04-29-2003, 06:50 AM
"The problem with Iraq, is the U.S. pi$$ed on it while it was still a "campfire" instead of waiting for it to get out of control and turn into a "forest fire". That irritated a few "people" who still wanted to enjoy the warmth of the "campfire". "
Presumably, you are discussing Gulf I, not Gulf II here.
When Saddam Hussein, operating under the poor presumption that he had tacit US support, invaded Kuwait, international (not just American) opinion turned sharply against him. The authority in charge of such things, the UN, authorized the removal of Saddam from Kuwait, since aquisition of territory by force is soundly condemned pretty much everywhere, including and especially Europe.
Prior to this, the US was closer to Mr. Hussein than anyone, so the argument could hardly apply there. Afterwards, the chances of Iraq turning into a cigarette, let alone a forest fire, were negligible, barring the development of WMD. It is becoming more and more apparent that this exception was not significant, and that Iraq was not only containable, but vastly more so than at any other point in Hussein's reign (and Gulf I wasn't exactly a close thing).
Or was that not the analogy you were making?
Jester
Presumably, you are discussing Gulf I, not Gulf II here.
When Saddam Hussein, operating under the poor presumption that he had tacit US support, invaded Kuwait, international (not just American) opinion turned sharply against him. The authority in charge of such things, the UN, authorized the removal of Saddam from Kuwait, since aquisition of territory by force is soundly condemned pretty much everywhere, including and especially Europe.
Prior to this, the US was closer to Mr. Hussein than anyone, so the argument could hardly apply there. Afterwards, the chances of Iraq turning into a cigarette, let alone a forest fire, were negligible, barring the development of WMD. It is becoming more and more apparent that this exception was not significant, and that Iraq was not only containable, but vastly more so than at any other point in Hussein's reign (and Gulf I wasn't exactly a close thing).
Or was that not the analogy you were making?
Jester