# Why does Iraq want an Islamic State and what has that got to do with US presence? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [April 19, 2003, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-iraq-want-an-islamic-state-and-what-has-that-got-to-do-with-us-presence/169648 "2003-04-19T16:57:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![X\_Slayer\_ALE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/bbe5ce/32.png) [@X\_Slayer\_ALE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/X_Slayer_ALE)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2003, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-iraq-want-an-islamic-state-and-what-has-that-got-to-do-with-us-presence/169648/121 "2003-04-24T18:41:02Z")
No one **Especially** the US. altho, I dont believe the expectation of remuneration is that uncalled for. Peace in that region would be a nice gesture of gratitude. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2003, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-iraq-want-an-islamic-state-and-what-has-that-got-to-do-with-us-presence/169648/122 "2003-04-25T07:28:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by X~Slayer(ALE) \* > This is exactly the level of arrogance that dissuades me from even attempting to debate this issue with you. Your _bias_ ,for a lack of a better term, may be indicative of the sentiments and frustrations of the people of Iraq (and I would give you a great and considerable leeway to even make that postulation) but it does not address the issue of the urgent need of the Iraqi people to have the US in Iraq, whether they like them there or not. Isn’t this just a fancy way of saying “we (Americans) know what’s best for the Iraqis, even more than the Iraqis do”? Seems rather … well, arrogant, to me. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2003, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-iraq-want-an-islamic-state-and-what-has-that-got-to-do-with-us-presence/169648/123 "2003-04-25T12:46:04Z")
Yah, the Iraqis are brilliant and all, what a track record! How dare ANYONE think they have a better grasp than the Iraqis. There just isnt’ a rolleyes big enough … ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2003, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-iraq-want-an-islamic-state-and-what-has-that-got-to-do-with-us-presence/169648/124 "2003-04-25T13:00:21Z")
> [@](#): > > There just isnt’ a rolleyes big enough … Well, this statement is true–given that the Iraqis have never in their history had a government that was not imposed, controlled, shaped, or manipulated by outside agents. I doubt that setting up a couple million polling booths and walking away is a very smart move, but standing in Washington and dictating what the _next_ government will or will not include (particularly if one has no notion of how Iraqi society operates) is all that bright. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2003, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-iraq-want-an-islamic-state-and-what-has-that-got-to-do-with-us-presence/169648/125 "2003-04-25T13:01:34Z")
isn’t all that bright ---
**Author:** ![Boo\_Boo\_Foo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@Boo\_Boo\_Foo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boo_Boo_Foo)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2003, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-iraq-want-an-islamic-state-and-what-has-that-got-to-do-with-us-presence/169648/126 "2003-04-25T13:38:27Z")
Gee, arguably before the Ottoman Empire they might have been able to make a claim **Tom** which would contradict your last assertion - but geez, that’s going back a long way - so yes, you’re right. If I was Jay Garner? I’d be doing some real dirty tricks… I’d be getting some black ops going against some of the most high profile Imams in the country. A few shady grainy black and white photos of a few notable Imams pissed as newts outside of a Jewish Nightclub in Israel would do the trick I suspect… Pass those photos around the press corps… wouldn’t take long for the damage to kick in. Maybe a few other little smear campaigns against a few other Imams about funds going missing… just enough strategic stuff for this “battle of Public Opinion” to be derailed for a while - without any need for bullets to start flying. As the old saying goes… locks are only meant to keep honest people out… ---
**Author:** ![X\_Slayer\_ALE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/bbe5ce/32.png) [@X\_Slayer\_ALE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/X_Slayer_ALE)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2003, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-iraq-want-an-islamic-state-and-what-has-that-got-to-do-with-us-presence/169648/127 "2003-04-25T18:42:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Latro \* > \*\*Why are you speaking in the past tense? > You make it sound as if the job is finished and it was a success. \*\* I was speaking about that “Phase” of trying to plant the seed of a new govt in Afghanistan. In my opinion Hamid Karzai was not the best candidate for the job as leader of the Afghanistan govt. Unfortunately, the 2 best candidates for that job were killed by the Taliban. Afghanistan is certainly not in the past and its success has yet to be determined. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by rjung \* > \*\*Isn’t this just a fancy way of saying “we (Americans) know what’s best for the Iraqis, even more than the Iraqis do”? > > Seems rather … well, arrogant, to me. \*\* what is more accurate to say is that the Iraqi people are very vulnerable right now and we (americans) are the only ones who helped them get rid of Saddam. Love us or hate us, we’re all theyve got. Every other nation on this earth sympathized with the plight of the oppressed people of Iraq but no one did one thing to permanently get rid of Saddam. In a way we do know whats best for the Iraqi people and whats best for the Iraqi people is what the Iraqi people decide is best. Not the former Ba’ath party, not syria, not iran, not france, not russia, not saudi arabia and not the usa but only the Iraqi people. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-iraq-want-an-islamic-state-and-what-has-that-got-to-do-with-us-presence/169648.md?page=6)