Iraq war casts shadow over Republican White House hopefuls

Hillary was for the invasion also. Is she the Teflon woman? She has been hiding for weeks now. Probably brewing a doozie of a lie to somehow destroy her server and the Clinton Foundation mistakes.

Jeb Bush is his own man. His name is Bush and views are entirely his own. For the rest of the GOP candidates, each have unique views and opinions. To label them and group them is quite shallow minded.

Jeb just dug himself in deeper with that fateful comment, "The simple fact is mistakes were made."

First, "mistakes" were not "made"; Bush&Co. deliberately mislead the American people. Anyone with memories from those hyper-patriotic days will recall that the invasion of Iraq was paramount, with the reasoning simply window dressing. Bush&Co. dredged up any and all evidence and spent vital prestige in selling it to both America and the world. This served well to distract those of us who opposed the war, for the obvious point that any intervention in Iraq would not end well was superseded by arguments on the validity of the evidence. (Yellow cake from Nigeria? Aluminum tubes? Outing CIA employees? Remember those days?)

Second: "Why do you hate America?" - that was the McCarthian atmosphere that Bush&Co. employed to silence and/or discredit their critics. No liberal praises Hillary for her foolish pro-war vote, and it is right that this comes back to bite her, at least as a warning to pols inclined to take the easy option in the short-term; but she can not be described as a "war supporter," and the atmosphere in which she choose so foolishly must not be forgotten.

Bush&Co. were directly responsible for a tragedy unparalleled since the Vietnam War. It was worse than criminal: it was a mistake. Hillary should apologize. Jeb declaring he would have done no differently should disqualify him.

Jeb just dug himself in deeper with that fateful comment, "The simple fact is mistakes were made."

Not going to fly. Just like you guys brag about the public will disregard Hilary's conduct doing the Benghazi situation, which is a major blunder. Jeb misspoke or at least walked back his comments. People will forget about this.

First, "mistakes" were not "made"; Bush&Co. deliberately mislead the American people.

No one was deliberately misled or can your prove that they verbatim and implied that it was deliberate. That is pure liberal lunacy at it's worst.

Anyone with memories from those hyper-patriotic days will recall that the invasion of Iraq was paramount, with the reasoning simply window dressing. Bush&Co. dredged up any and all evidence and spent vital prestige in selling it to both America and the world.

Don't forget the the French, the Russians, Israelis, the Chinese, so they all had a purpose intent to push for going to war?? Really?

This served well to distract those of us who opposed the war, for the obvious point that any intervention in Iraq would not end well was superseded by arguments on the validity of the evidence. (Yellow cake from Nigeria? Aluminum tubes? Outing CIA employees? Remember those days?)

So you were for leaving a murderous, butchering dictator in power?

Second: "Why do you hate America?" - that was the McCarthian atmosphere that Bush&Co. employed to silence and/or discredit their critics. No liberal praises Hillary for her foolish pro-war vote, and it is right that this comes back to bite her, at least as a warning to pols inclined to take the easy option in the short-term; but she can not be described as a "war supporter," and the atmosphere in which she choose so foolishly must not be forgotten.

If she wasn't a war supporter, she could have easily voted NO. Obama did and it shows now with the mess that we have. So clearly Hilary did support the war or she was too embarrassed and to afraid about her political career to disagree with the war.

Bush&Co. were directly responsible for a tragedy unparalleled since the Vietnam War.

Actually, it was the sectarian violence overwhelmingly that caused the majority of the casualties, but I know libs can't and don't want to deal with facts, their vitriol and hatred for Bush pushes them to overlook and continue to overlook at the real perpetrators of the chaos that is going on in Iraq and that is coming from the wars between the Sunni and Shia factions of the radical jihadists.

It was worse than criminal: it was a mistake. Hillary should apologize. Jeb declaring he would have done no differently should disqualify him.

If you think so, then you need to disqualify Hilary altogether as well. With as many statements, odd and gaffes she's made, she should have bowed out of the running a very long time ago, NOT only for her words, but for her actions and in most areas, lack of them.

"The simple fact is mistakes were made."

The mistakes were made by the people who believed all that transparent WMD/45-minutes-to-armagheddon rubbish the warmongers were spouting.

Don't forget the the French

The ones who stated clearly that there was no convincing case for war, and hinted at vetoing any UN resolute authorising the sue of force? The ones who upset the 'patriotic' warmongers so much the fast-food menu got rewritten?

Don't forget .... the Russians

Ah yes, the ones who were so keen to exploit Iraq's oil reserves once UN sanctions were lifted.

So you were for leaving a murderous, butchering dictator in power?

So when is the US going into North Korea?

bass, do you see how these things are related?

So you were for leaving a murderous, butchering dictator in power? Actually, it was the sectarian violence overwhelmingly that caused the majority of the casualties.

If the dictator was left in power, then the sectarian violence would not have erupted. ISIS would not have come about. Dictators are good at keeping people under their thumb. Look at what happened in Yugoslavia and Libya when their dictators were no longer there.

I'm not saying having nasty dictators is a good thing, but simply removing them causes other problems too. Is Iraq a better place now without Hussein? I cannot answer that. I doubt many people can without simply taking partisan positions. Some real data on quality of life, life expectancy and safety would be necessary to have a meaningful conversation.

The fake invasion, as we realist called it during the drumbeat to war ginned up by the neocon losers who ran the bush administration has turned out, exactly as we called it, to be a massive disaster. Comparing this to benghazi is sheer lunacy. The Iraq war killed tens of thousands, destroyed a country, cost the USA $4 trillion and counting and all of it was based on lies. Few remember but Saddam was willing to step down before the invasion if he was paid off, the deal was nixed even though the USA knew about it. Bush wanted war. And the apologist posting now were the biggest cheerleaders for shock and awe at the time. If they had any shame at all they would be apologizing now for supporting such a horrific disaster.

A secret plan to foster an internal coup against Saddam Hussein was drawn up by the Government two years before the invasion of Iraq, The Independent can reveal. Whitehall officials drafted the "contract with the Iraqi people" as a way of signalling to dissenters in Iraq that an overthrow of Saddam would be supported by Britain. It promised aid, oil contracts, debt cancellations and trade deals once the dictator had been removed. Tony Blair's team saw it as a way of creating regime change in Iraq even before the 9/11 attack on New York.

The mistakes were made by the people who believed all that transparent WMD/45-minutes-to-armagheddon rubbish the warmongers were spouting.

By that, then there is a lot of blame to go around as I mentioned.

The ones who stated clearly that there was no convincing case for war, and hinted at vetoing any UN resolute authorising the sue of force? The ones who upset the 'patriotic' warmongers so much the fast-food menu got rewritten?

As I said before, who cares what the UN says. I sincerely pray that Donald Trump gets out of the presidential race, stop making a fool of himself and put his real talents to good use and turn the UN into livable and lavish condos! That would be one of the best moves of his career.

Ah yes, the ones who were so keen to exploit Iraq's oil reserves once UN sanctions were lifted.

Sadly, Cleo. the oil argument is so 80's ain't gonna fly anymore.

So when is the US going into North Korea?

As soon as they make a bungling move towards S. Korea, Japan or the US.

If the dictator was left in power, then the sectarian violence would not have erupted.

So having Saddam murder and butcher his own people, especially the Shia and the Kurds doesn't bother you. I grew up in an area in Los Angeles where we have a very large Iraqi and Persian population mostly Christian and Jewish, some Muslims and long before Bush entered the picture, I heard about the horror stories of Saddam. No regrets, NO one misses Saddam.

ISIS would not have come about.

...had Obama established a sizable force and a proper SOFA, which he didn't, was heavily advised to and decided to shun and ignore, his top military advisors. Very true.

Dictators are good at keeping people under their thumb. Look at what happened in Yugoslavia and Libya when their dictators were no longer there.

Someone said the same thing 70 years ago.....

I'm not saying having nasty dictators is a good thing, but simply removing them causes other problems too. Is Iraq a better place now without Hussein? I cannot answer that. I doubt many people can without simply taking partisan positions. Some real data on quality of life, life expectancy and safety would be necessary to have a meaningful conversation.

I understand, not a bad point, given what we know about today, I don't think it would have been a good thing, which is very different from removing Saddam. I think it could have been done on a much smaller scale with a specialized force. But I will leave that for the history books to decide.

The fake invasion, as we realist called it during the drumbeat to war ginned up by the neocon losers who ran the bush administration has turned out, exactly as we called it, to be a massive disaster.

Do you say the same thing about the failed policies on Afghanistan, Libya, Yemen, the Russian reset and Syria under Obama and Hilary? I'm still looking for your comments on that.

Comparing this to benghazi is sheer lunacy.

Hmmm, not quite sure about that one...

The Iraq war killed tens of thousands, destroyed a country, cost the USA $4 trillion and counting and all of it was based on lies.

So then why are you angry and the Mullahs and Maliki for causing all of the sectarian uprisings?? You should be disheartened and furious at them! I know I am!

Few remember but Saddam was willing to step down before the invasion if he was paid off, the deal was nixed even though the USA knew about it.

And in the end, he and his murdering sons chose NOT to.

Bush wanted war.

Where is physical proof that he wanted war, can you provide a document a tape or something to back up that he without a doubt said, "I want to go to war."

And the apologist posting now were the biggest cheerleaders for shock and awe at the time. If they had any shame at all they would be apologizing now for supporting such a horrific disaster.

I feel the same about those that refuse to see the carnage that was done and purposely perpetrated by the two religious fanatic radicals that wanted to kill each other and are still doing it via proxy and through Iran. But I never hear libs mention anything about that.

Oh the Iraq war won by me. https://www.facebook.com/pages/War-strategies/939253756099975?ref=hl

What a f'en joke. America is a joke.

America would be think to vote n another corrupt bush. The hole country is disgustingly corrupt. How disgusting to see a superpower turn into Nazi by faking Osama's death setting up 9/11 and much more.

The world need a wake up call and the destruction of America is a good start. There a disgrace and a evil country. There up there with Russia and China now for all the dirty stuff there doing behind close doors. It's 2015 and it's beyond dirty. Everyone is aware and now a disaster must happen to destroy the earth :P

Ok i couldn't help my self with the last part, i'm still lmao

America would be think to vote n another corrupt bush.

Left Florida as a governor with an over 80% approval, he must've done something right and remember, Jeb is Not GW. Also you think we should vote for Hilary? Please give me one reason as to why Hilary is or supposedly a better candidate.

Not just GOP hopefuls. Hillary should be disqualified. This "knowing what we know now" nonsense doesn't cut it.

Please give me one reason as to why Hilary is or supposedly a better candidate.

If grandma Hillary "get off my lawn!!!" Clinton is elected, she'll be spend all her time in office punishing those within the Democratic Party who supported Obama instead of her in 2008 Democrat primary than fighting the republicans.

Voting for "None of the Above" myself. All the options are so very flawed.

I didn't know elected officials are perfect. I thought people have flaws and you select the one with the less critical flaws you desire. I'm all for a non-groomed politician otherwise it's much of the same.

Saddam intentionally kept his capabilities hidden and obscure. He wanted to satisfy the UN weapons inspectors while at the same time making Iran think he could still pack a punch.

So, he walked a line. He gave just enough info to the UN to keep them at bay and hid just enough to keep Iran at bay. Ultimately, the debate was whether he had reached full compliance on all issues. He did not. Some countries thought it was enough and wanted to move on, others did not.

Both choices have consequences. One choice is to leave a genocidal dictator in place, the other was an invasion. Unless you have a third option then you can't escape blood being spilled.

On the actual invasion, it was handled poorly. That added to the problems to the choice for the use of force.

As for ISIS, they began their crusade in a country with a dictator (Syria). I'm not sure why people think have a dictator in Iraq would be some kind of savior.

Good points SuperLib to remind those who don't recall or didn't care. I would like to add Sadam did have and use WMD's in both Iran and on his own people.

Sadam was a bad man, his death toll to people's in the region didn't deserve turning a blind eye. IF he remained in power after the Arab Spring all hell broke loose in the ME. Who knows what would have happened in Iraq. It easy to critisize now, after the facts.