# Occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [September 13, 2001, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/occupation-of-iraq-and-afghanistan/81404 "2001-09-13T18:24:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![bernse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@bernse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bernse)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2001, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/occupation-of-iraq-and-afghanistan/81404/1 "2001-09-13T18:24:39Z")
Presumably one of the main reasons Saddam is still running the show in Iraq is that whoever replaces him could be worse. So, in light of the recent events, lets say Iraq is somehow linked. Could the US invade and occupy Iraq? That way they don’t need to worry about who is going to replace Saddam. Or, would that just open up a huge can of worms with Iran and other less moderate nations (not to mention Russia and China). The thought would have been unbelievable a few days ago. How about Afghanistan? maybe a joint operation with Russia? Is it even a possibility? ---
**Author:** ![Tymp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Tymp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tymp)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2001, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/occupation-of-iraq-and-afghanistan/81404/2 "2001-09-13T18:32:23Z")
A joint operation with Russia? That is an amazing and beautiful thought, **bernse**. ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2001, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/occupation-of-iraq-and-afghanistan/81404/3 "2001-09-13T19:01:22Z")
**Scenario #1:** Iraq underwrites terrorist attacks on U.S. U.S. invades and conquers Iraq. **Scenario #2:** U.S. underwrites terrorist attacks on Nicaragua. Nicaragua invades and conquers U.S. Sorry, neither one works for me. References: Definition of terrorism. [http://www.union.k12.ia.us/UKHS/Students/Terrorism/Terrorism.htm](http://www.union.k12.ia.us/UKHS/Students/Terrorism/Terrorism.htm) > [@](#): > > Terrorism is the unlawful use or threat of violence against persons or property to further political or social objectives. It is usually intended to intimidate or coerce a government, individuals or groups, or to modify their behavior or politics." > –Vice-President’s Task Force, 1986 > > “The calculated use of violence or the threat of violence to inculcate fear; intended to coerce or to intimidate governments or societies in the pursuit of goals that are generally political, religious or ideological.” > –Department of Defense Definition > > “Terrorism is the unlawful use of force or violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives.” > –FBI Definition > > “The term “terrorism” means premeditated, politically motivated violence perpetrated against noncombatant targets by sub-national groups or clandestine agents, usually intended to influence an audience.” > –Title 22 of the United States Code, Section 2656f(d) [http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Blum/Nicaragua\_KH.html](http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Blum/Nicaragua_KH.html) > [@](#): > > As part of a concerted effort to deprive the Nicaraguan economy of oil, several attacks on fuel depots were carried out. Contra/CIA operations emanating in Honduras also blew up oil pipelines, mined the waters of oil-unloading ports, and threatened to blow up any approaching oil tankers; at least seven foreign ships were damaged by the mines, including a Soviet tanker with five crewmen reported to be badly injured. Nicaragua’s ports were under siege: mortar shelling from high-speed motor launches, aerial bombing and rocket and machine-gun attacks were designed to blockade Nicaragua’s exports as well as to starve the country of imports by frightening away foreign shipping. > > Agriculture was another prime target. Raids by contras caused extensive damage to crops and demolished tobacco-drying barns, grain silos, irrigation projects, farm houses and machinery; roads, bridges and trucks were destroyed to prevent produce from being moved; numerous state farms and cooperatives were incapacitated and harvesting was prevented other farms still intact were abandoned because of the danger. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2001, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/occupation-of-iraq-and-afghanistan/81404/4 "2001-09-13T19:23:45Z")
**DuckDuck Goose** , I don’t think the U.S. can concern themselves with being hypocritical. Why should past events Nicaragua play into any decisions regarding the WTC/Pentagon bombings? So what if America cannot take the moral high road? This country must do what it must. ---
**Author:** ![Cheese\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Cheese\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheese_Head)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2001, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/occupation-of-iraq-and-afghanistan/81404/5 "2001-09-13T21:04:52Z")
All arabs should be expelled from Western countries. ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2001, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/occupation-of-iraq-and-afghanistan/81404/6 "2001-09-13T21:11:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Cheese Head \* > \*\*All arabs should be expelled from Western countries. \*\* Why? How will overt, stupid racism help matters? ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2001, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/occupation-of-iraq-and-afghanistan/81404/7 "2001-09-13T21:34:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Cheese Head \* > \*\*All arabs should be expelled from Western countries. \*\* You picked your name appropriately. Erek ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2001, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/occupation-of-iraq-and-afghanistan/81404/8 "2001-09-13T21:40:36Z")
**Cheese Head** indeed. > [@](#): > > All arabs should be expelled from Western countries. so… All westerners should be expelled from Arab countries. How does either action resolve the issue?