War In Iraq: Why Are We There?

By: Krystal R.

            Does anyone really know why the US is in Iraq any more? Is the US there to help the people of Iraq or because the US is there to take advantage of the oil wells. Or is the US there to stop weapons of mass destruction? Is there a good enough reason to be there?  Why is our country there in the first place? What is the real reason the US is in Iraq? These are questions many people are asking and they would like to find the answers. 

The U.S. originally attacked Afghanistan because of Al Qaeda, a terrorist network, after the 9/11 attack. (3) According to this article, our government attacked this network and didn’t find Bin Laden. “The case against Iraq was not so much terror in general…acts with weapons of mass destruction that it was erroneously thought to have stockpiled in alarming quantities.  More than a year after the US invasion, none of these weapons has been found,” says Pat Holt, writer of Wait… Tell us again: Why is US in Iraq? (3)

In his article, Pat Holt, says that the US President Bush has refused any help from other countries, like Chile, France, Germany, and Mexico. Plus, Bush has refused any advice from the UN (United Nations). Pat Holt also believes that our country should keep looking for Bin Laden and harassing Al Qaeda, and do not invade any countries without backup or proof that Bin Laden is there.

U.S. is in Iraq because we are there to find the weapons of mass destruction and destroy them.  Saddam Hussein was in charge of the weapons of mass destruction, releasing the prisoners from the Gulf War, not helping his own people, and still being a terrorist.  He has broken sixteen resolutions that the U.N. has demanded (2).   For example, he was supposed to get rid of all mass of destruction weapons, but the International Atomic Energy Association said that Iraq was six months away from completing a nuclear weapon.

            Some students gave me their opinions about this subject and this is what they have to say: “I think that we should have investigated the information more so that we could have come up with a better plan,” says Perry Hall High sophomore Kristen G. She believes that we are there to stop the nuclear weapons and to stop the armies that are over there from growing. “We’re over there to get their proper government going,” says Perry Hall High student Lexi C., who is also a sophomore. Perry Hall Student Emily B., another sophomore, says “It’s completely unnecessary to be there.” Though she is unsure of why we are there, there will be different stories.  With many people saying different things, it gets confusing.

These Perry Hall Students have agreed upon wanting the troops pulled out of Iraq. Kristen G. says “I think we should, even though the war will not end without us,” and Lexi C. says “I think we are doing the right thing, but its just time for them to come home.” Emily B. says “Yes, we should pull them out, but not immediately; give it time. Pulling out immediately would cause a mess. Work on getting some stability.”

When asked if the war should be happening at all, Lexi C. said “Yes, because if we didn’t go over, they could have attacked our country,” Kristen G. says “Yes, they could have attacked us again.” “Afghanistan should have happened, but we don’t need to be in Iraq,” responded Emily B.