Originally posted by Azrael
well - this part of austria here was under russian influence after WW2 and my grandmother told me that they where by far not as bad as everyone thinks.

Tell that to eleven million people who didn't keep their mouths shut.

the major point in this discussion - and noone can hold anything against this - is, that every war that america lead (i am not saying that this is different in wars that a different nation started) was about either oil or money/economy in general. and to make it look better they said it was all for the sake of humanity. I absolutely agree with sly that NO nation has the right to interfere with the interrior deals of a different nation. This reminds me somehow of that major-rule they had in startrek.

First, Kuwait reaps the profits of Kuwaiti oil (and is a member of OPEC if my memory serves correctly), and OPEC is responsible for American individuals and industry paying much higher prices for oil than is neccessary and that hurts the US economy. Also, the US troops stationed in the region since the Gulf War cost the Federal Government a great deal of money and contribute huge sums to our tax burden. The "war for the US economy" argument is so full of holes, it's rediculous.
Second, in Star Trek, the "Prime Directive" regards developing worlds. Once a civilization has invented inter-stellar travel, the Prime Directive doesn't apply. Yes, I'm a geek.

Iraq has problems - fine. but then iraqi people have to learn to stand up and fight against the opression. no dictator is invincible. we alle are dáccord that democracy is one of the best, but you cannot force it uopn every nation - they have to learn it on their own - as hard as it may sound.

That sounds like the "States Rights" argument that the Southern states used to pull before the US Civil War. It's a line of bull-pucky formulated to justify inaction in the face of something incredibly wrong that we ALL share a responsibility to resist.

I've said it before, I'll say it again; "out of sight, out of mind."
And 45,000 more Iraqis will pay the price if nothing is done this year.