What would Saddam be doing if it were not for US action?

[Epidemic]

For the anti war people among us. Based upon what you know or think you know what would Saddam be doing right now had the US lead War, sanctions, inspections, Lul, Inspections and current action.

Unchecked by anything more than resolutions perhaps. Sort of like Israel. Sanctions have never been thrust upon them just a series of resolutions.

What would the middle east likely look right now 12 years post kuwait invasion?

Epidemic, you fail to understand that people want to live their lives in their own way. Not dictated by US dictates.

If they want to live under Saddam or that Kim peep, let them. You can't enter people's houses and tell them how to cook dionner what to eat what TV show to watch.

Let them ask for help then give it.

This sort of interfering in other people's business just creates hatred for the US and resentment although the intentions may be good.

Do you realize how many splinter terrorist groups will be created bu this war? This war, no matter what happens, will not solve a thing (except help GWB politically if there aren't too many casualties) and in fact create instability in the region, resentment for the US and eventually nothing of value will be achieved.

This is what I have most concerns--the brave soldiers will sacrifice a lot and achieve nothing.

[Epidemic]

Shahani,

Do the exercise and you will know this is not just about Iraq.

Iraqi technology was on the march, Saddam's goals are well stated and in evidence. Given the technological advances, increased resources of Kuwait what would saddam be doing 12 years later. This is not just about how the people of Iraq want to live their lives. This is about Israel, saudi arabia, turkey, jordan, syria, iran, the US, Europe. appeasement would result in much larger ramefication than you might imagine. Even if the UN acted on the attack of saddams neighbors, it would be too late. The UN would be out gunned and outmanned Millions would die. You would have hitler X 2 in the end.

Not true at all. Why is the majority of humanity against this war?

Because it has no basis except Bush's political agenda and oil.

And that's my true belief and I'm not about to change my mind now.

[Epidemic]

So you refuse to try and evaluate the situation as it would have been had the corrupt US not intervened.

If US action is so bad please do tell what would the world look like right now were it not for dealing with the threat of saddam.

Even if the inspections were to continue how long would the continue. When would saddam die and his son (who by all accounts makes saddam look nice) were to take power.

The threat does not have an end. It is a powerful government capable of overriding public opinion at the point of their own guns. Overthrows will only be undertaken by the dirtiest of people and things will continue. This is not the days where you could use a pitch fork an have a reasonable chance of sticking it in the eye of your troops.

The cahnge in regime should come from within Iraq. It is a slow political/social process. War will never solve the problem. Sure it will remove Saddam and his two peeps. But it will not solve the basic underlying issues.

Remember you can't force your opinion down people's throat.

[Epidemic]

Here is how the scenario is likely to unfold. There would be hundreds of thousands of dead kuwaitis. I genuinely believe that saddam would have completed his nukes and would be marching on saudi arabia the kurds would virtually not exist and the Isralis would be in an all out war employing nukes. Based upon historical record and intelligence commonly available, and saddams own words try to disagree with this. The UN would definitely have taken any significant action to stop any of this.

Is this not the likely scenario.

this goes way beyond the Iraqi people being tortured killed and surpressed. Uprisings have been attempted at a cost of thousands of lives and thousands more in retribution. The civillian population can not be heard by saddam and can not be overthrown by their efforts. Outside intervention is the only chance they would have for resolving this situation.

These are all assumptions designed to fit your final answer. You are preempting everything.

Putting the cart before the horse as it were.

[Epidemic]

They are extrapolation based upon saddams books speaches and historical efforts.

What are your speculation based upon.

Do the exercise if it does not scare you too much. Think of it honestly.

epidemic, what say we invite some peeple to this party? Getting kinda stale since we both has dug in our heels in what we truly believe in.