2 ms·

Then by the stated aims going in the US “won” both wars in Iraq.

• dlisboa 7mo ago
  Some of them. These were the stated objectives as per general Tommy Franks: * Depose's Saddam government Accomplished. * Identify, isolate, and eliminate Iraqi WMDs Failed. They were never there. * Find, capture, and drive out terrorists from Iraq Failed. Iraqi-based terrorism increased in the aftermath. * Collect intelligence related to terrorist networks, and to "the global network" of WMDs Failed. North Korea tested its first nuclear weapon in 2006, years after the invasion. The US accuses Iran of trying for them to this day. Chemical weapons were used by ISIS. * End sanctions Accomplished. * Deliver humanitarian support to the Iraqi people, including the displaced Failed. There were more displaced people due to the war than before and a higher need for humanitarian support which took years to complete. * Secure Iraq's oil fields and resources, "which belong to the Iraqi people" Accomplished. Somewhat, US and UK based companies, plus China, now runs a lot of their oil fields. Iraqi GDP per capita is one of the lowest in the region. * Help the Iraqi people "create conditions for a transition to a representative self-government" Arguable. Parts of the country want to secede and have armed groups. Representation and turnout is not amazing, but I guess not even in Western countries it is.
  • abenga 7mo ago
    > Secure Iraq's oil fields and resources, "which belong to the Iraqi people" The cynical read of this statement (extract resources from the invaded countries in order to enrich the American capital class) is the primary aim for all these conflicts.
    • dlisboa 7mo ago
      That's not cynical. Trump has done the world a great benefit by transparently saying out loud what was hidden US policy for decades.