Why exactly? I don't understand. I never understood what was the real reason for the war. Multiple theories have been put forward that I am aware of but they all seem (to me) to be "just so" stories trying to find a post-hoc explanation for what seemed to be an invasion completely without reason. Oil interests, heroin trade, geopolitical advantage, democracy and human rights (actually that was one of the explanations at the time I think), revenge for 9/11, none of all that makes any sense, neither not invading unthinkable.
Why was not invading unthinkable, at any point? More so, why was it necessary? What did anyone gain from sendnig an already piss-poor and backwards country even further back in time towards the Stone Age?
And, to clarify, are you saying that to not invade was unthinkable for US citizens, or for the US government? Or someone else?
What does an occupation of a foreign country that has millions of civilians with no connection to these events have to do with attacking al-quaeda? Are they simply guilty by association for harboring terrorists.
Americans still haven't worked out that taking over nation by force isn't the correct answer and makes things worse. God forbid anyone attempt to occupy the US, you would all go ape shit mad.
But the US didn't attack Al-Qaeda. It attacked Afghanistan and Iraq. It killed their civilians, destroyed their infrasructure, obliterated their states. How is that attacking Al-Qaeda?
