Reasons for going into Iraq have been beaten like a dead horse in other threads as well. Intelligence came from many countries and considered reliable. Hussein violated 17 UN resolutions, etc.
And that is why they like Obama IMO, the same way they love Clinton. I know a guy that lived in Dubai for 5 years (just moved back to Omaha a couple months ago) and he was telling me about how there were massive crowds when Clinton came to speak b/c everyone loved him, they hate bush.
To be honest with you, I could care less what the rest of the world thinks of us. What I care about is what the enemy thinks of us. All those years of "velvet glove" approach led to nothing but attacks on US citizens around the world and eventually 9-11 because they considered us weak. If 9-11 happened to some other country, do you think those countries would be thinking the same way they do now? I'd bet they'd be asking for our help to go attack terrorists wherever they are. I thank Bush for not allowing another terrorist attack here in the states since.
Do you honestly believe that our enemies will play nice just because Obama becomes President??? They're going to test him like Biden said. I'm hoping Obama comes out strong and sends a message that he won't be pushed around. And as Commander-In-Chief, I hope he doesn't weaken our military. For the sake of our country, I WANT Obama to succeed. And if he can get others to stop hating us, that will work also. But that's a tall order.
I am not saying some of our policy isn't needed. I fully support being in Afghanistan, but had we not went to Iraq, we could be done in Afghanistan already.
I'm not going to go into the Afghanistan thing since I already covered my whole idea on another thread. In short, not as easy as you think. It was better drawing them into Iraq instead of fighting in those mountains. However, looks like that's where we're headed.
Our protection is paramount, but can't we do it a little more tactfully and with international support? Also, what will make us more safe: Us telling people what to do, or working with people to get things done? I vote the latter.
Forty-five countries either fought in or supported the war in Iraq while other countries remained anonymous. How many more do we need?
Look, i'm no politician nor have do I have any semblance of a political mind. I'm handicapped with a military mindset.