We Broke Iraq And We're Still Paying For The Damage By Howard Fineman | Huffington Post | Posted: 12/17/2013 10:49 am EST Excerpts: WASHINGTON In 2002, during the run-up to the U.S. invasion of Iraq, Secretary of State Colin Powell issued a warning to President George W. Bush about launching a war there. Once you break it," he said, youre going to own it. Powell was right. We broke Iraq when we began dropping "daisy cutter" bombs more than a decade ago. And while we dont own Iraq now, we pay a lot of rent in exchange for our position as its ally, protector and arms supplier. After the Iraqis themselves, we remain the key player in determining that countrys fate. Today, Iraq's future is in doubt. Renewed sectarian violence and rising attacks from al-Qaeda and its affiliates are threatening to tear a barely reassembled Iraq into pieces. Not that we havent invested heavily - tragically - for what most Americans regard as a mistake that did not make us any safer. The Iraq War was one of the longest, most expensive and controversial in our history. It cost the lives of some 4,500 Americans, at least 135,000 Iraqis (some estimates range significantly higher) and, over the long term, more than $2 trillion to drive Saddam Hussein from power and use military means to stand up a replacement. America's own efforts at rebuilding the country have produced a mixed record at best. An inspector generals report earlier this year found that more than $8 billion of the $60 billion the U.S. had spent on civilian "reconstruction in Iraq since 2003 had been flat-out wasted, and that much of the rest of the work was of dubious value or long-term benefit. Meanwhile, Iraq cant fully protect or even police its own borders or air space. After spending hundreds of billions of dollars on war and reconstruction, the U.S. government is dialing back its support, which this year amounts to perhaps $3 billion, including more than a billion to support diplomatic security and a military mission led by a three-star general. Iraqs government has a legislatively approved budget, but the numbers are an election-year fantasy, Knights said. It assumes a much higher rate of production and sale of oil than is technically possible, he said. Still, Iraq is selling ever-greater percentages of the oil it does produce to China, which is pouring drilling technology and capital investment into areas that American firms have left or not bid on. Which means, in the long run, that China may end up owning Iraq, at least financially, and without having had to fight a war to do so. read: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/17/iraq-united-states_n_4427772.html ...... IMO: The WMD escapade was a costly one, but the aftermath is even more costly as China is buying the most oil and investing in areas that will offer more oil for them. They will take over Iraq and make it a 3rd world regime with low-paid workers and export cheap clothing to America to be sold at high prices at Walmart. Sounds like a plan to me! In the meantime, lets get all soldiers, equipment out, close the embassy, and get out of there and let the gigantic loss reside in our brains as the Bush(*)(*)(*)(*) Years while we close the prisons, and get out of that country that was so heartbreaking for our troops, our taxpayers money, our families, out national prestige,and for the Iraqi people. It is best left to history to register the ultimate damage the Bush Administration did to Iraq, and to America and its people.
Yeaaaa mannnnnn how dare those dirty corporationalists dare to create jobs mannnnn. Life in Iraq is awesome just check this kid out hes living the dream mannnnnnn. Dirty Walmart big business hate filled greedy racist grandma cliff pushers trying to bankrupt us with those $3.99 Haynes t-shirts. Sent from my IPhone, Like me on Facebook, Follow me on Twitter, Join me for coffee at Starbucks. I'm sorry to veer slightly off topic but I'm simply ASTONISHED at your ability to work in a shot at corporate America in each and every single one of your posts.
Sectarian violence heating up in Iraq again... 10 killed, 22 wounded in violent attacks in Iraq 2013-12-30 -- At least 10 people were killed and 22 others wounded in violent attacks in Iraq on Sunday, including a suicide bombing against a military target, police said. See also: U.S. rushes to bolster Iraq with drones and missiles in fight against militants[/quote]
Last I checked we left Iraq and it is still intact. The problem is Afghanistan. Why on earth are you focusing on Iraq?
Uncle Ferd says we bugged-out too soon... 7,818 Iraqi Civilians Killed in 2013--Highest Death Toll in Years January 1, 2014 - The United Nations said Wednesday that violence claimed the lives of 7,818 civilians in Iraq in 2013, the highest annual death toll in years.
If Maliki would have taken the path of reconciliation instead of pursuing a sectarian agenda, it's possible that the violence we are witnessing now could have been avoided. When America handed everything over violence was at a all time low, and he squandered a possible opportunity to set Iraq on the right path. That being said, there was still no justifications for our involvement in Iraq, just to be clear.
Possible, sure. But not likely. The Iraqi "government" is incredibly weak and nothing they did would have likely stopped the sectarian strife. It's because we spent $1 trillion locking the place down. The Iraqi government cannot do that. Honestly, I think at this point that goes without saying.
Iraq imploding... BOMBS KILL 52 AS GUNMEN STORM UNIVERSITY IN IRAQ Jun 7,`14 -- A series of car bombs exploded across Iraq's capital Saturday night, killing at least 52 people in a day of violence that saw militants storm a university in the country's restive Anbar province and take dozens hostage, authorities said. See also: IRAQI KURDS' OIL SALE WIDENS SPLIT WITH BAGHDAD May 30,`14 -- The split is growing between Iraq's central government and the Kurds after the autonomous Kurdish administration for the first time unilaterally sold oil from their region in the north, a symbolic show of economic independence from Baghdad that could build momentum for an outright break.
It's in a hopeless mess and that's directly attributable to the US invasion. It may have been an iffy place for some before but it was functioning and was no threat to anyone else. Now the only functional aspect is the oil pumps which flow directly to Western corporate interests.
Why would the democrats have authorized such a horrible thing. Put the blame where it goes, Presidents don't have access to the bank account you know.
Where is the oil money that Cheney and henchmen said would be there to pay us back. Lts of Veterans would love th help.
"Which flow directly to Western corporate interests." You mean CHINAS corporate interest? Do a little research please.
We most certainly should have invaded Iraq. The mistake was that we stayed and tried to fix the place. That first year where we had all the objectives completed, saddam captured, army and arms dismantled, government toppled. We should have just left and let them fix it for themselves. Why the hell did we stay?
At least 80% of Iraqs oil exports goes to Southeast Asia with China as the majority holder so your "flow directly to western corporate interests" is utterly false and unfounded. You probably think the war was fought over oil as well, right?
Even without any research in what way would it make any sense that the US spends lives and money for China to be the beneficiary? Key word being 'customer'. They're buying oil therefore are benefitting in that way but it's Western oil interests who are the sellers and it's Western oil interests who'll benefit if oil fields are eventually sold to the Chinese. Meantime they own little bits here and there. Crumbs in the grander scale of it. Tough luck Iraqis, you just got in the way and today there isn't even the pretence of nation re-building to hope for so welcome to US foreign policy circa 21st century.
