Iraq war botched and illegal
- Thread starter Avro
- Start date
``what would you suggest is the reason behind the apathy and williing ignorance of the bulk of Americans ``
Stupidity is one very obvious thing. Ignorance another. Fear, still another.
You can see from my signature that it is Reagan who enabled Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda to become the menace they are today because of the money and arms given by the Republicans [links previously provided]. Therefore, terrorism exists because it was that party that created the menace.
Yet, the Republicans say Democrats are soft on terrorism much like the way they said Dems were soft on communism [links previously provided to show that it was Republicans who financed the Bolsheviks]. In both instances Republicans created the problem and ascribed it to the Dems who stupidly refused to deny it! Stupid is as stupid does. Since the Dems refuse to put the blame on Republicans, many, especially those with money and political power, will always blame the Dems. The result? Another Republican in the White House and laws designed to favor the wealthy.
Therefore, in answer to your question, stupidity is the real cause. Since the Democratic party leadershup sits by idlely, the rank and file Democrats have no way of compelling them to stand up and set the record straight.
As for ignorance, the news media are controlled by the right wing. Because of this, they will not report the truth and many remain ignorant of that truth.
Fear looms as well because the monied interests control everything and common folks are afraid of rocking the boat.
The Democratic Party needs to stand up and the rank and file will follow. If that leadershp had impeached Reagan (they had FAR more grounds for doing so than they did with Nixon), there would not have been a Republican in the White House all these years. If they had done the same today against Bush, the election for the Dems in November would have been an easy victory. But that leadership is just too stupid to do so. Therefore, you can expect to see more problems such as an invasion of Iran because the Dem party leadership will not stand up to Bush.
Stupidity is one very obvious thing. Ignorance another. Fear, still another.
You can see from my signature that it is Reagan who enabled Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda to become the menace they are today because of the money and arms given by the Republicans [links previously provided]. Therefore, terrorism exists because it was that party that created the menace.
Yet, the Republicans say Democrats are soft on terrorism much like the way they said Dems were soft on communism [links previously provided to show that it was Republicans who financed the Bolsheviks]. In both instances Republicans created the problem and ascribed it to the Dems who stupidly refused to deny it! Stupid is as stupid does. Since the Dems refuse to put the blame on Republicans, many, especially those with money and political power, will always blame the Dems. The result? Another Republican in the White House and laws designed to favor the wealthy.
Therefore, in answer to your question, stupidity is the real cause. Since the Democratic party leadershup sits by idlely, the rank and file Democrats have no way of compelling them to stand up and set the record straight.
As for ignorance, the news media are controlled by the right wing. Because of this, they will not report the truth and many remain ignorant of that truth.
Fear looms as well because the monied interests control everything and common folks are afraid of rocking the boat.
The Democratic Party needs to stand up and the rank and file will follow. If that leadershp had impeached Reagan (they had FAR more grounds for doing so than they did with Nixon), there would not have been a Republican in the White House all these years. If they had done the same today against Bush, the election for the Dems in November would have been an easy victory. But that leadership is just too stupid to do so. Therefore, you can expect to see more problems such as an invasion of Iran because the Dem party leadership will not stand up to Bush.
Don't sweat it, I thoroughly enjoyed your opinion. Confirms the widely held perception that farleftoids assume their positions are mainstream and indubitably correct.
7 levels? What a coincidence.
I did spend 7 years in grade 4. :-?
US 'must suspend' Iraq withdrawal
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7336731.stm
I have no comment... what else could we have expected?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7336731.stm
I have no comment... what else could we have expected?
It must be embarrassing to be an American.
I made a mistake. Yes I know that’s difficult to believe...but alas I have erred.
I stopped on CNN to watch (according to Wolf Blitzer…) “The best political team on television”…. and their analysis of the committee hearing the glob glop and splack coming out of the mouths of General Patreus about how swimmingly the war in Iraq is proceeding…..
“Gen. David Petraeus said Tehran is "funding, training, arming and directing" Shiite Muslim militias known as "special groups," and said the recent fighting between Iraqi government troops and militias in southern Iraq highlighted that involvement.”
“The war has claimed more than 4,000 U.S. lives since the 2003 invasion that toppled former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein and cost an estimated $600 billion. It is now widely unpopular at home, with a CNN poll in March showing about two-thirds of the country opposes the conflict.”
"We are still spending $3 billion every week, and we are still losing ... 30 to 40 American lives every month. We can't keep treading water without exhausting ourselves, and that is what the president seems to be asking us to do."
Well things are going about as well as can be expected. The United States invaded Iraq. Of course TV’s “Best political team” raised the issue of how much money Americans are spending to rebuild Iraq while the Iraqi “government” is sitting on billions of dollars of oil revenue… The question being… “When will the government of Iraq step up to the plate and begin investing in rebuilding their nation with the “windfall” oil revenues….
Let me reiterate …. THE UNITED STATES INVADED IRAQ….
If “two-thirds of Americans oppose the conflict”…why isn’t George Bush and his war-mongering arsehole friends being pursued in court for dragging Americans into a war based on lies and pumped-up with lies and sugar-coated with lies and bannered lies slung from the bridge of American aircraft carriers?
My criticism of America and this Bush administration in particular is slowly turning to sympathy. It must be embarrassing to be an American and watch as American taxpayers are being fleeced by the likes of the Carlyle Group and assorted defense contractors… while over-sight is a completely foreign concept to the American Congress.
We must feel sorry for the brain-dead Americans who refuse to acknowledge that their nation is being gutted. We’re at the stage now where it’s bad nasty old Iran that’s behind all the terrible stuff happening in Iraq…. Where it’s the intractable and intransigent Iraqi government that’s dragging its feet while banking billions on oil revenues…where sectarian violence is to blame for the mess of Basra and continuing violence in the streets of Baghdad…
Iran and Iraq were at war….. Does anyone but America think that Iran wouldn’t seize the opportunity to further their interests in the region after the United States of Pathetically Stupid People create a climate of terrorism death and destruction as their recipe for exporting American style “democracy” to the region?
I apologize, Americans aren’t all Pathetically Stupid People….just those who gulp down the nonsense they’re fed by
CNN and American “news” cable companies…. Disjointed half-truths and pasted-together excuses with plenty of blame to go around but no appetite of any kind for hauling this administration into the halls of justice….
One has to feel sorry for a people who choose to embrace ignorance over truth, reject common sense and revel in unjustifiable self-pity.
Let me remind you….America INVADED IRAQ.
Someone should send an e-mail to Jack Caferty and Wolf Blitzer and “Televisions” best political team” and let them know that they’re as full of it as anything being presented on FOX or any of the other American “news-giants”.
How pathetic!
I made a mistake. Yes I know that’s difficult to believe...but alas I have erred.
I stopped on CNN to watch (according to Wolf Blitzer…) “The best political team on television”…. and their analysis of the committee hearing the glob glop and splack coming out of the mouths of General Patreus about how swimmingly the war in Iraq is proceeding…..
“Gen. David Petraeus said Tehran is "funding, training, arming and directing" Shiite Muslim militias known as "special groups," and said the recent fighting between Iraqi government troops and militias in southern Iraq highlighted that involvement.”
“The war has claimed more than 4,000 U.S. lives since the 2003 invasion that toppled former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein and cost an estimated $600 billion. It is now widely unpopular at home, with a CNN poll in March showing about two-thirds of the country opposes the conflict.”
"We are still spending $3 billion every week, and we are still losing ... 30 to 40 American lives every month. We can't keep treading water without exhausting ourselves, and that is what the president seems to be asking us to do."
Well things are going about as well as can be expected. The United States invaded Iraq. Of course TV’s “Best political team” raised the issue of how much money Americans are spending to rebuild Iraq while the Iraqi “government” is sitting on billions of dollars of oil revenue… The question being… “When will the government of Iraq step up to the plate and begin investing in rebuilding their nation with the “windfall” oil revenues….
Let me reiterate …. THE UNITED STATES INVADED IRAQ….
If “two-thirds of Americans oppose the conflict”…why isn’t George Bush and his war-mongering arsehole friends being pursued in court for dragging Americans into a war based on lies and pumped-up with lies and sugar-coated with lies and bannered lies slung from the bridge of American aircraft carriers?
My criticism of America and this Bush administration in particular is slowly turning to sympathy. It must be embarrassing to be an American and watch as American taxpayers are being fleeced by the likes of the Carlyle Group and assorted defense contractors… while over-sight is a completely foreign concept to the American Congress.
We must feel sorry for the brain-dead Americans who refuse to acknowledge that their nation is being gutted. We’re at the stage now where it’s bad nasty old Iran that’s behind all the terrible stuff happening in Iraq…. Where it’s the intractable and intransigent Iraqi government that’s dragging its feet while banking billions on oil revenues…where sectarian violence is to blame for the mess of Basra and continuing violence in the streets of Baghdad…
Iran and Iraq were at war….. Does anyone but America think that Iran wouldn’t seize the opportunity to further their interests in the region after the United States of Pathetically Stupid People create a climate of terrorism death and destruction as their recipe for exporting American style “democracy” to the region?
I apologize, Americans aren’t all Pathetically Stupid People….just those who gulp down the nonsense they’re fed by
CNN and American “news” cable companies…. Disjointed half-truths and pasted-together excuses with plenty of blame to go around but no appetite of any kind for hauling this administration into the halls of justice….
One has to feel sorry for a people who choose to embrace ignorance over truth, reject common sense and revel in unjustifiable self-pity.
Let me remind you….America INVADED IRAQ.
Someone should send an e-mail to Jack Caferty and Wolf Blitzer and “Televisions” best political team” and let them know that they’re as full of it as anything being presented on FOX or any of the other American “news-giants”.
How pathetic!
Mikey, are you aware of the fact that CNN is part of Time Warner, and Time Warner merged with AOL? ;-);-) (2% controls 98%) I'll forgive you your temporary slip of the mind...oops, you didn't even have one, I remember!:lol:
We shouldn't hold the Americans for too unintelligent. They may be smarter than we think.
They realize the Middle East is their bread and butter basket!! If they don't control it, someone else will.
They are following a long-term vision, but likely did not anticipate the little inbetween headache Iraq is giving them.
On another note, while we are at it: Is the world still waiting for that war against Iran?
Signs I eye suspiciously:
a) Israel is holding a massive attack war display, practicing how to react against missile attacks, chem. weapons etc. Supposedly they do this every year - I heard of it for the first time.
b) Gen. Petraeus reiterated that Iran is fueling the conflict in Iraq.
c) Americans are under pressure to withdraw from Iraq.
d) Bush's term is coming to an end this year, and he wants to finish business in the Middle East.
e) It is irresponsible and crazy to keep spending this much money on a never-ending war.
Am I out of line, overly suspicious or d.... like your lovable Americans, by putting these things together and conclude the time has arrived where America and Israel might pounce on Iran?
IF they do,
a) then the war in Irak would be over at the same time, because then the Americans can let their guards down and really hit hard.
b) Israeli troops would take over parts or regions themselves and slam any resistance down.
c) Together they would have everything wrapped up, and under control by November to hand over to McCain.
What do you think?
We shouldn't hold the Americans for too unintelligent. They may be smarter than we think.
They realize the Middle East is their bread and butter basket!! If they don't control it, someone else will.
They are following a long-term vision, but likely did not anticipate the little inbetween headache Iraq is giving them.
On another note, while we are at it: Is the world still waiting for that war against Iran?
Signs I eye suspiciously:
a) Israel is holding a massive attack war display, practicing how to react against missile attacks, chem. weapons etc. Supposedly they do this every year - I heard of it for the first time.
b) Gen. Petraeus reiterated that Iran is fueling the conflict in Iraq.
c) Americans are under pressure to withdraw from Iraq.
d) Bush's term is coming to an end this year, and he wants to finish business in the Middle East.
e) It is irresponsible and crazy to keep spending this much money on a never-ending war.
Am I out of line, overly suspicious or d.... like your lovable Americans, by putting these things together and conclude the time has arrived where America and Israel might pounce on Iran?
IF they do,
a) then the war in Irak would be over at the same time, because then the Americans can let their guards down and really hit hard.
b) Israeli troops would take over parts or regions themselves and slam any resistance down.
c) Together they would have everything wrapped up, and under control by November to hand over to McCain.
What do you think?
I remember watching Joe Biden (D), making statements before the war ever started, he
warned and questioned over and over, and stated what would happen as a result of the
u.s. invading iraq, and removing Hussein. And it is 'just' as he described. No one would
listen to him in that administration, no one.
As I watched him making his statement today to the general, I remember vividly how he
tried and tried to convince them that it was a very bad idea.
Bush is so stupid, he has done so much harm, because of his incompetency, and of course
the war is illegal, but the u.s. won't be punished by anyone, I wonder why, I guess it's
because they have more power than the u.n.:angry3:
warned and questioned over and over, and stated what would happen as a result of the
u.s. invading iraq, and removing Hussein. And it is 'just' as he described. No one would
listen to him in that administration, no one.
As I watched him making his statement today to the general, I remember vividly how he
tried and tried to convince them that it was a very bad idea.
Bush is so stupid, he has done so much harm, because of his incompetency, and of course
the war is illegal, but the u.s. won't be punished by anyone, I wonder why, I guess it's
because they have more power than the u.n.:angry3:
Only one potential 2008 US Presidential candidate voted against the war... Barak Obama.
Voting Clinton changes nothing. She is a traditional Democrat. She exercised poor judgement voting to allow Bush free rein to wage war against Iraq. She was unable to see through the propaganda and misimformation when it counted. What does that say about her judgement as President?
McCain is pro-Iraq-war. That means that he At least you know where you stand with him. You would have to be pretty screwed up to vote for McCain. That would be like re-electing G.W.Bush.
For those of you who never thought the Iraq war would lead to today's situation, read this 2003 post on Canadian Content about the impending Iraq invasion:
http://forums.canadiancontent.net/international-politics/33353-myths-facts-about-war.html
Voting Clinton changes nothing. She is a traditional Democrat. She exercised poor judgement voting to allow Bush free rein to wage war against Iraq. She was unable to see through the propaganda and misimformation when it counted. What does that say about her judgement as President?
McCain is pro-Iraq-war. That means that he At least you know where you stand with him. You would have to be pretty screwed up to vote for McCain. That would be like re-electing G.W.Bush.
For those of you who never thought the Iraq war would lead to today's situation, read this 2003 post on Canadian Content about the impending Iraq invasion:
http://forums.canadiancontent.net/international-politics/33353-myths-facts-about-war.html
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That's part of the point I was trying to make earlier. You have to feel sorry for America. They've been conditioned to believe anything their government tells them...to think otherwise is framed as anti-American and un-patriotic. So when your government tells you a pack of lies and you've surrendered your right to critical thought and voluntarily embraced the idea that a voice raised against absurdity and corruption is tantamount to treason...you keep your mind closed and your lips sealed. It doesn't even appear to make much difference to Americans that the wealthy under the GWB administration are actively destroying the middle class and advancing the greed and theft of America's resoures. They're so numbed into apathy and complacency that they'll lose their homes, watch as their system crumbles around them and remain stalwart in their "hear-no-evil" see-no-evil' speak-no-evil" surrender to the modern Cosa Nostra that runs U.S. government.
I'm not as prepared to look to Barak Obama as something different but I am prepared to positively affirm that Hilary Clinton is little more than a Bush in skirts. The Democrats can't even facilitate a primary without screwing it up and disenfranchising Michigan and Florida and people think these nabobs are suitable as executives to run the nation?????
America is in a pickle to be sure.
Dumber than dog-XXXX and content with lies and corruption.
America and Americans can't be trusted and to remain silent while they edge the planet closer to war serves their purposes and does nothing to intervene or assist in turning the tide of self-destruction and world wide destruction that seems entirely acceptable to Americans.
Pathetic.
I'm not as prepared to look to Barak Obama as something different but I am prepared to positively affirm that Hilary Clinton is little more than a Bush in skirts. The Democrats can't even facilitate a primary without screwing it up and disenfranchising Michigan and Florida and people think these nabobs are suitable as executives to run the nation?????
America is in a pickle to be sure.
Dumber than dog-XXXX and content with lies and corruption.
America and Americans can't be trusted and to remain silent while they edge the planet closer to war serves their purposes and does nothing to intervene or assist in turning the tide of self-destruction and world wide destruction that seems entirely acceptable to Americans.
Pathetic.
Either you're trolling, in which case you've got me, or you're a bigot.
Main Entry: big·ot
Pronunciation: \ˈbi-gət\ Function: noun Etymology: French, hypocrite, bigot Date: 1660 : a person obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudices; especially : one who regards or treats the members of a group (as a racial or ethnic group) with hatred and intoleranceEarth, you act like the sanctions weren't justified...
He went to war with Iran, attempted to annex Kuwait, fired gas weapons (against the rules of war) at Israel, fought a war with Saudi Arabia and the nothern third of his Iraq became an autonomous region (through self determination and sacrifice) after he attempted genocide upon them, thereby blocking out Turkey and other nations from doing trade anyways.
What exactly do you consider justified responses?
If its not war, its not sanctions. Other than unenforceable words, what do you suggest is an apporpriate response for Genocide, attempting to Annex neighbouring countries and the use of weapons of mass destructions (gas weapons)
He went to war with Iran, attempted to annex Kuwait, fired gas weapons (against the rules of war) at Israel, fought a war with Saudi Arabia and the nothern third of his Iraq became an autonomous region (through self determination and sacrifice) after he attempted genocide upon them, thereby blocking out Turkey and other nations from doing trade anyways.
What exactly do you consider justified responses?
If its not war, its not sanctions. Other than unenforceable words, what do you suggest is an apporpriate response for Genocide, attempting to Annex neighbouring countries and the use of weapons of mass destructions (gas weapons)
Walter
Does your definition apply to your on-going continual posting about the fraud of AGW?
I'm a bigot in that I believe putting responbility where it belongs is what freedom of speech and righ to critical thought...is all about. You're tolerated here with your opinions that human beings have no responsibility or part in global warming... and you paste these threads full of copied/stolen tabloid-style garbage that you think builds or affirms your position...but it's really a subtle finger given to those who don't subscribe to the same line as you. I don't need to roam over the Internet to find bits and pieces of tripe to "make my case", the evidence that America is on her knees abounds throughout media of all kinds. I don't need to keep making the case that Bush and Chaney and Rumsfeld and Powell lied and are complicit in stealing the future from American children and children from all over the world, the depth and perversity of their lies and corruption is self-evident.
I don't and my position doesn't depend on bought-and-paid-for editorializing on behalf of anyone, but your position critically relies on the garbage you submit for consideration as reasoned thought....
And yes I am now intolerant of the continued infamy and corruption that Americans and people like you slurp up like greedy pigs at a trough so long as that meal allows you to maintain a status quo that's destroying this planet.
I feel sorry for you too Walter, you've resigned yourself to ignorance and pettiness and you'd probably find yourself far happier living in or near the Love Canal or perhaps one of the lovely yellow skyed neighborhoods in San Diego where pollution and self-destruction at the hands of unremitting fossil fuel consumption is celebrated daily.
Does your definition apply to your on-going continual posting about the fraud of AGW?
I'm a bigot in that I believe putting responbility where it belongs is what freedom of speech and righ to critical thought...is all about. You're tolerated here with your opinions that human beings have no responsibility or part in global warming... and you paste these threads full of copied/stolen tabloid-style garbage that you think builds or affirms your position...but it's really a subtle finger given to those who don't subscribe to the same line as you. I don't need to roam over the Internet to find bits and pieces of tripe to "make my case", the evidence that America is on her knees abounds throughout media of all kinds. I don't need to keep making the case that Bush and Chaney and Rumsfeld and Powell lied and are complicit in stealing the future from American children and children from all over the world, the depth and perversity of their lies and corruption is self-evident.
I don't and my position doesn't depend on bought-and-paid-for editorializing on behalf of anyone, but your position critically relies on the garbage you submit for consideration as reasoned thought....
And yes I am now intolerant of the continued infamy and corruption that Americans and people like you slurp up like greedy pigs at a trough so long as that meal allows you to maintain a status quo that's destroying this planet.
I feel sorry for you too Walter, you've resigned yourself to ignorance and pettiness and you'd probably find yourself far happier living in or near the Love Canal or perhaps one of the lovely yellow skyed neighborhoods in San Diego where pollution and self-destruction at the hands of unremitting fossil fuel consumption is celebrated daily.
Zzarchov
And when the United States behaves like the aggressor do you support bombing the United States? You're notion seems to be that the U.S. has the authority of the "World Police" to regulate anyone anywherere any time they choose!
You see "through a glass darkly" when it comes to the history of American backed revolutions and weapons proliferation across this planet. You believe even though the stated reasons why the U.S. invaded Iraq proved to be false that some right exists for the United States of Universal Morality to intercede...based on what?
We're about to lock horns here Zzarchov and I'll advise you to get your game together.
And when the United States behaves like the aggressor do you support bombing the United States? You're notion seems to be that the U.S. has the authority of the "World Police" to regulate anyone anywherere any time they choose!
You see "through a glass darkly" when it comes to the history of American backed revolutions and weapons proliferation across this planet. You believe even though the stated reasons why the U.S. invaded Iraq proved to be false that some right exists for the United States of Universal Morality to intercede...based on what?
We're about to lock horns here Zzarchov and I'll advise you to get your game together.
The War on Terrorism
Breaking the Silence
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4527835028345509000
Breaking the Silence
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4527835028345509000
I fully support anyone who wants to try bombing the USA to go for it, and see what happens. I also fully support whatever response is then doled out to that nation, hell, I'd support helping.
I believe in Sovereignty over the UN. I never voted to give China a veto in world law did you?
Now if you think the US is doing a piss-poor job of world police, I agree. But until someone else steps up to the job, then Im not gonna piss on their cereal for stomping out some tyrants.
How to make a better world.
Step 1.) Disolve UN
Step 2.) Create new UN, restricted to democracies, mandate that one cannot recognize nor trade with non-member countries.
Step 3.) Systematically force the worst dictatorship (by vote) in the world into a democracy or die trying with mandatory commitments from all members. Doesn't need to be warfare, outright bribery of the old regime to stand down works too.
High in the Sky idealism I know. But seeing as real politik means that won't happen, I'll settle for what we have.
Can you post a link to back up your point that Iraq fired gas weapons at Israel? I recall the SCUDs being armed with conventional warheads.
I would agree that economic sanctions against Iraq were justified back in the 1980's when Iraq began using chemical weapons against civilians.
Unfortunately the US wouldn't support an arms embargo let alone an economic embargo against Iraq. At the time Iraq's invasion and war with Iran served American purposes. Even after it was known that Iraq was using CWs against civilians, the US helped Iraq to acquire WMD technology and provided intelligence to Iraq so they could use their CWs more efficiently:
Sure I was in favor of imposing economic sanctions against Iraq back then.
I was also in favor of economic sanctions against Iraq during the early 1990's until such time as UNSCOM declared Iraq free of WMDs.
But by 1998 it was clear that Iraq no longer possessed a credible WMD threat and UNSCOM was no longer objective:
During the previous year, Iraq had allowed UNSCOM to go anywhere, at any time and talk to anyone. During that year when Iraq fully cooperated with UNSCOM, nothing substantive was found. IN fact nothing has ben found to justify economic sanctions against Iraq since about 1995.
Iraq rightly expected that their cooperation with UNSCOM would be rewarded with at least reduced economic sanctions. Instead every time Iraq got close to the finish line, the US threatened to use its UNSC veto to maintain the sanctions and UNSCOM kept moving the finish line.
I expected that UNSCOM would remain objective as per their mandate rather than become a front for US intelligence gathering on Iraq's legal weapon systems:
By 1998, every country on the UN Security Council knew Iraq had been disarmed of its WMD technology and no longer posed a credible WMD threat. But the US used its position as a veto power on the UNSC to maintain the sanctions knowing Iraq no longer possessed WMDS and the sanctions were causing a humanitarian catastrophe:
Legality of US/UK no fly zones
In 2001, top Bush advisors knew that Iraq posed no credible threat and said so publicly:
So by 2003, when Bush was selling his Iraqi war plans, I was skeptical. I read UNMOVIC reports myself and I was convinced that after some initial hestitation Iraq was fully cooperating. By March 2003, it was obvious that Iraq was no longer a credible WMD threat.
Just a few months after March 7 2003, UNSCOM would likely release a definitive report clearing the way for economic sanctions to be lifted against Iraq.
Bush and his advisors were well aware that they couldn't start a war with Iraq if UNSCOM declared Iraq no longer possessed WMDs. So they pushed their plans ahead:
For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
March 17, 2003 [FONT=arial, helvetica, sans serif]President Says Saddam Hussein Must Leave Iraq Within 48 Hours [/FONT]
Remarks by the President in Address to the Nation
THE PRESIDENT: My fellow citizens, events in Iraq have now reached the final days of decision. For more than a decade, the United States and other nations have pursued patient and honorable efforts to disarm the Iraqi regime without war. (NOTE: Ignoring that the US used UNSCOM to spy on Iraq's legal weapon systems and as a result discredited UN weapons inspections. Ignoring that the US knew Iraq was no longer a credible WMD threat and that any WMDs if they existed would be far past their best before date. Ignoring that UNSCOM was only a fe months away from resolving all remaining key disarmament tasks...) That regime pledged to reveal and destroy all its weapons of mass destruction as a condition for ending the Persian Gulf War in 1991.
Since then, the world has engaged in 12 years of diplomacy. (But refused to talk directly to Iraq) We have passed more than a dozen resolutions in the United Nations Security Council. We have sent hundreds of weapons inspectors to oversee the disarmament of Iraq. Our good faith has not been returned. (yeah right, did anyone by this whopper?)
The Iraqi regime has used diplomacy as a ploy to gain time and advantage. (To do what? Starve its people, allow its military to shrivel?) It has uniformly defied Security Council resolutions demanding full disarmament. (A blatant lie, UNSCOM just praised Iraq's "proactive coperation".) Over the years, U.N. weapon inspectors have been threatened by Iraqi officials, electronically bugged, and systematically deceived. Peaceful efforts to disarm the Iraqi regime have failed again and again (Another whopper. The US and the UK had been bombing Iraq continuously for over a decade!)-- because we are not dealing with peaceful men.
Intelligence gathered by this and other governments leaves no doubt that the Iraq regime continues to possess and conceal some of the most lethal weapons ever devised. (Contradicting what had been known by UNSCOM said back in 1998 and what Blix of UNMOVIC said only 10 days earlier) This regime has already used weapons of mass destruction against Iraq's neighbors and against Iraq's people.
The regime has a history of reckless aggression in the Middle East. It has a deep hatred of America and our friends. And it has aided, trained and harbored terrorists, including operatives of al Qaeda. (Still waiting for proof to back up this statement)
The danger is clear: using chemical, biological or, one day, nuclear weapons, obtained with the help of Iraq, the terrorists could fulfill their stated ambitions and kill thousands or hundreds of thousands of innocent people in our country, or any other...
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/03/20030317-7.html
So no I did not support this war from the beginning. Anyone capable of critical thought and aware of UNSCOM's last report before the invasion knew Bush had no credible justification for war with Iraq.
So "What exactly do I consider justified responses?"
... to a country proactively cooperating with UN weapon inspectors which had been disarmed of WMDs, with no credible military capability, suffering under crippling economic sanctions long after they had served their original purpose??
I was in favor letting UNMOVIC do their job. If they determined Iraq was no longer possessed WMDs, then out of compassion for the Iraqi people, the economic sanctions should have been lifted. But I would be in favor of continued arms embargo and periodic unannounced UNMOVIC inspections... indefinitely if necessary.
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