Muslims For A Safe America

After 9/11, the Bush administration wrongly led the American people to believe that Iraq was connected to Al Qaeda, and that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction. Based on that, the U.S. invaded Iraq and removed Saddam.

Since then, the Iraqi people have elected a parliament and voted on a Constitution. But Iraq remains violent, with Iraqi insurgents and foreign fighters attacking U.S. forces, Iraqi forces, Iraqi civilians, and Iraqi infrastructure, with no end in sight.

There was barely a peep from the Muslim world or American Muslims about the suffering of Iraqis under Saddam’s rule, but many Muslims have been vocal in their opposition to the American invasion of Iraq.

As the American death toll and military expenditures continue to rise, Americans are divided about whether the invasion made America safer, and about how soon to bring U.S. troops home.

Arguments By Those Who Believe That Invading Iraq Did Not Make America Safer

1. Saddam did not pose a threat to the U.S. He had no weapons of mass destruction at the time of the American invasion in 2003. Due to previous disarmament and U.N. sanctions, Saddam did not even have the capability to develop WMD.

2. Saddam was not working with Al Qaeda. The 9/11 Commission Report, released in 2004, states on page 66, “The reports describe friendly contacts and indicate some common themes in both sides’ hatred of the United States. But to date we have seen no evidence that these or the earlier contacts ever developed into a collaborative operational relationship. Nor have we seen any evidence indicating that Iraq cooperated with Al Qaeda in developing or carrying out any attacks against the United States.”

3. Invading Iraq damaged America’s reputation, reduced post-9/11 sympathy for America, and increased support for Al Qaeda in the Muslim world. Invading a Muslim country that had not attacked America reinforced the Muslim world’s impression that America seeks to dominate the Muslim world, and that America is willing to kill innocent Muslims in the process.

4. America’s presence in Iraq has strengthened Al Qaeda. Before the invasion, there was no Al Qaeda presence in Iraq, and no chance that Iraq would become an Al Qaeda client state. The invasion boosted Al Qaeda’s recruiting, by helping Al Qaeda argue that the U.S. seeks to conquer the Muslim world. Since the invasion, Iraq has become a training ground for foreign fighters flooding in from other countries; they are getting hands-on training which they can use against other targets, including the American homeland, later. If American troops leave, Al Qaeda will find less support, because many foreign fighters are motivated by hostility to the U.S. Iraqi forces, supported by a peace-keeping force from Muslim countries, will be able to establish security and stability in democratic Iraq.

5. Invading Iraq distracted America from pursuing Al Qaeda and strengthening Homeland Security. America has spent treasure and blood on Iraq that should have been spent on finishing the job against those who attacked America on 9/11. The Iraq invasion also took resources away from Homeland Security; for example, the Bush Administration has not given sufficient resources to police and fire departments to help them prepare for future attacks. Nor are there enough resources to check all cargo containers coming into the country.

6. The behavior of some American troops towards Iraqi detainees and unarmed civilians has generated anger against America.

7. The Iraq invasion was one motivation for the Madrid and London bombings. The invasion could make it easier for Al Qaeda to find human resources and financial resources for future bombings in America.

8. The invasion has exposed the limits of the American armed forces and the limits of the American public’s political support for wars. After Afghanistan, America was united and looked unstoppable. America’s inability for two years to defeat the insurgents and foreign fighters in Iraq, and America’s related inability to secure electricity and water for Iraqis, has exposed the weakness of America’s armed forces. Even following major operations to drive insurgents and foreign fighters out of various cities, the insurgents and foreign fighters inevitably return.

9. The invasion has over-stretched America’s military and distracted America’s attention from more serious threats, like countries that actually have or are developing weapons of mass destruction.

10. It’s debatable whether the shutting down of Libya’s nuclear program in December 2003 was a direct result of the invasion. Libya began negotiating with the U.S. in 1999 regarding shutting down its nuclear program.

Arguments By Those Who Believe That Invading Iraq Did Make America Safer

1. Saddam became hostile to the U.S. after American forces attacked Iraqi forces in the 1990 Gulf War. Although Saddam did not have weapons of mass destruction in 2003, he had previously demonstrated a willingness to use chemical weapons (against the Kurds and Iranians). Furthermore, Saddam could have developed WMD in the future if he remained in power, especially if U.N. sanctions were eased. That risk was too high for the U.S. to take.

2. Although Saddam was not involved in the 9/11 attacks, he did have dealings with Al Qaeda. The 9/11 Commission Report, released in 2004, states on page 66, “The reports describe friendly contacts and indicate some common themes in both sides’ hatred of the United States.” There could have been more cooperation between the two in the future, if Saddam remained in power. That risk was too high for the U.S. to take.

3. Saddam brutally ruled over the Iraqi people for 23 years. For several of those years, he was supported by the U.S. government. By freeing the Iraqi people from Saddam’s brutal dictatorship in 2003 and helping establish an Islamic democracy, America showed Muslims around the world that it is now committed to a better life for average Muslims.

4. Because of the American invasion, Shias, Sunnis, and Kurds have been able to sit down together to try to hammer out their differences. If America succeeds, Iraq will become a model, inclusive, Islamic democracy in the Middle East, and it will open the door for further democratic reforms in the region. That will benefit the Muslim masses and make America safer. If America fails, Iraq will become a right-wing, Al Qaeda, Sunni-dominated Islamic state, and it will open the door for Al Qaeda to establish a right-wing Khilafah throughout the region. Furthermore, America’s credibility will be damaged due to its inability to finish what it started. That will make America less safe.

5. The Iraq invasion has not prevented America from continuing its worldwide fight against Al Qaeda. Nor has the invasion prevented America from securing the homeland; there have been no attacks in the U.S. after the Iraq invasion.

6. There have been isolated incidents of improper conduct by American troops; some American soldiers have been convicted. Many Iraqis have had positive dealings with American soldiers, and that has improved America’s image.

7. Al Qaeda would have sought to attack America with or without the Iraq invasion, because of hostility to America’s foreign policy in the Muslim world.

8. America has not defeated the insurgents and foreign fighters yet, because America has shown restraint in its tactics. This is not a sign of weakness. If America were willing to use the full extent of its power, it could defeat the insurgents and foreign fighters quickly. But America wants to minimize Iraqi civilian casualties.

9. The invasion sent the strong deterrent message to the world that America will act preemptively when America believes it is threatened.

10. After observing the invasion of Iraq in March 2003, Libya shut down its nuclear program in December 2003, making America safer.