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Casus Belli?

Reader comment on item: Reflections on the Invasion of Iraq

Submitted by Albert (United States), May 15, 2013 at 21:08

NO ONE ever seems to mention this. Saddam for a period of ELEVEN years in the aftermath of Gulf War One was trying to shoot down one American warplane and totally failed to do so. In total violation of the NO FLY zone and the truce ending the first war with Saddam. Normally attempting even ONCE to shoot down ONE plane [even if failing] would have been an adequate casus belli!

This fact is totally neglected. Saddam was given a green light for continued rule after the First Gulf War with considerable undeserved deference to the man but continued his antics unabated. This was tolerable prior to 9/11, but intolerable after 9/11. The man and his mischief were seen after 9/11 with a totally different perspective.

Submitting....

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Daniel Pipes replies:

I do not recall a single such instance.

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Reader comments (20) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
Casus Belli? [126 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
AlbertMay 15, 2013 21:08206081
Yes, but at what price? [117 words]AnonMay 15, 2013 01:23206067
1The bad and the worse [93 words]Ender WigginskyApr 29, 2013 08:49205724
also lebanon 1982 [36 words]jacob sassoonApr 13, 2013 18:32205144
Is it really nation-building that we are after? [288 words]stuffagainMar 27, 2013 00:21204734
Iraq is about the Big Game [113 words]J. AlejandroMar 26, 2013 16:32204725
1Iraq-Christian Free Zone [90 words]JDMar 26, 2013 00:38204705
The Case for Democracy by Natan Sharansky [27 words]George HaasMar 24, 2013 22:35204684
"fight for democracy" -dangerous delusion [76 words]BenMar 23, 2013 15:07204634
Reflections on the Invasion of Iraq [49 words]BALARABE ABBAMar 20, 2013 11:39204531
Yes, but..... [195 words]Rick MartinsMar 20, 2013 09:20204526
Iranian provocation [37 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
ConormelMar 19, 2013 16:21204491
The absence of a political faction for freedom and Democracy, Emulating Taiwan and Korea. [147 words]SamuelMar 19, 2013 03:59204474
2Iraq-What Did Work [134 words]John R PeacherMar 18, 2013 20:31204464
1Syria moved up the list [80 words]mythMar 18, 2013 19:02204457
1The Folly of Repetition [55 words]EthanPMar 18, 2013 18:05204455
1Post Soviet Saddam [105 words]Jonathan RubinsteinMar 18, 2013 17:41204454
reflections [63 words]infosifterMar 18, 2013 17:26204453
Lessons of Iraq - Trying So Hard Not to Miss the Point - Yet Never Learning It [387 words]M. ToveyMar 18, 2013 17:15204452
1"Nation Building" in the Middle East [206 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
KenMar 18, 2013 17:13204451

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