9/11, Iraq, Pearl Harbor, Germany
It's been awhile since I last posted on this blog. I work long hours at a summer program, and what little time I have for internet use, it's not enough to keep the blog updated.
Anyways, we hear talk that Bush exploited emotions around 9/11 to go to war with Iraq.
Here is some commentary from DANIEL HENNINGER
http://www.opinionjournal.com/columnists/dhenninger/?id=110006899
So it is that below the level of exquisite analysis now common in our politics, some Americans do exist who credit a connection between September 11 and events in Iraq. Perhaps there will be a poll out in a few weeks that will expose their sentiment to the greater weight and rigor of statistical science.
In time even Pearl Harbor became more a symbol than the bloody reality that ultimately hurled American forces against a Germany that didn't attack us at Pearl Harbor.
In 1941, Japanese warplanes attacked Pearl Harbor. That got President Franklin D Roosevelt to declare war not just on Japan, but on Japan's allies at the time - Germany and Italy.
Japan and Germany alliance had nothing to do with love for each other. Hitler was a white supremacist. But Japan was far enough away from Germany to not to be a threat. So while Germany aspired to rule over all of Europe, Japan aspired to rule over all of Asia. That brought Japan and Germany into conflict against Great Britain, France, Russia, China and the USA.
So in World War 2, Japan, Germany and Italy were on one side. On the other side was USA, Great Britain, Russia, France and China.
In the early 21st century, the USA is in conflict with some Middle Eastern terrorists. There is Al Quiada, who want to terrorize the world into submission to Islamic faith. That brings Al Quaida into conflict with the USA, Israel, Great Britain, Spain, India, Phillipines and other nations.
Saddam Hussein is not a part of Al Quaida. However, he is allied with Al Quaida against the USA. In 1991, Hussein led Iraqi troops into invading Kuwait. President Bush Sr. decided to defend Kuwait. Hussein became enemy of America. Al Quaida is enemy of America. So the worry was that Hussein might be supplying weapons to Al Quaida.
The 9/11 attacks were committed by Al Quaida. President Bush Jr decided to declare war on Al Quaida. Al Quaida was headquartered in Afghanistan, so Afghanistan was invaded 1st.
Since Hussein had interests in destroying the USA, Bush decided "might as well invade Iraq too".
So just like how FDR fought against both Germany and Japan, GWB fought against both Al Quaida and Afghanistan.
