A country song says we invaded Iraq and Afghanistan to defend our way of life, which includes “jeans that fit just right.” Was that from a recruiting strategy or just a manifestation of young brains not being fully developed?
The official weapons of mass destruction and involvement in 9/11 reasons for Iraq were wrong — honest mistakes or, in my opinion, a pack of lies.
Some charitably hold to the motive of ridding the world of a tyrant. If so, we will be at that task for a while.
The most believable reason to me, supported by evidence available online, is our leaders thought it was necessary to secure the flow of oil from the Mideast to the world. It was not just for American oil companies, mind you, although I imagine they stood to benefit in this scenario. The current oil glut suggests that would have been a mistake, but it would, unlike the WMD and 9/11 fabrications, have feasibly been an honest mistake.
Why we invaded Iraq and Afghanistan are important questions that will and should be debated for generations. Such questions and answers — there are many and they are complex at all levels of our politics, culture and character — are what history is made of. They are how we learn.
By the way, why do you suppose we fought with Great Britain and her allies in the American Revolution; the Cherokee People twice; Great Britain again; France and Spain; the Eyalet of Tripolitania and Sultanate of Moroco (Barbary Wars); Tecumseh’s Confederacy (Battle of Tippecanoe); Great Britain, British North America and various Native Peoples (War of 1812); the Regency of Algiers (Barbary Wars again); the Seminole People in Spanish Florida; Prairie La Crosse; the Chiefdom of Kuala Batee; the Seminole People again resulting in removal to Indian Territory; the Republic of Canada; Mexico; the Cayuse People; the Apache People; Native American Peoples in the Puget Sound region; Rogue River People; Seminole People again; Yakama People; Mormons in Utah; Paraguay; the Navajo People; the Paiute, Shoshone and Bannock Peoples; Mexico again; the Confederate States of America; the Cherokee People again and again resulting in removal to Indian Territory; the Red Stick Creek People; the Apache, Ute and Yavapai Peoples; Nisqually, Muckleshoot, Puyallup, Klickitat, Haida and Tlingit Peoples; the Dakota Sioux People; the Cheyenne People; the Lakota, Cheyenne and Arapaho Peoples; the Modoc People; the Comanche People; Mexico again; the Nez Perce People; Mexico again; the Kingdom of Hawaii; Spain, Cuba, Guam, Philippines and Puerto Rico in the Spanish American War; the Philippines; China in the Boxer Rebellion; Mexico again; Germany and allies in World War I; intervention in Russian Civil War; Germany, Japan and allies in World War II; Korea; Vietnam; Cuba again; Dominican Republic; Grenada; Panama; First Gulf War; Bosnian War; Somalia; Kosovo; Intervention in Libya; ISIS in Iraq and Syria; cold and drug wars; among others on and likely off the record?
For genes that fit just right? Maybe.
HOWELL MEDDERS
Fayetteville