What is the perception in the Arab world as to why the Americans waged this war?
We hear all sorts of reasons from the Arab world. There are people who consider it a personal vendetta on the part of the president for his father since he himself once said, “Saddam Hussein tried to kill my dad.” Also, some feel that getting rid of Saddam Hussein, or confronting the “unfinished business” of the first Gulf War, as some people refer to it, would strengthen the legacy of Bush. Also, since everyone in the Arab world is affected by the Arab-Israeli conflict, there are some who say this war occurred because of what they consider pro-Israel elements (the neo-cons) in the US government, who are very influential in the present administration. Some of these neo-cons are more interested in what is best for Israel than what might be best for the US and, indeed, what is best for their own agenda of, as you suggested, ensuring a dominant and perpetual US military presence in the region in order to maintain their empire. There are so many reasons for the war, but I really cannot cla
