Added: Tuesday, 29 July 2008, 07:32 AM Mecca time, 04:32 AM GMT
The pricey U.S. war in Iraq has created an expensive-to-clean-up disaster and was ill-conceived from the start. With the Bush/Cheney no-bid contracts awarded to their political allies, generally contributing little towards reconstruction except to some Iraqis' Swiss bank accounts, the post war mission essentially has been a failure. With the U.S. facing record budget deficits as the Bush/Cheney neocon administration prepares to depart, the Republicans are attempting to transfer blame to the poor state of the economy while the Democrats are faulting the Republicans. Actually both political parties are to blame, and with the Democrat-led Congress just having approved another $163 billion for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, they are just as complicit as are the Republicans.
Jim H., United States
Added: Sunday, 27 July 2008, 08:39 PM Mecca time, 05:39 PM GMT
WASHINGTON (AP), The total cost of the Iraq war is approaching the Vietnam War's expense, a congressional report estimates, while spending for military operations after 9/11 has exceeded it.The new report by the Congressional Research Service estimates the U.S. has spent $648 billion on Iraq war operations, putting it in range with the $686 billion, in 2008 dollars, spent on the Vietnam War, the second most expensive war behind World War II. Since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the U.S. has doled out almost $860 billion for military operations in Afghanistan, Iraq and elsewhere around the world. All estimates, adjusted for inflation, are based on the costs of military operations and don't include expenses for veterans benefits, interest on war-related debts or assistance to war allies, according to the nonpartisan CRS.
Leonard, Raymond, New Hampshire, United States
Added: Sunday, 27 July 2008, 04:17 PM Mecca time, 01:17 PM GMT
A grande plan needs focus on pre-, during and post- event planning and execution. The Bush government only acheived pre- and (a mixed) during event planning and execution. The Mission Accomplished flag was just a PR tactic. We were always taught that to topple or demolish the building, one needs to place explosives at the bottom of the building. The Saddam time Iraq was strong and glued firmly (the same factions that are fighting and all) by Saddam himself. And it was a threat to the oil America needed. So here we have the equation Saddam (oil+stable region) = threat to America. Take away the Saddam part of the equation and there you have oil and an unstable region. Brilliant!!
redddevilz, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Added: Sunday, 27 July 2008, 09:44 AM Mecca time, 06:44 AM GMT
No the U.S. has not failed in its mission. Many of the decisions after the initial conflict – i.e. disbanding the military etc, can easily be considered mistakes however - Saddam is history, Iran is no longer threatened by Iraq, there is a representative government in Bagdad, and the Kurds are no longer threatened. The U.S. will leave Iraq within the next few years and leave behind a hope for a secular, democratic, nation if the leaders of Iraq have the wisdom to grasp it. As for you Angela – quote (As a devout Catholic and Mexican Aztec, trust me, I don't have a drop of racist blood in me!! We also ask God's intervention to end the HOLLOCAUSTS in Iraq and Palestine.) What would you have GOD do smite the evils Zionist? Your ignorance speaks for itself. Peace and Prosperity to All Our Sisters and Brothers of Earth
Fred F. Jones, Pueblo, United States
Added: Friday, 25 July 2008, 08:37 PM Mecca time, 05:37 PM GMT
Having been absent from this Aljazeera 'Your Views" forum during a family emergency and having changed my name and location in the interest of a 'reality check', I am truly dismayed at the tenorand quality of conversations I see now. For the most part the specific issue to comment on is totally ignored, in favor of pointless jousting back and forth between effete and inane egotists You have descended to bickering, name-calling, and outright insults. This is really reprehensible and should not stand. Repent, bloggers!! Let's all return to honest, intelligent and friendly comments, for the sake of all dedicated and true writers, in the virtual universe and beyond. on this post and throughout the virtual world.
honkoweenie, palm springs, United States
Added: Tuesday, 22 July 2008, 02:42 PM Mecca time, 11:42 AM GMT
i wonder how are the people who are running the bush govt.iraq war really. seems to me like the age of war when muslims and christians fought wars for land and powers, or the french/british/spanish invasions in the whole world which looted almost everything in asia africa and the continents of america. war is really unthinkable in this modern world of civilisation. there were many solutions before iraq war. same if the us has to eliminate its enemies of israel, then its has also to invade libya iran syria and many other countries! so the us is nothing other than israel as the jews are in a commanding position of the us administration.
awad, chittagong, Bangladesh
Added: Monday, 21 July 2008, 05:28 PM Mecca time, 02:28 PM GMT
The biggest misunderstanding of all is that it has been arabs killing arabs in Iraq. You want to blame the USA for that go ahead. No matter what Saddam is gone and the Iraqi people wasted an opportunity to become free and at peace. All the non sense about why the USA went into Iraq is irrelevant now. We did and as a result a very bad man and his followers where thrown down. It was the Iraqi people who helped them get back up, not the USA.
Hunucru, United States
Added: Monday, 21 July 2008, 02:58 PM Mecca time, 11:58 AM GMT
Lazarus1956, Des Moines, United States : Re-reflect upon and re-examine Angela's post and you will concur that she is absolutely right in her assumptions.
azzi, mumbai, India
Added: Sunday, 20 July 2008, 06:39 PM Mecca time, 03:39 PM GMT
Captain, Great britain: I would remind you that it is you who brought up Teddy Roosevelt and Panama, and I'm not quite sure what they have to do with the current conflict. I should also add that your country participated in this lastest "imperialist" invasion, so I don't really see how you can criticize your partner in crime. Although I think the war was ill-advised, there has been a strategic benefit to the US which I think will become more clear with time.
Robwash, Los Angeles, United States
Added: Sunday, 20 July 2008, 05:13 PM Mecca time, 02:13 PM GMT
I am reading a most excellent book on the historical and biographical context of 'Muhammad: A Prophet for our Time' by Karen Armstrong. I think her thesis is that our (Western Culture) incursion into the Middle-East is more a product of Islamophobia and a 'knee-jerk' reaction to a time and cultural bias that we, as a culture of the industralised West European culture, do not want to understand. This book is basically a biography of the man and the historical and cultural context upon which the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) appeared and the contributions hither given in Arabia circa 610 ~ 632 AD. I even more strongly feel and believe that this man truly is a prophet of 'Allah' (swt). And it is only I as an honest scholar in my own research draw my own conclusions from all available sources, both 'pro' and 'con'.
