The “Everybody But Me” Principle
How many explanations blaming others for U.S. difficulties in Iraq are currently being circulated?
November 21, 2003
| The 17 Reasons for U.S. Difficulties in Iraq… | |
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1.
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Jihadists from other countries |
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2.
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Baath party loyalists flush with Saddam’s cash |
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3.
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Common criminals set free by Saddam before the invasion on a crime spree |
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4.
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Iranian interference |
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5.
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Syrian interference |
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6.
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Availability of huge stockpiles of Russian-made weapons |
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7.
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Lack of good pre-war intelligence from CIA on potential difficulties |
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8.
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Premature dissolution of the Iraqi army without a proper replacement |
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9.
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Dilapidated pre-war state of Iraqi infrastructure |
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10.
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Widespread looting of oil and other infrastructure during and after war |
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11.
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Economic and social despair after decades of Saddam’s dictatorship |
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12.
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UN/other humanitarian organizations too risk-averse |
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13.
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Other countries playing politics, not providing enough troops |
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14.
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Other countries not providing enough financial support |
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15.
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Arab media instigating regular Iraqis who otherwise would support U.S. |
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16.
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U.S. media not sufficiently focused on success stories |
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17.
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Clinton Administration did not act to prevent all this earlier |
Most readers will recognize many of the arguments listed above from recent media coverage. The list is already long — and grows almost daily.
In that regard, it is reminiscent of the array of reasons why the United States went to war against Iraq in the first place. Some of these reasons turned out to be well-founded — while others have been exposed as exaggerations that border on fabrication.
Here is our current tally of why the United States invaded Iraq.
| … and 17 War Justifications | |
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1.
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Saddam’s links to al Qaeda and 9/11 |
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2.
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Depose a tyrannical dictator |
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3.
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Iraqi nuclear program reconstituted (“can’t risk mushroom cloud as smoking gun”) |
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4.
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Danger from Iraqi biological and chemical weapons |
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5.
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Threat of Iraqi long-range missile program |
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6.
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Danger from Iraqi unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) |
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7.
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Iraq as a threat to stability in the region |
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8.
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Human rights violations |
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9.
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Ineffective UN weapons inspections |
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10.
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Find alternative regional base for shaky Saudi Arabia |
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11.
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Protect Israel |
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12.
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Change political dynamics in Middle East |
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13.
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Advance cause of democracy |
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14.
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Constant Iraqi non-compliance with UN mandate |
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15.
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Stabilize oil supplies |
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16.
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Finish the 1991 agenda |
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17.
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Global terrorism is on the rise, needs to be defeated in Iraq |