martha said:
Have the US installed governments ever worked? No. Now if you suddenly think that it will work in Afganistan and Iraq, then you didn't pay attention. Why replece one shitty government with another? I'm not debating the whole Iraq thing; my point is that if Bush claims to want a "regime change" and the people in the US believe him, then they might want to think about the past track record of the US. Bush should decide why he wants Saddam's head on a plate and be honest about it. All this babbling on about some kind of "benefit" for the Iraqis is bullshit.
addition/edit: Also, what gives us the right to select a government for a foreign nation? Especially when you consider that the other ones we've put into place have usually been worse than the ones replaced?
Yes they have, as evidence by the ones mentioned earlier. Have they been as succesful lately? No so much, but does that me we give up on nation building? I don't think so. Just because it hasn't been as sucessful recently, doesn't me we give up. That is extremely flawed logic. No question that our foreign policy over the last 30 or so years has been questionable, but I believe, and I think this administration does as well, that you learn from past mistakes. Afghanistan is a supurb example of this.
Bush has laid out his reasons quite clearly, and it baffles me that many don't see it. UN Resolution clearly states that complete compliance is necessary, yet Hussein is clearly not in compliance. He has been given EVERY opportunity to comply fully, and yet he still doesn't. Yet some how, this is about Bush. What exactly isn't clear? If Hussein is in violation in anyway, the UN has the responsibilty to enforce the resolution, otherwise it becomes a "STOP!! or I'll just say stop again." The legitamacy of the UN is in question here. Leadership is strength in the face of adversity, Leadership is done by example. Bush is a leader, as is Blair. If the rest of the world wants to be cowards, let them do so, but we are dealing with a dictator that without question, is a threat to the Middle East, and most certainly to the rest of the world.
What gives us the right to install a democratic government. Well, to use your own words, are you paying attention? This isn't an arbitrary action, if we wish to remove Hussein from power, when he is gone, there will be a power vacume. New leadership will have to be put in place in Iraq. US involvement here is key, otherwise the situation will most likely decay into a civil war. Thus a situation that would be completely out of control.