Are the thousands of iraqis killed in the Iran-Iraq war dissidents?
Are the thousands killed in the Gulf War dissidents?
Are the thousands of Kurdish guerrillas that took up arms and fought Saddam and his army, were they dissidents?
Were the thousands of Iraqis that were told to take up arms and fight Hussein by Bush Sr, were they dissidents?
Are the thousands who died because of the UN Economic Sanctions, are they dissidents?

Everytime I see a table or chart about how many people Saddam killed they always include the above.

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America's Enemies Are Not Mine

All wars represent a failure of diplomacy

“I contend that we are both atheists. I just believe in one fewer god than you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours.” - Stephen Roberts.

World police?

Well said Tuatara, Saddam was a mass murderer and he had to be stopped... he was, but too late for the people you listed above

And to f0ca1 asking about American being the World Police, yes we have to... who else will? someone has to... and thats the US

A little history:
Hitler came into power, he was a gangster and was weak in his early days. France and Britain saw he was a threat, but no one wanted to stop him... A decade later we had to do so forcefully, but it was too late, 50 million people died! We could have prevented that but we didn't... the world was still run by the French and Brits... they failed to be world police and we had to clean up after a mess they should have handle all on their own. Instead they chose for appeasement of Hitler instead of taking him out when he was weak. After that American had to take the leadership position to be the World's policeman... Bosnia, Korea, Kuwait v. Iraq, Iraq, ... list goes on and on...

The world needs a police man, and sadly we have to do it... and unlike the French and British, we are trying to instill freedom where we go, not rape the countries we occupy for treasure, we go there as liberators and we'll leave as victors.

As long as there is evil in this world someone has to stop it, and the powerful have the responsibility to every man woman and child on this earth to make sure they are not victims of cruel dictators that we have the means to kill first.

You really have no clue as to what I was saying.

__________________
America's Enemies Are Not Mine

All wars represent a failure of diplomacy

“I contend that we are both atheists. I just believe in one fewer god than you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours.” - Stephen Roberts.

This war has wasted the money, lives, and time of the American people. Not only was it unjustified but, it has been drug out into a seemingly neverending series of good news from one side and disapppointment from the other. I applaud our armed forces for the work they have done to improve Iraq, but the reason for this war does not justify the results.

All the war did was make money for the bankers in the federal reserve corporation and allow the government to declare an endless "war on terror" that will enable them to keep taking our rights away in the name of "national security" or the "spread of democracy" like some kind of a disease we are the pathogen for.

So, yeah. Overall, great job!

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"I pity those that take authority as the truth, rather than truth as the authority."

"There's no way to rule innocent men. The only power any government has is the power to crack down on criminals. Well, when there aren't enough criminals, one makes them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible to live without breaking laws." – Ayn Rand

Don't police typically operate under the law?

Benefits from Invading Iraq for the US:

1. Huge Oil reserves.
2.Great strategic position in the region.
3.Took out a dictator who started 2 wars and financed terrorists in Israel.

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"True Freedom is the Freedom to oppress others"

No terrorist attacks in the US.

50 million people freed.

A bulwark against Iranian expansion to the east and west.

The first true democratic Arab government in the Middle East.

An ally against the WOT in Iraq.

Al Qaeda near defeat, according to their own letters.

And most of all....Democrats whining loudly, so you know something good is happening for America, and the world.

How did the Federal Reserve make money off of a war?