Have the U.S.'s actions in Iraq made the country's future brighter or darker?

WSJeditor · Joined: 08 Sep 2006 Posts: 677

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rridgeley · Joined: 12 Sep 2006 Posts: 1016

Our country's or their country's future?

I don't think Iraq's future is either bleaker or brighter, just different. Instead of a secular dictator, they will eventually have a religious dictatorship which will hold them back as far as their whole economic/industrial/educational development.

Our country's future is a bit darker, but we'll get through it once we figure out what our role should be internationally. We can't just tell other countries what to do, and in the coming years, we're going to have to make more compromises with China and India. India is a democracy but hopelessly corrupt. China is a somewhat capitalist dictatorship.
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Carol May
Los Angeles

Ken Naka · Guest

We need to get out of Iraq now.

We are now the world's Bear Stearns. Let's stop the delusions of grandeur and save what's left of our self respect as a nation.

wsrita · Joined: 15 Mar 2007 Posts: 676

romesh · Joined: 12 Sep 2006 Posts: 1112 Location: Bellingham, WA

According to muslim scholars, Tyranny is preferable to Anarchy. Currently, they have both. Not only that, their entire infrastructure is destroyed. So, Iraqis have worst of all worlds. Most of them are refugees in their own country and neigbouring countries would prefer that they just leave.

Iraq, an artificial state, is highly fractious. But that is not unusual. India is probably the most artificial state; it is rather called an unnatural state.

Only a strongman not steeped into civil liberties and constitutionalism can restore Iraq back to a governable level. Without strong government, there is no possibility of any economic growth.

Future is darker for Iraq. Unfortunately, that has also made future of US quite cloudy -- there is no possibility of winning the war; and ending is very difficult. Mr Putin and even European leaders will take advantage of US troubles. And Latin America will also defy US. If our own economic problems (especially financial instability) continues, as is expected, even small countries will start defying the US. Middle East is already defying US, by refusing to restrain prices or increase oil production.
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Romesh Chander

Ken Naka · Guest

sac60220 · Joined: 15 Sep 2006 Posts: 635

According to the Politico, now, a majority of Americans believe that we will win the Iraq war. Most of us don't know this because the democrats and the media want us to lose and I'm PBS and all those other BS channels are no longer doing the soldiers that died at the end of their shows - because it's embarrassing for them to put no soldiers or very few at all. So, as support for the war grows, Iraq will disappear as a campaign issue.

I'm guessing that the WSJ editors put this QoD out for two reasons: (1)Because the WSJ is a fair, balanced and honest media organization; (2)give those in the forum who are suffering from Bush Derangement Syndrome one last opportunity to vent their anger because of the success in Iraq. But to my liberal friends who are suffering from BDS, don't despair. Al-qaeda, Iran and other terrorist organizations and nations who support terrorism, are vested into have a democrat win the White House. So, they may push their attacks (after the democrats bloody themselves out in their primary) in the hopes to get a democrat in the White House. You may still have your chance to vent your anger more just before the election.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0308/9016.html
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Carlo Rose

SciFlyGuy · Guest

Nothing is going to change in Iraq or any of the religiously fanatical countries until they want to change. Meanwhile, we're killing ourselves economically and politically trying to provide them the opportunity for change they don't value and can't understand. We no longer have intelligent leadership in this country and it is getting worse.

GEM

Laird Wilcox · Guest

I think the Iraq war was a horrible mistake for the United States, as has been the case with most of the neo-conservative agenda. What is surprising to me is that the media bought into it so easily. Perhaps it's true that when when something shocks people on a visceral level, as was the case with 9/11, their brains just stop working. We will be paying for this for a long time.

nbauman · Joined: 14 Sep 2006 Posts: 8

patnic01 · Joined: 22 Feb 2008 Posts: 2

The terrorists ignored the electoral will of the people and employed violence to seek political power. The violent groups comprise a small fraction of the population, but they have done great harm. The US is helping Iraqis build a stable, secure, prosperous, and free society. Instead of decrying the US overthrow of Saddam Hussein, all should be raging against the nihilistic partisans who are murdering innocents to gain what they could not win in elections.
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Patrick A. Toffler

pschwaeber · Joined: 14 Sep 2006 Posts: 3

To anyone who voted "darker", just think about how "bright" Iraq's future was under Saddam Hussein.

Unless you were part of Hussein's little group of cronies, there was no future for Iraqis under Hussein. From their prospective, it was the only way out.

If you don't like the war, get over it.

gregmcq · Joined: 30 Oct 2006 Posts: 5

How could gasing one's population even be considered brighter than the hope and hard work of building a democracy? I question some people's sanity!

gregmcq · Joined: 30 Oct 2006 Posts: 5

Hope always seems lost after the storm. .
It is up to the Iraqis. No one else. Either they will join the civilized world or not. It's their choice, not ours. We have planted the seed. They must cultivate it.
What infrastructure did they have before the war. It only took days to neutralize it? They have been given the tools to rebuild it however, they would rather destroy it.
It's time to grow up Iraq! Opportunity is knocking and the clock never stands still or goes back.

cihlavf · Joined: 14 Sep 2006 Posts: 277

What a convenient luxury liberals have. For all liberal positions, history begins today.

To Carol's point, the USA's future is brighter, we've not suffered another attack since 9/11.

To Carol's other point, Iraq's future is brighter. The economic woes in Iraq today are the result of Saddam using revenues for palaces, not infrastructure. As messy as liberty is, and has always been, democracy is worth the struggle.
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Virg Cihla
Illinois