The Muncie Star Press published readers’ thoughts on Iraq. This one explains a lot:
I don’t agree with them coming over here and killing our people like 9/11. But I don’t agree with us going over there for so long and nothing changing. It’s time to bring the troops home.
That people still think Iraq had anything to do with 9/11 is mind boggling. They were Saudis and Egyptians by descent. They attacked us as part of an extremist Sunni terrorist group. Until we got there, Iraq was a dominated by a dictator with nothing but secular concerns — who didn’t have time for a bunch of religious extremists because they threatened the one thing he cared about: his own power.
Interesting, though, that even someone who thought there was some kind of 9/11-Iraq connection STILL thinks its time to end the war.
Meanwhile Bush was on the news last night sounding more and more paranoid…
And Cheney, when asked about Americans’ opposition to the war, said, “So…?”
Five-time Vietnam draft deferment chicken-shit loves him some war… now.
I believe that a lot of Americans see ANY Muslim or any ethnic group from the Middle East as those responsible for the attacks of 9/11. To them it simply doesn’t matter.
A few years ago the Lafayette newspaper asked for comments about the Iranian nuclear program and one comment said something like “I don’t want to see any Arab country with nuclear weapons”. There’s a difference between “Arab” and “Muslim” that most seem to be ignorant of. Not all Muslims are Arabs and, though probably few in number, not all Arabs are Muslims. The Iranians, of course, are Persians NOT Arabs, and believe it or not, not all Iranians are Muslims. There are minority populations of Christians and even Jews living in Iran.
But again, I think to most people in this country it simply does not matter as to the EXACT group of people who were the attackers. Anyone from “over there” will do as objects to be hated and feared.
I believe that a lot of Americans see ANY Muslim or any ethnic group from the Middle East as those responsible for the attacks of 9/11. To them it simply doesn’t matter
Correct Neil .This fundamental ignorance of the region and yes-racism from the general public is exactly what this administration counted on in the run up to the invasion. Mission accomplished. I’m guessing 40 per cent still think there is a direct connection. At least 70 per cent of Repubs.
Bush is still making the connections even in his latest out of touch with reality Iraq speech.
Doug, I think this is incorrect:
BEFORE we invaded Iraq, Saddam paid $25,000 to many the famlies of suicide bombers in Gaza. He wasn’t some bad person that only hurt people in his own country. He was a bad person that hurt people in OTHER countries.
Sure, debate what we should do now in Iraq, it is a valid question. However, please don’t forget that it was documented that he was an active, valid threat to out allies at the very least. Even if we disprove everything else some thought he was able to do, he very clearly supported the people that targeted non-military locations for suicide bombs. That needed to stop.
Yeah, that’s one of those of which I’m still suspicious. Maybe he did send money to Palestinian suicide bombers, maybe he didn’t. I’m not sure how well that’s been vetted, and in light of how wrong some of the other reporting turned out to be, I’m at least dubious.
That was one of those factoids that gave war proponents a fig leaf when they would proclaim that “Saddam Hussein supports terrorism.” Often, as I recall, the speaker was trying to link Iraq with al Qaeda; but all they really had, when pressed, was this Palestinian thing.
Even if it’s perfectly accurate, yes, it’s something that should’ve been stopped, but stopping it through this particular war is one of those deals where the cure is worse than the disease.