Perspective on Iraq

Formerly part of the Ottoman Empire, Iraq was occupied by Britain during the course of World War I. In 1920, it was declared a League of Nations mandate under Great Britains administration. Over the years, Iraq attained its independence as a kingdom in 1932. It was proclaimed a republic in 1958, but the truth is a series of military strongmen have ruled the country ever since. (CIA) When did the current war in Iraq start? Is this war in Iraq part of the war on terror or for oil? Most importantly, why should the people of the United States re-elect George W. Bush? These are the questions I will try to answer.

Iraq, reaching a stalemate in the war with Iran they found themselves drowning in debt and had to do something. In 1990 American spy satellites photographed military movement in the Persian Gulf indicating that Saddam Hussein was building a military presence on the border of Kuwait; he had something on his mind. Iraq very rich in oil has one of the biggest oil fields in the Middle East. Hussein felt that Kuwait was selling oil at lower prices to hurt Iraq whereas they could not compete in the world economy. So he sent in his Republican Guard tanks to seal off Kuwait, while Iraqi Special Forces seized government buildings. Basically, Iraqi forces walked right into Kuwait. Kuwait did nothing to provoke Saddam Hussein and most Arab governments never thought that he would invade Kuwait, as a result he gained control of almost one fifth of the world’s oil. Hussein was now thinking this was easy, so let’s go for the ports in Saudi Arabia. If this worked he would control almost forty percent of the world’s oil.

The expansion into Kuwait bought about the Gulf War. He ruled Kuwait liked he ruled Iraq, with torture and terror. This man is well known for the use of chemical weapons against Iran and his own people in northern Iraq. (The Kurds) Kuwaitis tried to fight back, but were no match for Iraq. This encouraged President George H. Bush to construct the largest coalition in world history to liberate Kuwait. “Saddam Hussein had never expected to see forces from America, the great ally of Israel, operating from Arab soil. But the invasion had turned both western and Arab governments against Iraq”. (The Gulf War, Frontline, 1996)

The first Bush administration led the coalition to a historic U.N. vote authorizing the use of force in six weeks if Iraq refused to leave Kuwait. Well as we know he did not leave and in we went. Arab nations were members of the coalition, Saddam Hussein figured that Arabs would never fight on the same side of Israel, therefore, he decided to bring Israel into the war by launching Scud missiles at them. If Israel had retaliated, it would have broken up the coalition. The Bush administrations discouraged Israel from entering the war, for fear of nuclear holocaust and to maintain the coalition. We did this by supplying them with Patriot missiles. The Patriot was an air defense system designed to shoot down aircraft. However, it was upgraded to protect against the Scuds. Thank God this worked or we would all be dead.

The current war in Iraq is a continuation of the first Gulf War. The main objective of the Gulf War was to get Saddam Hussein out of Kuwait, which was accomplished. We probably should have gone after this terrorist and continued on to Baghdad when we had the whole coalition on our side. True, we might have lost a few countries in the coalition by doing this, but look at where we are today. After the Gulf War we did find weapons of mass destruction. He had small pox and anthrax and was working on producing nuclear weapons. I believe the job was not complete and the reason we are there now is the result of 9/11. The world is a safer place and we have protected the world’s oil because we got this terrorist. Job done! The people of Iraq are free of his torment and only time will tell if Iraq can be a free democracy.

We have to look at the main question before us today, the most important question of our time: Why should we reelect President George W. Bush for a second term? These are turbulent times and we, as American citizens need a strong President to continue the war on terror. This man has proved himself by not backing down from his the prime objective. The President put the world on notice; “We will hold any person or regime that harbors or supports terrorists as guilty of terrorism as the terrorists themselves”(www.georgewbush.com). This is what is needed! I do not want another 9/11 here in our homeland nobody does. We do not and will not allow our country be a playground for foreign terrorists.

Let us look at what the President has done on the war on terrorism. Afghanistan and Iraq are now liberated from repressive and oppressive dictatorships. Terrorist camps in Afghanistan are now destroyed and the people are voting in their own democratic elections. The Afghans are now our allies in bringing down Al Qaeda terrorist. Saddam Hussein is imprisoned waiting for a trial for crimes against his country. There is an interim government in Iraq, which is going to have a free election in January. The President while using force presently knows it is not the answer for the security of our country and seeks to change the resentment of people towards United States, however, this will take some time. He also wants to change the conditions that bring the recruitment of terrorist. Freedom for the people is needed; free people do not support terrorists. All over the world people must denounce weapons of mass destruction and help the world to be a safer place to live. Even Moammar Khadafi of Libya responded to our President by surrendering their weapons program.

I remember after the Gulf War, George H. Bush had enormous popularity, but two years later lost his reelection bid for the White House. George H. Bush was the first President to lose a reelection after winning a war. One bumper sticker I saw said, “Saddam’s got his job, How about you?” Ironic isn’t it? This is the main reason to reelect George W. Bush, to show the world we are resolute on the war on terrorism. This year I want to see a bumper sticker saying, “America did its job. We got Hussein!”