The Iraq no-fly zone lasted 11 years

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From August 1992 to the invasion in March 2003. How long is this one going to last if Gaddafi isn't overthrown?

I don't support this action, but to any supporters of this no-fly zone I have a sincere question. Is there a limited amount of time you would support something like this for? Is that limited amount of time weeks? Months? Years? Or do you think we should be there as long as it takes? I would appreciate a reply to this question.

edit: typo

[damntexdem]

1. And worked.

It ended when Dubya staged his illegal invasion. Before that, it protected particularly the Kurds, who could fight off Saddam's ground forces, so were effectively independent.

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2. It was also a great excuse. They are shooting at our planes!!!11

[I Drink Water]

6. bwahahahaha....you are kidding, right?

The sanctions were one of the main reasons behind 9/11. The sanctions led to the deaths of hundreds of thousand of children under five, spurned a sharp decline in literacy rates across the board, and saw a decline in health outcomes.

When asked on US television if she thought that the death of half a million Iraqi children was a price worth paying, Albright replied: “This is a very hard choice, but we think the price is worth it.”

Nothing like defending the mass murder of a half of million children.

[Mnemosyne]

8. Thank you for the facts, IDW. Albright is a disgusting war criminal whore for the MIC.

Welcome to DU, I Drink Water.

[H2O Man]

10. Well said.

I'm glad that I read your post before responding. The people of Iraq suffered from that policy -- especially the children you correctly make note of. It did not harm Saddam a bit.

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11. Welcome to DU!

:hi:

[theoldman]

3. As long as it takes.

Few people were killed during the 11 years that we controlled the Sky's over Iraq. The Kurds were able to rebuild their area. I read that it takes about 20 times as much money each week for the war in Afghanistan.

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4. So you're perfectly comfortable with whoever the next president might be...

...to have a military presence in Libya which just happens to have one of the largest oil reserves on this planet? Bush was perfectly happy to use the no-fly zones not only as preparation but also as an excuse to start the Iraq war.

Plus the amount of people that die and what the actual costs are highly depends on the situation on the ground. Saddam didn't put up much resistance and there wasn't a civil war going on. In Libya we have a civil war, and this civil war will last a long time if Gaddafi isn't taken out. The costs of these no-fly zones might be cheaper than the war in Afghanistan but they aren't cheap. 30 to 100 million a week which works out to 1.5 billion to 5 billion a year. This while we are cutting heating assitance for poor families which cost a few billion over 10 years. That's not to say if I think this no-fly zone would have a positive effect that wouldn't be worth it, but I don't see how this will turn out well.

[proud2BlibKansan]

5. You're forgetting the sanctions

Starving the Iraqis resulted in death.

Or did you not realize that?

[Mnemosyne]

9. Excuse me, but did you mean that 500,000 dead children from sanctions don't count?

I'm sure I am misunderstanding your point. :)

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

13. Thank you for bringing that up.

[Mnemosyne]

14. I keep asking myself, OSO,

is this the DU lately. :hi:

[GeorgeGist]

12. Lip smacking good ...

the shit sandwich you've been eating.

[madrchsod]

7. we have been at war on the people of iraq since 1992 ....