# Can the Iraq situation be explained to me? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 23, 2003, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-iraq-situation-be-explained-to-me/150425 "2003-01-23T13:26:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![regnad\_kcin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@regnad\_kcin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/regnad_kcin)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-iraq-situation-be-explained-to-me/150425/21 "2003-01-23T20:15:07Z")
Gary: Of course it is relevant. When you decide to accept information that is deliberately not backed up by any sources and has to be taken solely on faith, you had better be sure there isnt an alterior motive involved. This is true not only in the case of Debka, but also in the case of the Bush administration. How often have we seen wild claims on this board responded to by “cite, please?” ---
**Author:** ![Destination\_Unknown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/94ad74/32.png) [@Destination\_Unknown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Destination_Unknown)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-iraq-situation-be-explained-to-me/150425/22 "2003-01-23T20:27:14Z")
Oil. Americans don’t want to pay $2 for a gallon of gas. Driving an SUV means more than human lives in another country with a different language. BTW, according to Reuters today, China, Canada, Germany, France, and Russia are officially opposed to any military action in Iraq right now. Pretty significant statement if you ask me. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-iraq-situation-be-explained-to-me/150425/23 "2003-01-23T20:30:53Z")
regnad: I understand and agree. However, the particular aspect I’m focusing on is that **IF** these items reported by Debka later turn out to be verified facts–which I understand to often be the case from the radio feature I heard–then those facts would help answer the OP. Having just recently been made aware of Debka, I’ll be interested to see if we do indeed hear confirmation of these particular items sometime in the near future. ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-iraq-situation-be-explained-to-me/150425/24 "2003-01-23T20:45:11Z")
September 11th was carried out by Al-Queda. Iraq is a self-declared supporter of terrorism and self-declared enemy of the US. Before 9/11 it was mostly just rhetoric. 9/11 made it real. Iraq was a contributing factor in carrying out 9/11 and will continue to finance and abide terrorist actions against the US unless we stop them. So we are going to stop them. What’s not to understand? ---
**Author:** ![regnad\_kcin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@regnad\_kcin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/regnad_kcin)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-iraq-situation-be-explained-to-me/150425/25 "2003-01-23T20:53:51Z")
Saddam Hussein has a history of cracking down against fundamentalist extremism in his OWN country. His regime is by and large a secular one. The terrorism he supports is in Israel. The only reason he could possibly have to support al Qaeda is because “the enemy of my enemy is my friend” (an ill-advised attitude that, by the way, made Iraq OUR ally during the Reagan presidency, as well as the extremists in Afghanistan). Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein are not pals. Islamic fundamentalists do not support Saddam Hussein’s regime. ---
**Author:** ![regnad\_kcin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@regnad\_kcin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/regnad_kcin)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-iraq-situation-be-explained-to-me/150425/26 "2003-01-23T20:55:03Z")
“Iraq was a contributing factor in carrying out 9/11” link, please? ---
**Author:** ![JRR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecccb3/32.png) [@JRR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRR)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-iraq-situation-be-explained-to-me/150425/27 "2003-01-23T21:21:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Destination Unknown \* > \*\*Oil. > > Americans don’t want to pay $2 for a gallon of gas. Driving an SUV means more than human lives in another country with a different language. \*\* How exactly is this about oil? As it stands right now, Iraq _needs_ to sell its oil - it doesn’t exactly have a lot of other resources to. They just signed an agreement to sell billions of dollars worth to Russia. This means that Russia will buy less oil from, say, Saudi Arabia, lowering the price there due to lower demand. So how would invading Iraq lower the price of oil? ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-iraq-situation-be-explained-to-me/150425/28 "2003-01-23T21:39:36Z")
> [@](#): > > “Iraq was a contributing factor in carrying out 9/11” I don’t have to read it on the Drudge Report to know that Iraqi money makes its way to Al-Queda, any more than I need proof that Iraq is still trying to build and/or aquire a nuclear weapon. Its just common sense. ---
**Author:** ![regnad\_kcin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@regnad\_kcin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/regnad_kcin)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-iraq-situation-be-explained-to-me/150425/29 "2003-01-23T21:51:58Z")
Is that the important qualifier, Hail Ants? Why arent we invading our close ally Saudi Arabia, then? Bin Laden, almost all of the hijackers, and the vast majority of al Qaeda’s contributers are Saudis. Obviously, if related to 9/11, this impending war is so only indirectly – insofar as 1) many Americans (such as Hail Ants) labor under the misconception that Iraq was behind 9/11, whom Bush has done nothing to dissuade, and 2) it gives Bush political momentum to act as he wants while wrapping those actions in the flag. ---
**Author:** ![bernse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@bernse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bernse)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-iraq-situation-be-explained-to-me/150425/30 "2003-01-23T21:55:29Z")
> [@](#): > > Oil I don’t think so. If it was just about oil, the Allies would have steamrolled through Iraq in 91 when all the equipment, manpower and international support was already there. My .02 ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-iraq-situation-be-explained-to-me/150425/31 "2003-01-23T22:02:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Gary T \* > \*\*My interest in Debka has to do with my hearing that they publish information (usually without verification) that seems outlandish but later gets published in other media with verification. Their opinions are not at issue. \*\* [Here’s](http://www.weeklyworldnews.com/suspects/osama.html) what a US paper with a similar reputation for occasional truths has to say about Saddam. Could it be true ? [Did North Korea really ship its uranium enrichment facilities to Iran](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=157794) like Debka says ? Is it worth your time trying to figure that out ? ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-iraq-situation-be-explained-to-me/150425/32 "2003-01-23T22:06:06Z")
Because Saudi Arabia is our ally. Enough so that the actions of their citizens on 9/11 strained our relations, but not to the point of going to war. If SA wasn’t an ally we probably would be going to war with them unless they proved that 9/11 was a totally independent act with no official support. If Iraq was not at all ‘behind’ 9/11 or any other terrorist acts against the US & its allies then the burden is on them to prove it. To think otherwise shows either ignorance or cowardice. ---
**Author:** ![regnad\_kcin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@regnad\_kcin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/regnad_kcin)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-iraq-situation-be-explained-to-me/150425/33 "2003-01-23T22:14:54Z")
There is no doubt in my mind that Hussein supports terrorists in Israel. So do a lot of other Arab countries whom we are not threatening. Those involved in 9/11 were not supported by Hussein, or if they were there is no evidence to suggest it. I dont believe Bush has ever said they were. It is not Husseins job to prove that he DIDNT support them, but our job (or somebody’s) to prove he DID. If your wallet is stolen, Hail, and you point the finger at me, its YOUR job to prove I did it, not the other way around. I may be a slimy character with a bad track record, but that proves nothing. ---
**Author:** ![XPav](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/b77776/32.png) [@XPav](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XPav)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-iraq-situation-be-explained-to-me/150425/34 "2003-01-23T22:54:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Gary T \* > \*\*I heard an interesting segment on NPR about a sort of news service called Debka ( [http://debka.com/](http://debka.com/) ). Apparently they have quite a web of information resources, though they won’t cite any sources. The reporter/host said something to the effect that a typical reaction to some of their items is “That’s ridiculous and unbelievable,” until the same item gets reported in the mainstream press (with source attribution, I assume) a few weeks later. > \*\* Debka posts items with little fact checking. This means that they can beat “reputable” publications to a story, but it also means that they post large numbers of stories that turn out to be not true. They also don’t do retractions. So, what you’ve got is a large number of facts, some of which are true, some of which are slight inaccurate, and some of which are just completely wrong. Its the Drudge Report of the middle east really. ---
**Author:** ![regnad\_kcin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@regnad\_kcin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/regnad_kcin)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-iraq-situation-be-explained-to-me/150425/35 "2003-01-23T23:08:16Z")
Sort of like Nostradamus actually. ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-iraq-situation-be-explained-to-me/150425/36 "2003-01-23T23:37:32Z")
> [@](#): > > If your wallet is stolen, Hail, and you point the finger at me, its YOUR job to prove I did it, not the other way around. I may be a slimy character with a bad track record, but that proves nothing. Before September 11th I would agree with you. But after, I no longer feel terrorist supporting regimes deserve even the slightest benefit of doubt. They are guilty until proven innocent. ---
**Author:** ![Banquet\_Bear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banquet_bear/32/373_2.png) [@Banquet\_Bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banquet_Bear)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-iraq-situation-be-explained-to-me/150425/37 "2003-01-23T23:39:51Z")
…well, this seems to be a train wreck of a General Question. 🙂 To find out a bit about the history of Iraq, go here: > **[Iraq profile - timeline](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-14546763)** > > A chronology of key events in the history of Iraq, from the time it formed part of the Ottoman Empire to the present. Some other links that may be help are here: [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/special\_report/iraq/29099.stm](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/special_report/iraq/29099.stm) This report from 1998 [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/special\_report/iraq/52796.stm](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/special_report/iraq/52796.stm) …I use BBC because that is my prefered source of unbiased news stories-yes I know somepeople have issues with the BBC, but I don’t . 🙂 There are some extremely knowledgeable people on the Straightdope who would be able to answer your question better than I can, (and some of them haven’t posted here yet) but as this subject is so emotional, the answers you get from here may have a particular slant, as evidenced above. It may be an idea to have a good surf of the net-particularly to sites that you personally trust, to get the information that you seek. ---
**Author:** ![regnad\_kcin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@regnad\_kcin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/regnad_kcin)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2003, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-iraq-situation-be-explained-to-me/150425/38 "2003-01-24T00:08:06Z")
Sorry. I just wanted to make it clear that 9/11 is not directly the reason for this invasion. 9/11 may have facilitated or expedited it, but it was in the works before 9/11. ---
**Author:** ![MrTuffPaws](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f475e1/32.png) [@MrTuffPaws](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrTuffPaws)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2003, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-iraq-situation-be-explained-to-me/150425/39 "2003-01-24T00:33:07Z")
Hail Ants: Not to troll, but we support terroist groups also. Seems like everyone does anymore. ---
**Author:** ![Lsura](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Lsura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lsura)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2003, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-iraq-situation-be-explained-to-me/150425/40 "2003-01-24T00:40:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Banquet Bear \* > \*\*…well, this seems to be a train wreck of a General Question. 🙂 > \*\* Yeah…I was sort of hoping to avoid that, but I was also afraid it was inevitable. Thanks for the info and links y’all - it does help me a lot. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-iraq-situation-be-explained-to-me/150425.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-iraq-situation-be-explained-to-me/150425.md?page=3)