize with Hussein, I just believe he was a problem we created. I do not sympathize with Ahmadinejad, I just want to know what is our excuse for interfering with and threatening his country. Your "conclusions" are not based on logic, just supposition. I refuse to label someone the "enemy" based on their religious beliefs, no matter how radical. I do not think that we would have the problems we have today if it were not for our meddling in other countries affairs. If we must interfere with another country, whether it be for justice or in support of human rights, let's do it with diplomacy. Or if diplomacy fails, isolation. So many human rights violations in the world , and we are worried about Iran. China is supporting Burmese violence against peaceful protest. They have occupied and suppressed Tibet for years. And in response, we give them most favored trade status while we hurl threats at third world countries.
Al Qaeda does not exist and never has. Al Qaeda is a manufactured enemy who was created in order to have an excuse to wage a war for the control of the world's oil resources. But there is a propaganda campaign to make the public believe in the presence of an identified entity representing the devil in order to drive the TV watcher to accept a unified international leadership for a war against terrorism. The country behind this is the US and the lobbyists for the US war on terrorism are only interested in making money. Theres a lot of information on all of this if you research it but i think all of it is basically the US trying to take over the world.
