Re: Cheers! – “Why are we still in Iraq?”
On 10/15/05 Annamarie responded to Cheers! assessment of the Bush administrations' Iraq adventure - As a soldier, I am sure you have seen tragic events unseen by most of us. However, I must beg to differ with you on a couple of points:
First, Regardless of how bad Saddam Hussein was, the U.S. was not justified in invading his country to depose him. That was up to the people over whom he ruled. It is not up to the U.S. to depose everyone it deems a dictator."
Second, Saddam had NOTHING to do with 9/11, and had NO WMD's. His country was already weakened by many years' sanctions. As former weapons inspector, Scott Ritter, has stated numerous times, Saddam had no WMD's and his capabilities to produce them was greatly weakened. Thus, the premise that the war on Iraq was justified simply is not true. Much credible evidence has come to light, among them "The Downing Street Memos", and so much more.
The almost-total destruction of Iraq--and the huge loss of life to innocent civilian Iraqis, and almost 2,000 U.S. troops--cannot be justified.
Third, As for 'peace in most parts of Iraq'; that also is untrue. Iraq is on the brink of a civil war! While under Saddam's tyrannical rule, Iraq was a secular society, where fundamentalists were kept silenced. Perhaps we should consider silencing a few radical fundamentalists in the USA.
Now, there is a strong fundamentalist group with leanings toward an Iran-style Islamist regime. I am certain the Bush administration did not anticipate this, thinking Iraq would be 'a cake-walk'.
The reasons for the Iraq invasion are complex. Please read some of the reports on my website: http://www.verbena-19.blogspot.com, particularly reports by Dahr Jamail, who is an American independent journalist reporting from Iraq.
His reports are filled with chilling accounts, and honesty. Dahr does not prevaricate--he simply reports what he sees and hears firsthand. He is 'un-embedded', thus able to move amongst the people and report truthfully from various parts of the country.
Please understand that I am not against President Bush or American foreign policy 'per se' -- I am simply against lies and misrepresentationslies and misrepresentations. In a democratic society it is not 'unpatriotic' to ask questions of leaders, and dissenting views should be heard, for dissent is also part of democracy.
First, Regardless of how bad Saddam Hussein was, the U.S. was not justified in invading his country to depose him. That was up to the people over whom he ruled. It is not up to the U.S. to depose everyone it deems a dictator."
Second, Saddam had NOTHING to do with 9/11, and had NO WMD's. His country was already weakened by many years' sanctions. As former weapons inspector, Scott Ritter, has stated numerous times, Saddam had no WMD's and his capabilities to produce them was greatly weakened. Thus, the premise that the war on Iraq was justified simply is not true. Much credible evidence has come to light, among them "The Downing Street Memos", and so much more.
The almost-total destruction of Iraq--and the huge loss of life to innocent civilian Iraqis, and almost 2,000 U.S. troops--cannot be justified.
Third, As for 'peace in most parts of Iraq'; that also is untrue. Iraq is on the brink of a civil war! While under Saddam's tyrannical rule, Iraq was a secular society, where fundamentalists were kept silenced. Perhaps we should consider silencing a few radical fundamentalists in the USA.
Now, there is a strong fundamentalist group with leanings toward an Iran-style Islamist regime. I am certain the Bush administration did not anticipate this, thinking Iraq would be 'a cake-walk'.
The reasons for the Iraq invasion are complex. Please read some of the reports on my website: http://www.verbena-19.blogspot.com, particularly reports by Dahr Jamail, who is an American independent journalist reporting from Iraq.
His reports are filled with chilling accounts, and honesty. Dahr does not prevaricate--he simply reports what he sees and hears firsthand. He is 'un-embedded', thus able to move amongst the people and report truthfully from various parts of the country.
Please understand that I am not against President Bush or American foreign policy 'per se' -- I am simply against lies and misrepresentationslies and misrepresentations. In a democratic society it is not 'unpatriotic' to ask questions of leaders, and dissenting views should be heard, for dissent is also part of democracy.
QuestionItNow asserts that dissenting voices need to be heard and their views need to be considered and itelligently debated. Now, more than ever we need creative and intelligent ideas for fixing our collective problems. We know America can do better!
However, Mr. Bush continually decries any dissent or criticism of his policies as 'un-patriotic'-- which is wrong -- and does great disservice to the premise of 'democracy' in the U.S.-- so much. His attitude smacks of 'McCarthyism'. Saying "You are either with us, or with the enemy" should not be heard from the mouth of the president of a leading country of the 'free-world'. That automatically implies that anyone who is against anything the president says or does, is "with the enemy". Americans who ask questions are then "with the enemy"? That is absurd.
I simply wanted to comment to express my views about where I felt you were in error. I have no desire to change your views, merely to ask that you view ALL sides, and the facts to back them up. These issues are much more complex than we ever can hope to fully comprehend. Perhaps generations that come after us will be better able to judge these events, from their history books. Only time will tell...
Regardless of some of our differing views, your comments are intelligent, insightful and interesting. I will return to your site often to read more. Take care and regards,
Annamarie
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However, Mr. Bush continually decries any dissent or criticism of his policies as 'un-patriotic'-- which is wrong -- and does great disservice to the premise of 'democracy' in the U.S.-- so much. His attitude smacks of 'McCarthyism'. Saying "You are either with us, or with the enemy" should not be heard from the mouth of the president of a leading country of the 'free-world'. That automatically implies that anyone who is against anything the president says or does, is "with the enemy". Americans who ask questions are then "with the enemy"? That is absurd.
I simply wanted to comment to express my views about where I felt you were in error. I have no desire to change your views, merely to ask that you view ALL sides, and the facts to back them up. These issues are much more complex than we ever can hope to fully comprehend. Perhaps generations that come after us will be better able to judge these events, from their history books. Only time will tell...
Regardless of some of our differing views, your comments are intelligent, insightful and interesting. I will return to your site often to read more. Take care and regards,
Annamarie
QuestionItNow - Community & Political T-Shirts
posted by REB 84 at 10/16/2005 09:57:00 PM
2 Comments:
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