[–] SusanHargrave ago (edited ago)
That was in 1991 and there was reason to go to war. Because guess what? They were right. In 1991 Saddam Hussain DID actually have chemical weapons. I think he had to get rid of them as part of a peace deal. Who cares what that girl said to get us to air strike Iraq when the strikes were justified? These people were desperate and scared of chemical weapons being used against them. They probably knew about them and US intelligence most definitely knew. This wasn't like the 2003 fiasco.
[–] LewsTherinTelamon ago
Yes. I don't contest the existence of chemical weapons. In this thread I never made a judgment call on whether we should have gone in or not. I am simply pointing out the American public were not in favor of going to war until after we were propagandized to about babies being taken out of incubators and left to die on the floor. None of which was true, but public opinion turned after that story was repeatedly used. Democrats and Republicans alike grandstanded over that story.
[–] 7932600? 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago
Why Iraq invaded Kuwait and if was justified or not wasn't really a concern. 2 years before they invaded Kuwait Iraq used chemical weapons on its own people. Most were afraid Iraq would take over Saudi and Iran and control all the oil in the region if we did nothing. Remember at that time Iraq had the most powerful army and air force in the middle east.
[–] LewsTherinTelamon 0 points 2 points 2 points (+2|-0) ago (edited ago)
I remember, and if you remember all of this you must also remember that the American public was disinterested in Kuwaiti's problems when all of that began. Even the chemical weapons use you referenced didn't bring mainstream support in the US for military action in Iraq. Politicians felt the need to create a narrative that would make US involvement more immediately necessary.
As I recall when polled there wasn't a great deal of support in the public to enter the conflict until the propaganda I linked played out.
[–] 7932752? 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago
Yep not many wanted to fight a chemical war. I think the main reason we did was Israel. They were going to be next and if they were attacked with chemical weapons they would have nuked Iraq, and if we kept to JFk's promise of mutually assured destruction It could have caused WW3. So we sit back and let the choice be taken out of our hands or we do something.