Did Canadians Support the Invasion of Iraq?

[043]

Jack Layton is quoted in the Toronto Star this morning saying that Canadians opposed the American Invasion of Iraq. I know for one, that I support in 200%.

What do you people think?

 

[Da_man]

I dont think the war in Iraq was justified at all, and all they did was create a new generation of terrorists.

But thats just my opinion

 

[LowRider]

Does anyone here actually know what GW Bush's reasoning behind the invasion of Iraq was?Who knows what kind of information he had available to him before making that decision?My point all i ever hear is people talking out of their asses about Bush and his war over oil.Don't judge a man until you have walked a mile in his shoes.At least he is a real Leader,and we haven't had one of those in Kanuckistan for a very long time.

 

[x-grunt]

Complex issue. I support the downfall of Hussein. I did not support the way the US went about it, nor do I feel it was was the right target in the war on terror. Events seem to be supporting that. I fully agree with Afghanistan, and I think future operations against reasonable threats are a good thing.

However the US decision makers thought it was worthwhile. I can not fault them for doing what they thought was right. I respect their people even if I do not like some decisions made. They are still our neighbours and a valued friend and ally.

Almost everyone I know did not support the US invasion, but a lot of that was kneejerk "how dare they snub the UN" type of reaction, not a reasoned look at the situation.

 

[043]

Does anyone here actually know what GW Bush's reasoning behind the invasion of Iraq was?Who knows what kind of information he had available to him before making that decision?My point all i ever hear is people talking out of their asses about Bush and his war over oil.Don't judge a man until you have walked a mile in his shoes.At least he is a real Leader,and we haven't had one of those in Kanuckistan for a very long time.

You can play on my team anytime LowRider!

 

[Ex-Dragoon]

Folks this was discussed before....

 

[Infanteer]

Yes, the "going into Iraq" argument is two years old and won't get us anywhere.

Look at the current situation (Iraqi attempts to rejoin international community as a functioning state, certain sub-state efforts to derail this) and make your current evaluation based on that.

 

[vangemeren]

Like Infanteer said, the decision to go into Iraq is two years old, This horse has been beaten so many times. Debating whether or not the war was right or wrong isn't going to change anything. What we have to concentrate now is the reconstruction of Iraq.

Right now this thread is civil, but give it a day or two and no matter what it will be locked because of a childish argument. I have seen it too many times...

 

[Michael Dorosh]

Jack Layton is quoted in the Toronto Star this morning saying that Canadians opposed the American Invasion of Iraq. I know for one, that I support in 200%.

What do you people think?

How do you support something 200%?  By definition, the most you could possibly support something is 100%.  Isn't hyperbole like that a bit self-defeating?

 

[Canuck_25]

  I did not support the invasion of Iraq, and last time i saw, the majority of the Canadian people didnt either. The world was lied too, and thats why the majority of the worlds people didnt support it. I would have supported a invasion on Iran or North Korea before Iraq, mainly because their nuclear weapons are visible on telivision and the purposes of developing nuclear technology is a horrible one.

 

[dutchie]

Like Infanteer and others have said, the invasion is old news. There's no problem discussing something that has long past, but there really isn't anything new to discuss that hasn't already been brought up and chewed on by half the members of this board. Me included.

Basically, most folks fall in one of 3 categories:

1-GWB is the devil and a war criminal. The invasion is illegal. The UN should impose sanctions on the US. The elections are a farce. The UN is the one and only international body that can authorize military action in one country by another.

2-GWB is a great Pres, has prosecuted the war on terror superbly, and the world would be better if there were more like him. Saddam was the devil and any means to oust him from power is/was justified.The UN is a toothless, irrelavant, and corruption riddled organization who do way more harm than good.

3-The basis for war, while shaky now, was convincing and 'true' at the time. They didn't deceive us, and acted in good faith. Now that they are there, finish the job, and hand over power to locals.The elections are a good first step to rectifying the mistakes made.

Regardless of where you fall in those groups (some are a lttle of one, a little of another), we've heard all of the arguments....about ten times over.

If you want to discuss Iraq, perhaps we should discuss the more pressing and important issues relating to Iraq: the recent elections, rebuilding process, withdrawal of US/Western forces, security, conflict between the 3 main groups, etc.

 

[sigpig]

At least he is a real Leader,and we haven't had one of those in Kanuckistan for a very long time.

Apparently we have different definitions of 'real Leader.'  A leader puts his troops in harms way as a last resort, not as an exercise in showing the electorate how manly and decisive he is. Yes, Saddam was a bad guy, but the world is full of them and Iran was no threat to the US and had little to do with Islamic terrorism.

A leader admits mistakes and takes responsibility for them, he doesn't change reasons for an action as earlier ones are proved to be wrong. Weapons of Mass Destruction!!! er, nope - freeing the Iraqi people!!

Obviously, I did/do not support the invasion of Iraq. Every night CBS evening news does a "Fallen Heroes" profile of someone who died in Iran. Every one makes me sad, but when I see someone who left young kid(s) behind, I want to ask GW how he sleeps at night.

 

[chaos75]

I think most Canadians did not support the war because they could tell that the foundations of the war were based on half truths and embellishment.  While admittedly Saddam and the Bathist regime were dictators and repressive to their people, they were still a sovereign nation which had never attacked the US.  As for GWB being the devil, I dont think so.  It is the collection of NeoCons that actually run the US government while he is merely a figurehead.  As for Iraq now, yes it is important to finish what has been started as it is always important to maintain stability in any region to keep some semblance of law and order.  The recent US elections denote the differing social climates in out two respective countires, which should be fairly indicative of why Canadians as a whole did not support the war.  As for other coalition countries, a majority of the population did not support the war there either, but their governments could not give up the allure of financial, political and military aid that was offered from the US.  Hence the coalition of the willing, apart from AUS, UK, Spain and Italy, consisting of financially and militarily weak countries.  But as was stated before the war is almost two years old, so the real discussion belongs in the thread on whether Canada should commit to any military contributions now, which of course it shouldn't.