Five years later, what do you think of the Iraq War?

I don't think it was a religious war and never was.

it started out as a find an destroy weapons of mass destruction raid

then at some point it became a money and gas issue by securing gas rights from a democratic country.

as much as i'd like to see the United States pull out, i'm not sure that we can until Iraq can stand on its own two feet without us there defending it from the inside from itself.

I have to respectfully disagree that anything good is coming out of this war as we enter the 6th year of a war we never should have started. There has been so much corruption that has left thousands dead and even more injured, disfigured and mentally ruined. It's a losing war and I hope they get troops out as soon as they can. With all of the ties from our "leadership" to oil and the fact that we really are no safer now than we were 5 years ago, in fact there are MORE attacks against our national security means many people have lost their lives for an ill-planned war. Lets hope once we get a democrat in office things get turned around, but who knows I think America is completely disheartened by all politicians these days.

It is most defaintly a religious war...the terroists' religion pretty much states that anyone who doesn't believe in there god has to be killed. they believe that if they kill them, they will be rewarded in the "after-life". If they pulled out the troops that would be a horrible idea on our countries part. They will invade our country, then. Without a doubt!

I disagree that the war in Iraq is a religious war, at least speaking of the civil war at the roots of our involvement. Comparing this war to the war that unraveled Yugoslavia in the 90s which was a war of religious sects, sunni mothers don't pray for the shiites death and destruction, and poets don't write about sunni's being the devil incarnate as it would in a true religious war. True some of the members of the government in Baghdad belong to these sects and could be themselves considered sectarians, but the motivation behind this is nepotism not religious fundamentalism, which is designed to favor families and clans. The rivalries are motivated by social, economic and political issues rather than religious.

So you ask, how does getting involved with this war have to do with 911, and the "religious" motivation of the terrorists who attacked us then? I say that is a good question. Are we doing a humanitarian effort there, yes of course, but why there when there are countries in Africa ravished by just as much if not more violence? Just food for thought.

One great book that was written shortly after 911, and brings light to violence and violence in the name of religion is called "Terror in the Mind of God: The Global Rise of Religious Violence" by Mark Juergensmeyer. If you find this stuff interesting, it's a great read and certainly doesn't make religions evil like most books on this subject do. He just highlights the parts of texts and theories people use to justify their violent actions. It also goes through Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism and Buddhism, so he doesn't single out a certain religion. Good stuff!

Invading Iraq was about oil, money & nukes. If the Middle East didn't have oil we wouldn't care what religion they were. Wealthy countries such as Iran will soon have nukes, and threaten to eventually destroy Israel, so in that sense it is part religious.

The war is justified by humanitarian reasons, yes, but we could have helped without going to war. If we were that concerned with humanitarianism we could have just lifted the sanctions. Saddam didn't have WMD anyway, he just said he did so Iran wouldn't invade Iraq. He took the chance that the U.S. wouldn't take him that seriously.

By making a presence in the Iraq, the U.S. will have a more controlling interest in the region. The new U.S. embassy in Baghdad is proof of our long term interests there - it sits on 104 acres in the center of the city, a self contained fortress bigger than the Vatican.

As for 9/11, it was retaliation for us having such a big presence over there already. Now that we've invaded, we are in it for a long, long time. Sure we may pull our troops out in the next year or so, but there will be conflict in the region as long as we are dependent on oil.

All the more reason to develop alternative, clean sources of energy:
1) Reduce our reliance on oil so we can withdrawal from the Middle East
2) Help reduce global warming
3) Improve economic conditions as gas gets more expensive

Amen Surfer - you make some very good points.

Everyone has their own viewpoints, I guess. I've studied religion, and even though this war may not be classified as a religious one it defaintly is about religion, also. I agree with airforcemom that alot of good has been done. If you personally are close to someone who has been overseas then you would understand better. The media is only showing us the negative parts of this war, and shame on them for that! That isn't giving these soldiers all the credit that they deserve!

Yes, airforcemom. Your right! AMEN. Look at some of these answers...people disagreeing that good has been done of there. Exactly my point! The media has brainwashed them! Good luck to your sons, airforcemom.

Haven't we all learned by now? Don't feed the TROLL!