# What have we gained by invading Iraq? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 11, 2003, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-have-we-gained-by-invading-iraq/194329 "2003-08-11T04:45:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2003, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-have-we-gained-by-invading-iraq/194329/21 "2003-08-11T22:15:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ccwaterback \* > Just looking for some opinions here. I myself see nothing, nada, zip gained from invading Iraq. I can think of one – Haliburton has an open-ended, $9-billion-a-year contract for doing unspecified(\*) work in post-war Iraq. (\* = That’s unspecified as in “they get paid for whatever they do, even if it’s nothing,” not “we haven’t figured out what they need to do yet”) > [@](#): > > I can probably come up with a pretty lengthy list of negatives, but NO positives, not a single one. Speaks volumes, doesn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![ccwaterback](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@ccwaterback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ccwaterback)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2003, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-have-we-gained-by-invading-iraq/194329/22 "2003-08-11T23:08:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Dinsdale \* > \*\*If we so desire, we have a country in which we can place military bases on a (semi)-permanent basis. > > We have some measure of control over a major producer’s production of oil. > > Several large US corporations will enjoy large reconstruction contracts. > > We were able to test out military weapons and tactics under live-fire conditions. \*\* All this sounds like is we are the biggest bully on the block. I’m not sure about the long term consequences of that type of behavior. ---
**Author:** ![mark24c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@mark24c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mark24c)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2014, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-have-we-gained-by-invading-iraq/194329/23 "2014-02-24T19:19:48Z")
Very prescient thread ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2014, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-have-we-gained-by-invading-iraq/194329/24 "2014-02-24T19:45:01Z")
> [@ccwaterback](#): > > Just looking for some opinions here. I myself see nothing, nada, zip gained from invading Iraq. I can probably come up with a pretty lengthy list of negatives, but NO positives, not a single one. > [@friedo](#): > > Though not of _direct benefit_ to the US, > > 1. One of the most brutal and disgusting regimes in the world is now mostly gone. > > 2. If we’re lucky and handle things well, Iraq will become a prosperous and free democracy. > > As for things that benefit us directly, > > 1. Iraq is not going to be invading any neighboring countries (which we would then have to defend) anymore, nor launching missiles at Israel. > > 2. Since Saddam’s government is now gone, Iraq will be able to engage in full international trade without sanctions again, which is good for everybody. > > 3. We scared the hell out of other dictatorial terrorist states. > > It all certainly came at a high price though. ☹ > > History will tell if the price was _too_ high. > [@ccwaterback](#): > > Thanks **friedo** , I have to agree with most of what you said there. That’s a pretty quick about face on an issue someone was so passionate about…26 minutes…and Zombie no less! ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2014, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-have-we-gained-by-invading-iraq/194329/25 "2014-02-24T20:06:00Z")
We got the guy who tried to kill the President’s Dad! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2014, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-have-we-gained-by-invading-iraq/194329/26 "2014-02-24T20:14:29Z")
> [@Walloon](#): > > If the country makes war on two of its neighbors, resulting in over a quarter million deaths, and if the country is known to have developed weapons of mass destruction (UN, 1991) and is developing a nuclear weapons program (UN, 1991), and if human rights organizations find that over 300,000 of the country’s own citizens have disappeared. … so, North Korea? ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2014, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-have-we-gained-by-invading-iraq/194329/27 "2014-02-24T20:26:17Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > … so, North Korea? I sure as heck hope he doesn’t answer! ---
**Author:** ![Lukeinva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lukeinva/32/17872_2.png) [@Lukeinva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lukeinva)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2014, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-have-we-gained-by-invading-iraq/194329/28 "2014-02-24T20:50:32Z")
> [@ccwaterback](#): > > OK, that’s one I didn’t think of. Should be now seek out other countries where torture is prevalent and oust their leaders too? And this would be bad why? Some think the US is not the ‘big brother’ for the world but isn’t it worse to stand idly by why a tyrant treats his own people horribly? Countries whose people cannot stand up for themselves? ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2014, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-have-we-gained-by-invading-iraq/194329/29 "2014-02-24T21:07:38Z")
> [@Lukeinva](#): > > And this would be bad why? Some think the US is not the ‘big brother’ for the world but isn’t it worse to stand idly by why a tyrant treats his own people horribly? I am not being sarcastic, I am generally ignorant of the situation. Are people generally better off now in Iraq, or is a different group being harassed? ---
**Author:** ![Ryan\_Liam](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ryan_liam/32/3965_2.png) [@Ryan\_Liam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ryan_Liam)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2014, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-have-we-gained-by-invading-iraq/194329/30 "2014-02-24T21:30:57Z")
The US talks to Iran alot more now than it did before the invasion. The US has gained insight that if you occupy a country, you don’t disband it’s army and you don’t do it half assed. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-have-we-gained-by-invading-iraq/194329.md?page=1)