American intervention in Iraq: good or bad?

[ola.]

I have a fuck load of questions about the current situation in Iraq and ISIS that I hope someone can explain, but I'm primarily wondering about your thoughts on America's decision to launch strikes against Iraqi militants. What do you think these strikes would accomplish?

I've also been reading a lot of articles going "Well, if America hadn't funded or armed the al-Queda militants in Syria, we wouldn't have ISIS now, since ISIS split off from al-Queda anyway" - are these valid arguments? Are ISIS militants defectors of the al-Queda forces in Syria? Any evidence of this? Cause that would have to be the some of the most fucked up blow back yet.

[Five Year Plan]

Is there any doubt that American military intervention into foreign countries ought, on principle, to be opposed?

[DannyMorin]

I can't think of an American war that has ever made things better.

[PhoenixAsh]

It is cause and effect. If the US hadn't backed the intervention against Saddam...then this would not be an issue...if they hadn't backed Saddam...this would not have been an issue. And so on and so on.

To think that intervening now would help the situation it actually helped create is wishfull thinking.

Not to mention that it is extremely questionable as to the intentions of the US....well...not so much. An Islamic State would be much less likely to play well with the US. This has nothing to do with the US suddenly growing a conscious and giving an actual fuck about the people which are now being repressed by a reactionary theistic fundamentalist organisation. This is pure economic and strategic power mongering covered with the usual bullshit about human rights and democracy.