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US motivations in Iraq
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RPGDot Forums > Absolutely Off Topic

What is the PRIMARY motivation for the BUSH ADMINISTRATION declaring war on Iraq?
Saddam Hussein may supply terrorists with weapons of mass destruction
33%
 33%  [ 7 ]
The Iraqi regime oppresses the people of Iraq
0%
 0%  [ 0 ]
Iraq poses a military threat to its neighbors in the region and Israel in particular
0%
 0%  [ 0 ]
A naked show of force to make America's enemies think twice about acting against the US
9%
 9%  [ 2 ]
When Iraq is occupied by the US, the OPEC cartel will be broken and the cheap oil will help the US economy
33%
 33%  [ 7 ]
In general, the Middle East is both powerful and anti-American, which is a dangerous combination
4%
 4%  [ 1 ]
To bring democracy to the Middle East via the "domino effect"
4%
 4%  [ 1 ]
George Bush hates Saddam Hussein for personal reasons
9%
 9%  [ 2 ]
Containment of Iraq is not realistic: eventually it will become a rogue state with nuclear weapons.
4%
 4%  [ 1 ]
Total Votes : 21

Author Thread
Scrivener
Noble Knight
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Joined: 20 Jun 2002
Posts: 223
Location: Australia
US motivations in Iraq
   

I thought I'd start a poll on possible motivations for the war in Iraq.

Probably everyone agrees that:
(1) Iraq has WMD
(2) The Iraqi government oppresses the people of Iraq
(3) Iraq has links to terrorist organizations
(4) Saddam Hussein is dangerous and unpredictable

However, it is also true that there are other countries within the Middle East that have more WMD, are more oppressive towards their people, have more extensive links with terrorist organizations, and are just as crazy as Saddam.

Given that there are benefits for the US oil industry in controlling a (former) OPEC member, and that Iraq presents something of a "soft target" since it does not have nuclear weapons (yet), there is naturally a "credibility gap" over the intentions of the US government in Iraq.

What do you guys think is the real story?
Post Mon Mar 24, 2003 1:55 am
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Dov
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Joined: 13 Mar 2003
Posts: 164
Location: USA
   

quote:
Given that there are benefits for the US oil industry in controlling a (former) OPEC member, and that Iraq presents something of a "soft target" since it does not have nuclear weapons (yet),


Exactly. A "FORMER" member. Anyways, the U.S. has already publicly declared that the oil of Iraq belongs to the Iraqi people. There is no way that we could take it now without serious repercussions around the world.

I think this story gives a good idea as to what our government is thinking: http://www.drudgereport.com/flashrt.htm
Post Mon Mar 24, 2003 2:27 am
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Scrivener
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Location: Australia
   

Of course, the United States couldn't simply steal the oil without payment. But as you said earlier, any post-occupation government would have to be friendly to the US.

There would be two aims in this (hypothetical) scenario:
(1) Get the price of oil under US$85
(2) Prevent the threat of oil restrictions being used as a "weapon" as was threatened during the Afghanistan conflict

A US occupation would probably accomplish this.

Personally, I don't think it's quite so simple. The general motivation, in my view, is changing the overall political culture of the Middle East. That change has to happen someday. I'm not saying it would be a bad thing, either.
Post Mon Mar 24, 2003 2:43 am
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Finarfin
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quote:
Probably everyone agrees that:
(1) Iraq has WMD
(2) The Iraqi government oppresses the people of Iraq
(3) Iraq has links to terrorist organizations
(4) Saddam Hussein is dangerous and unpredictable



erm no, i only agree with 2 and 4, the other two have yet to be proved
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Post Tue Mar 25, 2003 12:53 pm
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Toaster
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Joined: 27 Jan 2003
Posts: 5475
Location: Sweden
   

quote:
Originally posted by Finarfin
quote:
Probably everyone agrees that:
(1) Iraq has WMD
(2) The Iraqi government oppresses the people of Iraq
(3) Iraq has links to terrorist organizations
(4) Saddam Hussein is dangerous and unpredictable



erm no, i only agree with 2 and 4, the other two have yet to be proved


Just my opinion.
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Post Tue Mar 25, 2003 4:27 pm
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Dov
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Location: USA
   

What's just your opinion?
Post Tue Mar 25, 2003 4:34 pm
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Gorath
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That he only agrees to numbers 2 + 4. The rest has still to be proven.
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Post Tue Mar 25, 2003 4:37 pm
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Dov
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Ah, yes, we're not a fan of the truth on these boards. (*runs down the street laughing after losing it completely*)
Post Tue Mar 25, 2003 4:45 pm
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Hyrrix
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Joined: 20 Jan 2003
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quote:
Originally posted by Toaster
quote:
Originally posted by Finarfin
quote:
Probably everyone agrees that:
(1) Iraq has WMD
(2) The Iraqi government oppresses the people of Iraq
(3) Iraq has links to terrorist organizations
(4) Saddam Hussein is dangerous and unpredictable



erm no, i only agree with 2 and 4, the other two have yet to be proved


Just my opinion.

And I second that.
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Post Tue Mar 25, 2003 4:52 pm
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Gothic Soul
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Only for Oil (Petroleum).
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Post Thu Mar 27, 2003 5:31 pm
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Jung
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Joined: 19 Jun 2002
Posts: 411
Location: Texas
   

It's odd how Saddam's known weapons and horrific deeds are completely ignored, but the Bush administration could not possibly have honorable intentions in this war even though a primary motive of cheaper oil is tenuous(a secondary or tertiary effect at best).
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Post Thu Mar 27, 2003 5:52 pm
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Myrthos
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Location: Holland
   

It's a poll where you can only choose one option. As such it's per definition flawed.

Well I don't think Saddam's deeds are ignored. There have been demonstrations in several countries including mine, against these deeds when they took place (although very small). I don't know how many demonstrations there were in the USA of course when the kurds were gassed. But at that time there wasn't a single government that was willing to put much value on the issue. As a side note I took it for what it is also at the time as I don't remember taking any action on it when it took place. As such I fitted in nicely into what most people thought about this, which was not much.

The world decided to look the other way as it was more convenient. Looking the other way was not a very honorable thing to do. Of course there were those who did go there. The red cross, Doctors with no frontiers (don't know the correct english name for them) and many other humanitarian organisations. They have put their lives on the line to help the suffering people there, unarmed and without any alterior motives than to help.

If you would like to discuss honorable intentions then to me they are the honorable ones in all of this and they have the honorable intentions.

It's not beyond anyone to change their ways and see the light. Looking the other way was not an honorable thing. Supporting the regime was not a honorable thing. I'm not going to dispute you when you say that the US has seen it's errors and choose the honorable thing to do now however.

I agree with you that the oil issue is a secondary issue at best. But in my opinion so are the intentions to 'liberate' Iraq.
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Post Thu Mar 27, 2003 8:14 pm
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Jung
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Joined: 19 Jun 2002
Posts: 411
Location: Texas
   

My reply was directed at this post:
quote:
Originally posted by Gothic Soul
Only for Oil (Petroleum).


The reality is likely that some or all of the items on that list could be checked as motivations. I believe that it is usually a mix of selfish and selfless reasons that triggers an action like this by a government. To boil it down to "oh, it must be for the oil," is simplistic, insulting and, for some people, self-serving their ulterior agenda.
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Post Thu Mar 27, 2003 8:38 pm
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dteowner
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What puzzles me is that the world is most insistent on not making assumptions about Iraq, yet they seem perfectly content assuming what the true US motivations are, and assuming the worst.
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Post Thu Mar 27, 2003 8:45 pm
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Myrthos
Spoiler of All Fun
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Joined: 07 Jul 2001
Posts: 1926
Location: Holland
   

The world is a big place. I'm part of it and so are you. And I agree with you both you and I assume what the true intentions are of the US government. Your assuptions lead to a different truth than my assumptions, that lead to a different truth than a thid person I assume.

What puzzles me is why your assumptions of the truth are better than mine.
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Why quote somebody else, think of something yourself. - XeroX
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Post Thu Mar 27, 2003 8:57 pm
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