|
Things are still not as good as they are under Saddam, but even if they were, we still invaded a sovereign nation which was no threat to us and killed between 100,000 and 270,000 Iraqis in less than 10 years, based on conservative estimates. We displaced millions. Despite the fact we've poured billions into the country, there are still many areas without power, water and waste management. There's still a civil war, though it's smaller than it was before.
I suppose I'm glad some Iraqi folks wanted us to invade and destroy their country, but their happiness isn't worth 100,000-270,000 lives, close to $1t in money we'll never see again, and what will certainly be significant blowback in the coming decades. The next 9/11 will be because of our wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the cycle of ignorance, hatred, and violence will continue until the United States finally collapses.
Most of the information in the wikileaks release probably won't surprise those who have posted about the war here, but they should serve as a reminder of what has happened, a way to keep the numbness and apathy away.
|