Quote:
Originally Posted by
lynx
It seems to me that the Clinton administration told Saddam Hussein to comply with the UN resolutions or face action. Since he ultimately complied the action taken was relatively small compared to what it could have been.
Compare that with the actions of the Bush administration. They also told Saddam Hussein to comply with the UN resolutions or face action. The UN weapons inspectors said that by and large he was cooperating, but the Bush-Blair conspirators went ahead and invaded anyway.
What message does that give to the rest of the world? Seems to me like it's "comply or not, we'll attack anyway". The answer which seems to be resulting is "Fuck you, we may as well carry on with what we are doing".
Nice going.
It must be acknowledged that the only difference between the two administrations was one of will.
I am very interested, however, in your (and others') tendency to forego any mention of 9/11.
This is not to say there was any other than an empathetic connection between Iraq and the terrorists who perpetrated the event, but 9/11 gave the U.S. a different lens through which to view the entire situation in the mideast.
As there is no shortage of our stateside citizenry willing to forget 9/11 ever happened, though, I certainly cannot blame
you for being unimpressed by it.
Nonetheless, 9/11 had a predicate effect on U.S. foreign policy.