Did We Leave Iraq Too Soon?

[pdq1]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-21840718

It seems getting rid of a dictator like Saddam Hussain who kept the Shias in their place was easy meat compared with the now warring factions of Sunnis against the Shias and almost unsolvable. Many say the coalition should return to sort out the mess we have left behind. Should we?

[andy-hughes]

Since we didn't sort it before leaving, what would be the reasons behind going back in to continue not to sort it, and then leave again - with the unfortunate byproduct of more wasted lives and millions of pounds in 'defence' spending.

[whiskeryron]

No we should not have been there in the first place.

WR.

[emmie]

we shouldn't have gone there in the first place.

[doctordb]

John Simpson was saying on the radio today that he felt Iraq was a better place today than the one he visited under saddam's rule.

[jake-the-peg]

Who are this 'many'?

Are they directors of major Arms producers? or wearers of jackets with excessively long sleeves?

[steg]

no, the "mess" was always there, you just didn't hear about it

[grasscarp]

Exactly whiskery. There were no weapons of mass destruction.

[ichkeria]

We should not have been there in the first place.
If we were going to sort out the mess we (albeit unwittingly) created we should have stayed and done so.
Too late now.

[doctordb]

Fender, by 'iron fist' I take it you mean genocide.

[pdq1]

Blair was so pleased with his efforts in Iraq by getting rid of Saddam he's suggesting we get involved in Syria to depose Assad. If that won't encourage Al Qaeda to get more involved nothing will.

[ichkeria]

Just to echo jake's question:
Who are the "many" urging a return to Iraq??

[doctordb]

70,000 thousand civilians have been killed in Syria. That number will keep rising and surpass Iraqi deaths unless someone intervenes. Any other ideas welcome.

[society]

"Did We Leave Iraq Too Soon?"

Not soon enough.

[pdq1]

Interviews with Iraqis in Baghdad recently. They should know...they live there.

[pdq1]

///70,000 thousand civilians have been killed in Syria. That number will keep rising and surpass Iraqi deaths unless someone intervenes. Any other ideas welcome.///

If the rebels laid down their arms the bombing would stop. Russia has been trying to get them to negotiate with Assad but only regime change suits their needs. So do you want Assad to lie down and roll over....its self preservation!

[doctordb]

Pdq1, the rebels have been fighting to rid themselves of a vile dictator who amongst other atrocities ordered the systematic rape of civilian women and children. I think regime change would be the minimum requirement.

[pdq1]

Oh the fog of war.....who are you to believe....now the rebels have their own chemical weapons.

[jake-the-peg]

Interviews with Iraqis in Baghdad - ah the mist clears!

To be honest when you have a power vacuum you'll have a civil war

If we were to go back in we'd be supporting someone else until we pulled out and the same thing happened again

We'll see the same thing in Afghanistan

If you have a generally accepted truce you can have a peacekeeping force to stop small isolated incidents spiralling out of control but if you fly in to impose a peace it'll last for as long as you're there.

[pdq1]

The tables are turning

Syria: regime accuses rebels of killing 25 in chemical weapons attack
Russia and America have been drawn into a dispute between the Syrian regime and rebel fighters over reports that chemical weapons were used in an attack on an Aleppo suburb that killed up to 25 people.