After 100hrs of battle the land war ended in Iraq. Did we do enough ? Should we have ende Saddam reign then ? Are we now paying the price for unfinished business ?
Id have to say "Yes " we stopped to darn soon we had the men and material on the ground and some units were within eyesight of Bagdad. But NNNNOOOO the iraqies were out of Kuwait which is what the U.N wanted and we had to stop. The Kurds were in open revolt against Sadams troops we should have helped them to eradicate the problem. Now we have to sit back and watch our kids go other there to clean up the mucked up mess.
Yep, the kurds and other Iraqi factions were encouraged by our Govts to rise up they did, they died. Not our finest moment. In hindsight I think we needed Saddam to remain a force in the region, we had clipped his wings, and now we had a reason to stick around in the region. You know ,in case the bogey man came back.
I've always felt we should have finished the job and taken SH out of power. Would've been much easier to fix Iraq in '91 than it is now. I understand, but don't agree with, the political reasons for why we stopped short.
hi,yes i do think that the first one ended too soon,i was in the AZ national guard then,my unit was going to be deployed,but the war ended,my son was 10 years old during the first one.i never thought in my wildest dreams,that number one,we'd be doing it AGAIN,number two,my son would be involved in the second war,i often wondered,what would have happened if we could of gone all the way to BAGHAD like we were suppossed to!!! redfleigergirl
someone help me I need info on the Gulf war to file my claims benefit for PTSD and I need websites with info on the chronology thanks needsumyork@yahoo.com
You know, I was in the Gulf in 1991, and didn't really understand why we were all sent home so soon, leaving him in power. In the decade that followed, the stupid power games he played were infuriating, but when we had to invade, that was almost too much.
A couple of years ago, my brother's unit was called up and he went over. The whole time he was there, and even after he got back, and while we were watching the news coverage of Saddam's trial and execution, I felt guilty.
For some reason, I felt like every soldier who went after 1991 was still dealing with our mess. When it really heated up, and the current conflict started (or maybe it's the same conflict but a new chapter)I just couldn't help but feel guilt that soldiers were dying fighting what we could have, and should have, ended.
So in answer to your question, yeah, we should have finished it 16 years ago. Heaven help us for leaving the mess for others to clean up.
Originally posted by Sawyer124: You know, I was in the Gulf in 1991, and didn't really understand why we were all sent home so soon, leaving him in power. In the decade that followed, the stupid power games he played were infuriating, but when we had to invade, that was almost too much.
A couple of years ago, my brother's unit was called up and he went over. The whole time he was there, and even after he got back, and while we were watching the news coverage of Saddam's trial and execution, I felt guilty.
For some reason, I felt like every soldier who went after 1991 was still dealing with our mess. When it really heated up, and the current conflict started (or maybe it's the same conflict but a new chapter)I just couldn't help but feel guilt that soldiers were dying fighting what we could have, and should have, ended.
So in answer to your question, yeah, we should have finished it 16 years ago. Heaven help us for leaving the mess for others to clean up.
You did as you were asked...within our laws Mr Sawyer. As others before...and unbroken line of Americans...right or wrong wasn't our choice...
Especially in hindsight of the current situation in Iraq it's very easy to say yes we should have went in and removed him in 91. That being said, you can read Bush Sr. and Powell's comments about their apprehensions for not doing so. They make a lot of sense when they spoke of not having a determined plan for doing so, and most importantly did not want take essential responsibility for the country. I can't remember who said it but whoever said 'once you take him out, the country is yours whether you want it or not'. I have to agree ... Again looking at the way it is today, I would have much preferred for the administration to just have started pumping weapons and support into the Shiites and opposition groups and let them WIN AND PROTECT THEIR OWN freedom on their own terms. I support and champion freedom and democracy everywhere but not by fighting their battles for them. Read up on the sadly forgotten Powell Doctrine ... it made sense then and makes even more today.
ALL 1991, Jan, 16. I was enjoying my dismissal from a major aerospace corp, as an older employee... The TV was full of pundits all saying the same, This was a repeat of NAM, etc. 100 hours plus the air war six weeks later, the same pundits were saying GO TO BAGHDAD.... Today, we are in Iraq, Saddam is gone, the provinces are slowly but surely coming into the 21st century, freedom is being felt and enjoyed by the folks. Should we have done all this in 91,? Probably not, as the time was not right, nor the Global leadership not ready. Liberty, Freedom and the economies that go with these concepts take FOREVER to come to fruition. We have to examine the progress, lessons, and the actual information on the ground to make these decisions. end
How long has the debate raged that we should have let Patton take Russia in 45 or let MacArthur shut down China during Korea? The same debate will go on forever about DS/DS. Shoulda-coulda-woulda. What we have now is what we got.
Originally posted by TennSlim: ALL 1991, Jan, 16. I was enjoying my dismissal from a major aerospace corp, as an older employee... The TV was full of pundits all saying the same, This was a repeat of NAM, etc. 100 hours plus the air war six weeks later, the same pundits were saying GO TO BAGHDAD.... Today, we are in Iraq, Saddam is gone, the provinces are slowly but surely coming into the 21st century, freedom is being felt and enjoyed by the folks. Should we have done all this in 91,? Probably not, as the time was not right, nor the Global leadership not ready. Liberty, Freedom and the economies that go with these concepts take FOREVER to come to fruition. We have to examine the progress, lessons, and the actual information on the ground to make these decisions. end
What might have been done right with 3 months back and 100 billion dollars in 1991 is taking 5 years, and close to 700 billion dollars now. Casualties aren't comparable either. And in spite of your 'rosy' observations , the 'fat lady has yet to sing'.
If there's any lesson, it's 20/20 hindsight, twice:'have a plan and do it right the first time'.
I was in D/S and at the time I felt we were not done. I recall we were just outside K - city when we got the word of the cease fire. We were all thinking is that it? We all thought we would be back soon you know within a couple of years or so. Turned out out to be more like 12. May be if we had stayed things would be different now. I know it will not change things. That is just the way I fell.
Our war did end soon, on;y because of politicians. I can tell you right now, that it did not have to end like this. The regular combat ended, but we are now in a urban combat setting again. I hear everyday from Bahrain, about what is happening. I hope that my friends will make it home, and be with thier families. Our war is not over by a long shot, and I am still in the fight.
Originally posted by OldGuy54: How long has the debate raged that we should have let Patton take Russia in 45 or let MacArthur shut down China during Korea? The same debate will go on forever about DS/DS. Shoulda-coulda-woulda. What we have now is what we got.
Words worth repeating..but given the situ today...
Does the average citizen know...or, if they did, have the stomach for what we face?
