drewg

Before the war started, I was against it, because I don't like the way the US feel it's up to them who should rule a country or not. I don't like the way they wanted to rush to war with very much a "Our way, or the highway" attitude, that caused many rifts to open between countries in the EU. When my country (Norway) wanted to stay neutral in the conflict (or rather, with whatever the UN decided), the US ambasador in Oslo said that relationships between US and Norway could be damaged if Norway did not support the US. And the attempt to bribe (or pay for lost income, whatever) the Turkey government to go against their own people (over 90% of the Turkish population where against the war as far as I can remember) was just sickening. Think about what you would feel if your own goverment went against it's own people like that, just because another country was willing to pay them for it. I was really supprised when Turkey said no, but I'm glad that some countries have the guts to have their own oppinion about things.

I don't buy the idea that they would go to war for oil. And I don't buy the argument that they are there on some sort of humanitarian mission to free the Iraqis. There are loads other reasons why the US would want to go to war with Iraq, but I really don't believe in any of them alone. Anyway, I can only speculate what the reasons behind are. My guess is that there is probably a mix of many reasons, honorable and and not so honorable, both for the countries who are for and for those who oppose the war.

But now, when the fighting is over (atleast for some time). I hope that the US will be able to rebuild Iraq and that the can have their own government, elected by their own people, because they have suffered enough. Unfortunately, I'm not to optimistic about all after seeing what happened (is happening) in Afghanistan. But I think a rebuilt Iraq could be a benefit for the US (as opposed to Afghanistan) as long as the new Iraqi government stays somewhat pro-US, and that might inspire the US government to make a real effort to back the country back on it's feet. I also hope the US will not try to punish other countries for disagreeing with their policy, but it seems as if they are going to. This will increase the tension within Europe and will be a setback for the EU. I can't really put all the blame in the US for this, a good portion of it also goes to France who felt like bullying the soon to be EU countries when they did not share the French and German point of view. But I think the US are not to sorry to see that the European Union is not functioning all that well, and that they would not be too sorry if it continued to stay this way.