question about war in Iraq

[bears]

The war is touted as George W. Bush's war.  Everyone has been fighting about it for years now. 

Most liberal democrats that I speak with say that the Bush administration went there for nefarious reasons and we never should have been there. 

Most conservative republicans claim a link between Sadaam Hussein and terrorism and say we needed to do something about the region. 

The part that I don't understand is why Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, John Kerry, Harry Reid, and John Edwards do not share this blame in the public arena.  All
of them voted YES to to authorize the use of United States Armed Forces against Iraq.

I guess my question is why does the Iraq war so intensely polarize the two parties when the leaders of those parties both voted in favor of going?  I know this may seem like a loaded quesiton but it's really not.  I am actually curious as to why this phenomenon occurs. 

My first guess is that people ignore what the actual facts are concerning the war.  Most of the voters in this country form their opinions about the war based upon their opinions concerning social issues that so obviously divide the two sides. 

[SAMSON123]

Why worry about all of these worthless details? The issue to concerned with is the ILLEGALITY of the attack on Iraq and Afghanistan as well as the understanding that the war was NOT over some imaginary and now dead Osama Bin Laden or the CIA controlled Al Qaida and Taliban... neither of whom existed in Iraq. Bush is held accountable, because it is he who initiated the attack on Iraq after the US congress abandoned responsibility of announcing a declaration of war.

Today Obama and his administration hold responsibility of continuing the unlawful attack as well as furthering the attack on Afghanistan after the still dead Osama and the imaginary rag tag Taliban and Al Qaida. So in all honesty the blame for what is happening is now held between Obama and Bush.

[dario73]

The part that I don't understand is why Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, John Kerry, Harry Reid, and John Edwards do not share this blame in the public arena.  All
of them voted YES to to authorize the use of United States Armed Forces against Iraq.

Democrats, like most career politicians, never take responsibility for what they do, say or vote for.  It's always someone else's faults. But, they can't change history. They voted with the President on those wars. They are all responsible. Just like Obama is responsible for the current state of the economy. The messiah promised change and a better tomorrow. If this is a better tomorrow, I hope Russia nukes us soon and takes us out of our misery.

[Eyeball Chambers]

I blame them all, I actually like Bush more now.  Him and Obama are completely equal politically, but Bush definitely has a better personality, and better way of dominating (man to man) other heads of state.

[bears]

Why worry about all of these worthless details? The issue to concerned with is the ILLEGALITY of the attack on Iraq and Afghanistan as well as the understanding that the war was NOT over some imaginary and now dead Osama Bin Laden or the CIA controlled Al Qaida and Taliban... neither of whom existed in Iraq. Bush is held accountable, because it is he who initiated the attack on Iraq after the US congress abandoned responsibility of announcing a declaration of war.

Today Obama and his administration hold responsibility of continuing the unlawful attack as well as furthering the attack on Afghanistan after the still dead Osama and the imaginary rag tag Taliban and Al Qaida. So in all honesty the blame for what is happening is now held between Obama and Bush.

i just don't understand how so many people believe that the war in Iraq was a product of our corrupt government imposing its will on a weaker unstable country simply to benefit financially while at the same time wanting to give this corrupt givernment greater control over our healthcare.  give them greater control over everything.  It doesn't make sense to me.

[Eyeball Chambers]

i just don't understand how so many people believe that the war in Iraq was a product of our corrupt government imposing its will on a weaker unstable country simply to benefit financially while at the same time wanting to give this corrupt givernment greater control over our healthcare.  give them greater control over everything.  It doesn't make sense to me.

It was only about money, you think the goal was to kill terrorist in a country without any terrorist presence (under Saddam's government)?

[bears]

Why worry about all of these worthless details? The issue to concerned with is the ILLEGALITY of the attack on Iraq and Afghanistan as well as the understanding that the war was NOT over some imaginary and now dead Osama Bin Laden or the CIA controlled Al Qaida and Taliban... neither of whom existed in Iraq. Bush is held accountable, because it is he who initiated the attack on Iraq after the US congress abandoned responsibility of announcing a declaration of war.

Today Obama and his administration hold responsibility of continuing the unlawful attack as well as furthering the attack on Afghanistan after the still dead Osama and the imaginary rag tag Taliban and Al Qaida. So in all honesty the blame for what is happening is now held between Obama and Bush.

and i disagree about them being "worthless details".  These are the people in charge of our country.  Their record concerning a war that will last over 10 years should be important to you.

[bears]

It was only about money, you think the goal was to kill terrorist in a country without any terrorist presence (under Saddam's government)?

every war throughout the history of earth has been about money.  lets not kid ourselves. 

I just find it funny that you have so little trust in our own government but you KNOW that there were NO terrorists working under Sadaam Hussein's nose in Iraq in the 90's. 

Your unshakeable confidence in Sadaam Hussein annoys me.

Look I don't know all the answers. I will be the first to admit that.  But at the end of the day I firmly believe that you're simply guessing.  And no one can definitively prove you wrong. 

[OzmO]

The war is touted as George W. Bush's war.  Everyone has been fighting about it for years now. 

Most liberal democrats that I speak with say that the Bush administration went there for nefarious reasons and we never should have been there. 

Most conservative republicans claim a link between Sadaam Hussein and terrorism and say we needed to do something about the region. 

The part that I don't understand is why Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, John Kerry, Harry Reid, and John Edwards do not share this blame in the public arena.  All
of them voted YES to to authorize the use of United States Armed Forces against Iraq.

I guess my question is why does the Iraq war so intensely polarize the two parties when the leaders of those parties both voted in favor of going?  I know this may seem like a loaded quesiton but it's really not.  I am actually curious as to why this phenomenon occurs. 

My first guess is that people ignore what the actual facts are concerning the war.  Most of the voters in this country form their opinions about the war based upon their opinions concerning social issues that so obviously divide the two sides. 

We were in War Fever at the time.  To vote against the iraq war was near political suicide.  That's what politicians will do.  Its not about dems on a band wagon, it's no different than BUSH with his stim money.  The repubs would have don the same dam thing. 

[bears]

We were in War Fever at the time.  To vote against the iraq war was near political suicide.  That's what politicians will do.  Its not about dems on a band wagon, it's no different than BUSH with his stim money.  The repubs would have don the same dam thing. 

yeah i've heard that one.  "the bad guys do it too."  "they tricked us."  i get it.  it was not the democrats fault.  

its simply insane that in this political climate THESE are excuses that voters on both sides will accept simply because of their ideological bias.  in all honesty responses like this make me feel like i'm getting way too old for this shit.  these elections are for children.  plain and simple.

[bears]

"In the four years since the inspectors left, intelligence reports show that Saddam Hussein has worked to rebuild his chemical and biological weapons stock, his missile delivery capability, and his nuclear program. He has also given aid, comfort, and sanctuary to terrorists, including Al Qaeda members...

It is clear, however, that if left unchecked, Saddam Hussein will continue to increase his capacity to wage biological and chemical warfare, and will keep trying to develop nuclear weapons.  Should he succeed in that endeavor, he could alter the political and security landscape of the Middle East, which as we know all too well, effects American security.

This is a very difficult vote, this is probably the hardest decision I've ever had to make.  Any vote that might lead to war should be hard, but I cast it with conviction."

Senator Hillary Clinton (Democrat, New York)
Addressing the US Senate
October 10, 2002

you're saying that she didn't really mean this.  she was just bullshitting?  thats really awful.  I for one think shes a little more principled than that.

[bears]

"The hard fact is that so long as Saddam remains in power, he threatens the well-being of his people, the peace of his region, the security of the world.

The best way to end that threat once and for all is with a new Iraqi government -- a government ready to live in peace with its neighbors, a government that respects the rights of its people."

President Clinton
Oval Office Address to the American People
December 16, 1998

no war fever in 1998 man.

[bears]

you have to admit that for a guy who has no emotional attachment to the democratic or republican party and who is just trying to figure it all out for himself that it's pretty hard.  i don't mean to be a smartass.  i just get pissed off because i don't have all the answers.

[OzmO]

yeah i've heard that one.  "the bad guys do it too."  "they tricked us."  i get it.  it was not the democrats fault.  

its simply insane that in this political climate THESE are excuses that voters on both sides will accept simply because of their ideological bias.  in all honesty responses like this make me feel like i'm getting way too old for this shit.  these elections are for children.  plain and simple.

I'm not saying that at all.  Democrats must take full responsibility for voting for that war.  I'm just explaining why they did.  They did what most politicians will do:  Save their ass over doing what's right. 

[bears]

i agree.  but they don't.  thats why i get frustrated.