Donald Trump believes the world would be much better off if ruthless dictators like Saddam Hussein and Moammar Gadhafi were still in power.
"100%," Trump replied when asked that question in an interview with CNN's Jake Tapper that aired Sunday on "State of the Union."
Trump said he believes Iraq and Libya, the respective countries of the since-deceased dictators, would be less fractured and promote a more stable Middle East if the two had not been forcefully pushed out of power. Hussein fell from power following the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003 and Gadhafi was ousted following violent civil strife in 2011 that ultimately drew a NATO-led military intervention.
"I mean, look at Libya. Look at Iraq. Iraq used to be no terrorists. He (Hussein) would kill the terrorists immediately, which is like now it's the Harvard of terrorism," Trump said. "If you look at Iraq from years ago, I'm not saying he was a nice guy, he was a horrible guy, but it was a lot better than it is right now. Right now, Iraq is a training ground for terrorists. Right now Libya, nobody even knows Libya, frankly there is no Iraq and there is no Libya. It's all broken up. They have no control. Nobody knows what's going on."
"People are getting their heads chopped off, they're being drowned. Right now, they are far worse than they were, ever, under Saddam Hussein or Gadhafi," he said.
Okay well you know how much it pains me to say this, but I kind of agree with Trump here.
I mean in the case of Iraq I am in almost total agreement, and on Libya I am in partial agreement because I think that situation is still evolving.
I also agree that when the United States intervenes in the affairs of other countries it seems to rarely work out in our favor, or even for that matter in theirs.
In some ways this is kind of what worries me about Hillary. Not that she is quite the war hawk embraced by the Right, but many of her votes while in the Senate put right quite comfortably among them.
Now if you will excuse me I have to go into my closet and scream until I no longer feel shame over agreeing with Donald Trump on something. This may take awhile.
They are bad by design. Libya's as good now as it's ever going to get.
ReplyDeleteNo Libya is a basket case, and it is because of the smashing of the central govt in Libya that people smugglers have taken over the port of Benghazi, sending thousands in waves to Europe.
DeleteBefore the "intervention" Libya had the best levels of health care in the African continent, whereas now ...
If the "rebels" in Libya had been genuinely based in the population, then why did NATO have to bomb the country heavily for most of a year, in order to destroy the govt?
Griffin is perfectly correct: "Okay well you know how much it pains me to say this, but I kind of agree with Trump here."
Pains me, too, Griff! But there it is, we have to side with that man with a ridiculous hair style. At least, on this one issue.
Trump is just speaking the obvious about Iraq. Thanks go to Bush and Cheney for f*king that up. Once in awhile Trump gets something right. On the other hand, Ben Carson is a mental case who never gets anything right and is sounding more and more mentally unstable every time he opens his mouth. Carson creeps me out; Trump is just a loud buffoon.
ReplyDeleteCarson scares me. I believe his religious beliefs are a concern.
DeleteWell, I guess if you can get past the torture and subjugation of their own people and the looting of their respective countries
ReplyDeletewealth, Saddam and Moammar kind of kept the Middle East from becoming a complete regional bloodbath.
But personally I just think Trump is trying to audition for their
roles, U.S. style.
Palin can probably recite the alphabet. Don't beat yourself up too much, Gryphen. Trump can't likely summon the stupid thing in every utterance.
ReplyDeleteHussein and Ghaddafi didn't film their dungeons and torture chambers. ISIS likes to publicize its atrocities.
ReplyDeleteI'm apalled as well that I agree with Trump on this one. Didn't Hussein's Iraq and the Ayatollahs hate each other? Wasn't that a good thing for us in the West? Thanks, GWB.
ReplyDeleteEven a broken clock is right twice a day.
ReplyDeleteLOL!!! All true.
ReplyDeleteWell, I think we were wrong to invade Iraq, especially pretending as the Bush administration did that it was because of 9/11, but the world is never better off when vicious dictators are in power. Think of Hitler, think of Stalin. What is difficult is for a country to learn to live without one after decades of subjugation. That is what the Bush administration failed so miserably to recognize. Take Russia for example. It has not figured out how to handle democracy and that is why Putin was able to take over so easily. And the former Eastern Bloc seems to be moving back into old dictator-ish ways. It is possible for countries to evolve. Both Germany and Japan were led to democracy very carefully after WWII and the whole world is better off for it. I do not agree with Donald Trump. I thnk he'd love to be a dictator himself.
ReplyDeleteBeaglemom
One instance where Bush 1 was smarter (or his advisers were) than Bush 2. The first Gulf war they kicked the crap out of the Iraqi army then left without taking out Saddam for the very reason they didn't want instability in the region. Saddam held many factions in check.
ReplyDeleteBut Bush 2 fucked that up. I actually think it was because of Cheney and Haliburton and that they pushed it for profit. I don't believe Bush 2 was anything other than a figurehead. Cheney was the brains of that outfit no matter that he wore the number 2 cap instead of the President's cap.
Bush 1 had a coalition that involved the Middle East Arab countries. He also had to promise them that he would not invade Baghdad and he would not kill Saddam. Bush 2 wanted to make up for that, even if it meant going pretty much alone. He did not have the support of other nations. Yes, it was Cheney pushing to privatize the military so Haliburton and Blackwater could be the private contractors, at 5 times the price.
DeleteOkay well you know how much it pains me to say this, but I kind of agree with Trump here.
ReplyDelete--------------
Agree also. For a few reasons. I think it's likely Trump was advised on these facts, he obviously knows nothing about foreign policy strategies.
Mildred
"I mean, look at Libya. Look at Iraq. Iraq used to be no terrorists. He (Hussein) would kill the terrorists immediately, which is like now it's the Harvard of terrorism," Trump said."
ReplyDeleteWhy does Trump always sound dumb? For a guy who claims to be smart, really smart, Wharton School of Business Smart, he must be talking down to the people who represent his fan base. "Iraq used to be no terrorists." Maybe he means that Iraq didn't have any terrorists in its past, but then, there was Saddam who killed his own people. Now Iraq is the Harvard of Terrorism? Is that the only way that his simpleton followers can understand what he is saying? I remember those training videos from Afghanistan. Then, it was the Taliban and Al Queda. I didn't hear what Trump is going to do about Iraq and Libya. I'm sure that it will be Yuuuge, but what is it? What will Trump do? He's long on name calling and short on specifics.
Don't feel bad Gryphen, but I agree with The Donald too. Doesn't mean I'm going to vote for him.
ReplyDeleteYeah, so is the implication to change course on Syria and back the stabilization of the al-Assad regime as the Russians are attempting to do and I've so vociferously agitated for over these four years? Learned this week I'm not alone among Americans in this, by the way--someone with a little more clout than I says the same, as it turns out. It's President Carter.
ReplyDeleteI won't vote for Trump (or any other TPGOP) but I really like it that he is raising hot button issues.
ReplyDeleteAmazing plotline to this year's "Homeland" TV show...new higher up guy in CIA tells his Jewish friend that America learned its lesson about toppling Middle East dictators, so to not worry about their targeting Syria's Assad.
ReplyDeleteMeanwhile, other characters in the cast are doing EXACTLY that...and it looks as if it will turn out just as badly as it did with Hussein and Gaddafi.
Rather than be upset about agreeing with Trump...
ReplyDeleteTry just agreeing with Bernie...
No migraines associated with that...
Tens of thousands of murders orchestrated by both Hussein and Gadhafi of their own people makes Trumps vision blurred at best.
ReplyDeleteSo putting our kids in harm's way is going to change things in that tinder box called the mideast? That's idiotic thinking on your part. The middle east has completely blown up since the invasion and death of hussein & gadafi.If there was one shred of evidence that hussien was behind 911 would be one thing but there isn't.
DeleteTrying to liberate a Middle Eastern Country, is like trying to domesticate a rattlesnake.
ReplyDeleteHe's not entirely wrong, the world was a better place before the US decided to bring democracy to the third world countries...
ReplyDeleteI hate to admit it but he's 100% correct. (In my humble opinion)
ReplyDeleteA lesson. You never know where good thinking comes from. He is correct, just as he is correct in saying GB did not keep America safe.
ReplyDelete