Costly Iraq War Left U.S. No Stronger In Middle East

[Purveyor]

The US-led invasion of Iraq overthrew a dictator, but 10 years on the war is seen to have destabilized the Middle East, exposed the limits of military power and left America no stronger than before.

With US forces having withdrawn after the deaths of almost 4,500 American troops and an estimated $1 trillion outlay, there is little soul-searching in Washington today about a war that has faded from public consciousness.

And 10 years after the “shock and awe” that launched Operation Iraqi Freedom, removing Saddam Hussein from power, most analysts and diplomats agree the Iraq war did nothing to improve the US position in the Middle East.

“Regardless of whether genuine democracy is viable or even sustainable, the Iraq war did not serve any strategic net gain for the United States,” said Ramzy Mardini, a fellow at the Iraq Institute for Strategic Studies in Beirut.

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http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/03/17/costly-iraq-war-left-u-s-no-stronger-in-middle-east/

IMO we are substantially weaker with not just the regional clusterfunk but for what it did to our economy and the cost of this bastard war.

[KansDem]

1. It wasn't suppose to...

It was intended for a few to make a lot...of money.

Halliburton (Cheney's old outfit and "no-bid contracts&quot , the oil companies, the MIC...all made out like bandits.

If we really wanted to attack the country that attacked us, we would have bombed the hell out of Saudi Arabia. 15 of the 19 attackers were Saudi.

But the Saudi Royal Family are friends and business partners with the Bush Family so that was out of the question.


Fuck you, America! Fuck you!

[bemildred]

2. "No stronger" is a euphemism for "greatly weakened". nt

[Aristus]

3. The war did what it was supposed to do: get Dubyah a second term.

And hugely increased powers of search, seizure, and detention.

What amuses me the most is how the screaming, howling, antigovernment types who rage against President Obama supported and applauded The Clown Prince's huge Constitutional overreaches.