to ask what you thought about the Iraq war?

[kankenbags]

I know it was a long time ago but over Christmas, DH, DDs, DS were hosting both families (mine and DHs) and the subject came up. I have to admit that I was quite shocked that many of them thought it was necessary as most of the people I associate with, were completely opposed to it.

Just wondering what you all thought at the time and now.

At the time I protested it as did most of the people I knew.
What were the reasons for it being necessary?
To discourage countries from switching to euro when trading oil?

They didn’t mention the reasons, just called me a PC socialist who was jealous of Tony Blair

I always thought it was a terrible idea and looking back, I think I was right.

I don’t and still don’t understand what the point of it was? The so called weapons of mass destruction?
Well we have those as well, American have them.. so no I don’t get it, however I’m prepared to be educated

I protested in several marches. Oil and money driven, disgusting

It was unnecessary, Tony Blair has a lot to answer for.

First one, following invasion of Kuwait I felt was justified and if I recall correctly had UN approval. Second one over weapons of mass destruction, TBH not sure. However I remain appalled at how little planning was done for the peace.

Pointless.

DH serves twice in Iraq, he was obviously younger then as this was over a decade ago and was sold the story of "you're going to liberate these oppressed people and do wonderful things". He says on the first tour he was shocked at the living conditions - huge rubbish piles with children on them picking for food scraps, dirty streets and people living in squalor. He genuinely thought they would be part of making their lives better and looked forward to serving there.

On his second tour, a year later - the rubbish piles were twice as big, with double the children picking scraps, and where there used to be squalor there was nothing as it had been destroyed. Families were cut in half a whole towns practically disappeared. He says it was not just pointless, it made it worse for the people of Iraq and the damage was irreparable (and he suffers from crippling PTSD when he left soon after his second tour the same Army who turned him into a soulless killing machine did fuck all to help his transition into a civilian).

How the hell Tony Blair isn't spending the rest of his pitiful life in a prison cell ill never know. At the time (I didn't know DH) I protested with the best of them, I think we must always remember it as an illegal war that shows just what happens when politicians make ill advised knee jerk decisions

I think Gunpowder has summed it up brilliantly. Tony Bliar spelling mistake intended. My God does he have blood on his hands should hang his head in shame.

To say Saddam was an evil piece of shit maniac is under selling him

He used chemical weapons
He invaded another country
He gave diplomatic passports to terrorist
And so many more terrible things

How they justified it to the public and how they did it and dealt with the afternath was poor but it was 100% the correct thing to do

There are countless evil pieces of shit in power on the world yet its funny Blair only picked on the one who led a country sitting on oil 🧐 I don't buy for a second that our MPs give a toss about the evil pieces of shit and what they do when so many of them still shake hands with Robert Mugabe

It's also worth remembering:
WE used weapons to kill Iraqi civilians
WE invaded a country
To Iraqis WE are the terrorists

How many invaded another country?
How many used biological weapons?

The US for a start. They also have a dangerous leader. Why don't we invade them?

I hate trump

But give me an example of him using biological weapons on his own people, of him going to weddings and raping the bride, of him publicly torturing and executing people and making their families cheer and applaud

Trumps an idiot, saddam was evil

GunpowderGelatine
Totally agree with everything you say.
You can't impose democracy on a country, people need to fight for it themselves.
If we are do concerned with human rights, why are we so friendly with Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Arab Emirates?
Our foreign policy is nothing to do with democracy and HR and everything do witj money and power.

It the Us does have a fairly recent history of invading countries and using biological weapons. So why don't we wage war with them? Also, Trump is a rapist.

Look up Mugabe's crimes. How come we never have waged war with him?

Exactly, it was always about oil, and look what happened when one person tried to question it (David Kelly). Politicians don't intervene because they're shocked and appalled at the mistreatment of humans. They intervene when a powerful man will lose money

Pointless - there was no reason on us being there, and no legal reason, and we did nothing to improve the country.

Surprised Blair hasn’t been done for it tbh

Anyone comparing trump and saddam is just highlighting their complete ignorance

Proof that the Nazis didn't lose and they are still collaborating to do this crap.

What?

It's a travesty and a war crime which was planned long before 9/11. Iran is next.

It was utterly horrific. I was there but IME Afghanistan was even worse if that's at all possible. Destruction and cruelty the likes of which thankfully most people will never have to experience.