Clear and Present Danger???

[blackfive]

Can anyone explain how Iraq is a strategic military threat to continental USA (or Hawaii)?

[rja211077]

Do you mean 'by what practical means could Iraq attack the USA?'

[Rev.Crowley]

It's not. Iraq's missiles, even if not intercepted, could only reach Cyprus. Of course Iraq is not a threat, it's a poor, impoverished, underpriviledged, pathetic Third World country. But it dares to refuse to accept American economic control, therefore is seen a a 'threat' to perceived American democacy, justice, Momma's Apple Pie, MacDonalds' Burgers, the Mickey Mouse Club and the American way.

[PaulYukochan]

I think americans are worried that they maybe attacked using chemical /biological weapons. (rockets are not the only way to deliver such weapons Reverend!) Iraq has shown a willingness to use them on at least two occasions before - against minorities (including kurds) within iraq and against iran during the war.

[eatstatic]

it's a poor, impoverished, underpriviledged, pathetic Third World country with weapons, strong links to terrorist organisations, a madman at the helm and a known hatred for the USA. You dont have to be knocking on the whitehouse door with a tank to represent a clear and present danger.

[cupra]

What worries me is that North Korea presents a far larger danger to 'democratic' interests but there is absolutely nothing that the world can do, short of a conflict that would no doubt kill anything upwards of 1million people. Iraq is much more of an 'easy' target in my view - rightly or wrongly.

[xyzzyplugh]

Well said Einstein; double standards. British have been the most murderous race of all, going by the hugeness of the british empire; our school atlas had nearly every country and land mass in pink (signifying british 'ownership') and USA are our 'children'.

[rekstout]

It is considered such because it is a known supplier of weapons, materials, funding and training for terrorist organisations. The fact that they are known to have been engaged in biological, chemical and nuclear weapons research adds to the danger in tht they may be supplying such items to the likes of Mr Bin Laden.

Going to war with Iraq is being justified by saying that they would be closing one of the world's largets terrorist supermarkets.

It could be considerd the same as when we bombed the dams to flood the Ruhr valley during WWII - it was not a direct assault against the German military but against their supply chain.

I wish to make it clear that I am not pro-war but neither can I advocate complacency - the status quo is unacceptable. I do agree the the like of N Korea pose an equal threat but they sell weapons for money - the ideologies and geography of Mr Hussain and Co mean that they would happily give the stuff away if it were used against the West. Besides, if you're going to pick a fight you don't go for the biggest kid in the playground - N Korea has a standing army of about 1,000,000 - not good odds and not enough local allies.

[quattro]

I agree with Einstein America needs to examine its foriegn policy it seems almost every unstable country in the world has been touched by its hand Saddam was suppourted by the yanks in the war against Iran as were the Taliban in the war against Russia . They spent millions propping up dictatorships in South America and even brought down one Central A merican popularily elected government over the price they were charging for their bananas' remember them invading Grenada what was all that about?It seems that a war with Iraq is inevitable but I would be happier if the Americans would just look at themselves and ask why the majority of the Moslem world hates them.

[Toomtoom]

Einstein he's not. The arguments deployed here asking the Americans to "look at themselves" are of the childish yahboo variety. Precisely at which point would it be acceptable to the naysayers for America to stop "looking at themselves" and start reacting? "Its okay lads, he said he'd stop at Czechoslovakia!"

[BenDToy]

It is also blindingly obvious that none of the countries who are anti-USA are democratically governed. Is it possible that all western democracies represent a threat to dictators because the dictatorship's populations envy the lifestyle and freedom enjoyed by the democratic nations? It is therefore politically suitable for the Moslim masses to be encouraged to hate them rather than to want to emulate them. (Which I believe most of them secretly do) Contrast the number of people clamouring to relocate from one to the other. There certainly aren't many US or British citizens attempting to get into countries such as Pakistan, Iran etc.