I am new to the board and just read through the long America post with people taking both sides on the war.

Everyone says that America lied about the war. Well, when have we known any government in history to really tell the truth about wars? Every government lies, but now it seems as though the internet and mega media has changed the face of politics via more and more accountability...?

Just for the record, I am against the war. But at the same time, the MAIN reason I was against the war was the fact that the UN couldn't get their act together and do something as a group. That is probably one of the most damaging effects of this whole thing. It has made the UN seem useless in the eyes of many.

i'd say cautious

and not a warmonger like the shaved mokey who is now in charge of nukes

I was against the war, but not because the UN inspectors couldn't find WMD. Although, that certainly played a part. And not because the UN was against going to war, although that was an important reason.

I'm against the war because it sets a precendent. It shows the world that whenever one country doesn't like how another country is running it's affairs it can go into that country, crush the leaders and the opposition and reorganize the country, without any agression from the first country. I'm opposed to regime change. I think it's a very dangerous thing to start and for years countries (And by countries I mean super powers, and by super powers I mean America) are going to point to the second gulf war and say "Well the Americans practiced regime change there, so why can't we?" It's very dangerous.

Interesting topic!

Yes, I think the internet, and the increase in ground-level rapid communication networks in general, have changed politics. It has meant that politicians now need to make themselves publically accountable for their actions on a far more regular basis than ten years ago.

If you go back ten years the gap between an event and it being reported was commonly several hours, certainly for the average person in an office job who would only see the news in the evening. In the time between the event and the reports various agencies could clarify what they wanted the public to be informed about and news reports could be kept for the most part clear of interpretation by non-governmental sources. In the time of 24-hour news coverage all political events need to convey the right message first time around, rather than through the reinterpretative powers of press statements.

I agree that if the US and UK had presented evidence that had convinced the UN that Iraq was a threat to world stability I would have backed the war. That evidence could not be found and I was consequently against going to war, that the evidence has still not been found with unblocked access only confirms to me that the UN were making the right decision.

the mata makes a good point