I supported the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Despite the lack of WMDs (we must keep the present government accountable for the "dodgy dossier") I believe that the seeds of democracy should be planted around the world. Contain Saddam? You can't impose democracy? Tell that to all the Iraqis who had fingers chopped off with secateurs or their shirts ironed whilst still wearing them.
That said, I have become distraught with the descent into chaos within Iraq and the power vacuum that has sucked in the insurgency. The lack of long term planning and no strategy for peace has been catastrophic. For the sake of humanity, I would stay in Iraq until the job is done. You cannot put a date on leaving.
In the future, there must be transparency between military and political decisions to ensure the facts are not manipulated to suit the plan, rather the other way round.
About Me
- James E
- 33, liberal free-market Atlanticist, monarchist, political enthusiast, blogger, website builder, bon viveur, skier, film watcher, man of Kent, Old Harrovian, Durham University alumnus, master of engineering, son of London, kit car builder, yogi, iPod Touch aficionado, iPhone communicator, ex-public sector leech, consulting monkey. All round slacker.
1 comment:
I supported the invasion on the basis of removing Saddam, given his persistent flouting of UN resolutions, gaming of the inspections procedure, and his willingness to starve his people in defiance of UN sanctions and in abuse of UN aid programmes. Allowing him to get away with this contempt for decency and international opinion did great damage to the credibility of the UN. People like Chirac who thought national interest was more important than sending a strong message are beneath contempt.
Never believed the guff about WMD, but felt sorry for Blair that he had to exaggerate to do what he believed was right and important, once people like Chirac made concerted international action impossible, and his backbenchers refused to back action without an extra UN mandate unless he showed a clear and present threat to the UK.
But from then on, it has been one cock-up after another. We have lost this battle. The way to lose a war is not to recognise when you have lost a battle. The preservation of the temporary illusion that we could still win is not worth the lives of our soldiers.
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