Weren't things much better for Americans when Saddam was still president in Iraq?

Jimmy Jazz

So far, yes, the US was better off with Saddam in power.

The idea was that putting democracy into Iraq would cause a change for the better in the other authoritarian regimes in the Middle East. As it stands now, the authoritarian governments that exist breed resentment, hatred, are corrupt and treat the economy like it exists purely to serve the few on top. These are ideal conditions for recruiting terrorists. If democracy spreads one imagines these conditions will be reduced.

Whether this portion of the plan will work out remains to be seen.

I think a clear lesson learned would be: send the right amount of Soldiers to get the job done the first time around. Except, oh wait, we learned that lesson before. It was codified in the Powell Doctrine. Too bad we ignored that. Too bad Rumsfeld and co were more concerned with politics and ideology than with doing things right.

Mark F

Yes actually they were. Ousting Saddam has destabilized Iraq and turned it into a training ground for thousands of new terrorists while increasing Iran's power and influence in the region.

BlacKnight

Under Saddam, it was both well for Americans and certainly for Iraqis, except the minority Kurds who felt they were persecuted. Look, Iraq had a stable government, government that had rules and laws that its people obeyed. The problem is, if the rules of another country is different than ours here in America, than we simply called it "dictatorship". Yes, no question about it, Saddam was a dictator, but wasn't he a dictator back in the 70's-80's, when the US considered him a reliable ally?. The fact of the matter is Saddam was simply doing what any other world leader would. Defend his country and persecute and murder anyone who is collaborating with his enemies. It is called TREASON. Nothing new. Saddam felt it was a matter of national security for his country, like any other leader Saddam took the time to persecute people who were armed, trained and possibly prepared to overthrow him by the US. The US did that previously in different countries, they did it in Somalia, Ethiopia, Iran, Panama, Haiti, etc and Saddam exactly did all he could to prevent his country from becoming another US victim. The fact the US used force, should tell you that every other option failed, including arming and supplying apposition groups to overthrow him.

Look at Iraq today, it is a total chaos. Every infrastructure is destroyed. It is the American tax payer paying for all that now, and possibly bankrupt them.

robert f

Iraq was a secular country and was a counter balance to Iran. It was a mistake to go in there. We also said that we weregoing to topple the Taliban for not giving up Osama.

Whiskey Hotel

nope, america didn't have nearly as much oil as they do now :)

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