Quote:
Originally posted by IowaStatePhiPsi
The US removing the authoritarian regime that stabilized the region was a grave mistake.
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Iraq stabilized that region? Only with regard to preventing moderates, and democrats from gaining power. Iraq was not just authoritarian. They were totalitarian, and one of the only genocidal regimes on Earth.
The grave mistake would have been to allow Iraq to remain in power. Prior to 9-11, Iraq was 4th or 5th in the world in the financing of radical Palestinian groups. After 9-11, they became #1. They attempted to destabilize the region, so that the US would be preoccupied with other conflicts, particularly in Israel.
Iraq was trying to get a war started. Nice people.
The real reason why we invaded Iraq has nothing to do with oil or WMD. The real reason was geopolitical. By removing the one nation that was proactively trying to derail the War on Terror (Jihadists,) and by installing a democratic government, the region will change.
It is bold, but there is precedence. Comparisons to Somalia are invalid. Iraq has great national wealth, and an educated population.
They do have hope, after a three decade long nightmare under the Baathists has finally ended.