Sorry dumb question. What exactly is the U.S. fighting for in Iraq?

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[Lefty48197]

1. because if we don't fight the Iraqis there, we'll have to fight them here

or something like that.

[Robeson]

2. In one word: Oil.

[ShrewdLiberal]

13. ...and personal gain (more wealth) for the plutocrats

[tlsmith1963]

3. Who Knows?

The reason seems to change every week.

Tammy

[0007]

4. The right to steal Oil democratically

[Rising Phoenix]

5. we're fighting for freedom

freedom for the iraqis to Live in their homeLand.

[sniffa]

12. doh

that was s'posed to be me.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

6. Well, it's important to support the arms and oil industry.

Oh, wait..I mean "democracy" and "freedom".

Wars are always about $$$$$.

[DS1]

7. Step 1 Invade Iraq

Step 2 ?????
Step 3 Profit!

[frylock]

11. whug..

white house underpants gnomes.

[bpilgrim]

8. Iran

and a constitutional THEOCRACY

fyi

peace

[USA_1]

9. ... for ...

... war profits

[eShirl]

10. for W's precious "legacy" (n/t)

[Drum]

14. Power,

anywhere and any way you can take it...another symptom of a larger disease.

[pretzel4gore]

15. nothing

the us is fighting for nothing. bush, of course, benefits because time's wasted, and every day that he remains in power strengthen the difficulty to recognize the bush admin hasn't ever been elected, has always lacks legal authority yada yada....iraq is the least of our worries (maybe that's why it will be a suitable fulcrum to gently hoist bush and his mighty mites outta the halls of power)
now you know

[stepnw1f]

16. Military Industrial Complex Needs Its Market

gotta sell all that ammo to somebody....

[Canuckistanian]

17. Not sure, the reason keeps changing...

I thought these conservatives were always "on-message".

WMD's, "regime change", spreading freedom, defeating Islamofascists.

Pick one and stick to it, already.

[CoffeeCat]

18. Very good question....

If a politician could cogently speak about this administration's ever-changing rational for fighting this war--we could make them look even more insane than they currently do.

1.) First-----we were supposed to oust Saddam because he was a horrible leader who used WMD on his own people--and he may use them on us.

2.) Then----after it became apparent that the WMD was nonexistent--we were supposedly spreading freedom to the Iraqi people. We were bringing democracy to the world and enveloping Iraq in a big ol blanket of peace and warm fuzzies.

3.) Now----we're fighting the terrorists.

The rationale for war in Iraq has evolved. What a crock! Did the rationale for our purpose on WW2 evolve?

This administrations' ever-changing rationales are bad enough. However, if you look closely at their reasons for war---it's evident that we've majorly farked up the entire war.

Initially (#1) there was NO insurgency. No car bombs. No violence. The IRaqis could get to the market without the risk of being blown up. The road to the airport was moving along fine. Running water and electricity was abundant. Our rationales tell a story. We have destroyed Iraq's infrastructure and we have created all of this violence.

It's total crazymaking. As the violence has grown--we have used that very violence--which we caused--to justify our presence in Iraq.

It's just insane.

Oh hell. What was the question?

[Tom Joad]

19. Oil, hegemony in the region, protecting our only *friend* in the region

You get the picture.
And yeah, the greatest threat to US influence in the region?
Al Queda? ...nahhhh, The US used to fund these people.

Democracy. The US does all its can to prevent that from happening, especially in the developing world.

[spanone]

20. uh, well, you know, sorta, kinda, oily stuff, foreign controlled democracy

bullshit

[Darranar]

21. A number of reasons.

1. Oil. No elaboration necessary.

2. The affirmation of the Bush Doctrine - that the US can invade any country it wants as it sees fit, as long as it concocts an excuse.

3. Imperial domination of the Middle East.

4. Domestic political control (backfired).

[Disturbed]

22. W finally told the truth.

"The terrorists want to control the oil. Our way of life will be at risk". George W. Bush (Nov. 2005)

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23. That photo is very telling.