>
> Are we better off for invading Iraq? I think by my key factors we're
> not:
>
> 1.) Creating new terrorists, the so called "hearts and minds".
I'm afraid I have to agree with you. I do not feel the invasion of Iraq made the world a safer place. Afghanistan perhaps, but not Iraq.
> (BTW - al Jazera is good source. They be "biased" but that doesn't
> discredit everything they say)
I am not so sure I would call them good yet. It is interesting to see how far they have come from reporting the traditional rhetoric to reporting facts. The move of al Jazeera and al Arabiya to get more serious in order to compete with eachother sharply contrasts to the US media that en mass went patriottic in order to get more viewers.
They still have a long way to go though.
> 2.) American Military Power. Certainly our credibility with our
> allies, the UN, and others has been damaged.
There are many kinds of credibility. The credibility of a US president saying "we will come to get you" has increased. The credibility of the US military planners saying "we can go and get you" has decreased (despite the success of the military campaign it is very clear the US military is stretched). The credibility of the US saying "this is true" is non-existent.
> 3.) Regional/Energy Stability. The region has never been more
> unstable, there's never been more terrorism, and oil prices have never
> been higher.
Count inflation, weak dollar etc. and I think it is not that bad. Unless you pay in dollars and own a SUV of course.
Jochem
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