Outstanding Post, Hawk!! Here's what I really don't understand...Your post is perfectly clear....Why don't some people WANT to understand these three things?????
>>>>>>>What are the American interests in Iraq?<<<<<<<
Threefold. Initially it was the upholding of UNSC directed, and binding, cease fire and disarmament resolutions against Saddam's regime, as punishment for his blatant agression against Kuwait.
Secondly, the establishment of an accountable, and preferably democratic government, which it was believed, would secure Iraq's plentiful oil reserves for the consumption of the global economy (not just the US). And in exchange, we would pay for that oil and make the average Iraqi much better off than before. This is obviously still a work in progress, waiting primarily for the "oil law" that we've been pushing for passage through the Iraqi government.
Thirdly, to dismantle any Al Qai'da related groups within Iraq and to terminate that government's support for Terrorism. I've shown you that, in 1993, Saddam ordered his intelligence director to reach out to Arab terrorist groups for the purpose of attacking American interests "in Arab lands", including Somalia. This was an outright declaration of war against the US, as well as a violation of the UNSC cease fire, which forbade Iraqi involvement with terrorist groups. Thus, it in the DIRECT interest of the US to prevent Iraq from supporting terrorist networks, whether directly, financially, or by providing training and logistics. |
