What I Heard About Iraq

[Geo55]

a long read...it should not be forgotten.

http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0416-20.htm

[Hissyspit]

1. I would add the first couple paragraphs to your OP as a hook...

Just a suggestion. I almost didn't click on the link. Glad I did.

Nominated. One more, folks...

[Nostradammit]

2. Some Snippets - good article

* I heard... a year after the first Gulf war, I heard Dick Cheney, then Secretary of Defense, say that the US had been wise not to invade Baghdad, since it would have meant getting "bogged down in the problems of trying to take over and govern Iraq." I heard him say: "The question in my mind is: How many additional American casualties is Saddam worth? And the answer is: Not very damned many."

In February 2001, I heard Colin Powell say that Saddam Hussein "has not developed any significant capability with respect to weapons of mass destruction. He is unable to project conventional power against his neighbors."

That same month, I heard that a CIA report stated: "We do not have any direct evidence that Iraq has used the period since Desert Fox to reconstitute its weapons of mass destruction programs."

[Virginian]

3. More snippets

<snip>
Two months later, I heard Condoleezza Rice say: "We are able to keep his arms from him. His military forces have not been rebuilt."

On September 11, 2001, six hours after the attacks, I heard that Donald Rumsfeld said that it might be an opportunity to "hit" Iraq. I heard that he said: "Go massive. Sweep it all up. Things related and not."

I heard that Condoleezza Rice asked: "How do you capitalize on these opportunities?"

I heard that on September 17 the President signed a document marked "TOP SECRET" that directed the Pentagon to begin planning for the invasion and that, some months later, he secretly and illegally diverted $700 million approved by Congress for operations in Afghanistan into preparing for the new battle front.

In February 2002, I heard that an unnamed "senior military commander" said: "We are moving military and intelligence personnel and resources out of Afghanistan to get ready for a future war in Iraq."

I heard the President say that Iraq is "a threat of unique urgency," and that there is "no doubt the Iraqi regime continues to possess the most lethal weapons ever devised."

...

I heard that 100,000 Iraqi civilians were dead. I heard that there was now an average of 150 attacks a day on US troops. I heard that, in Baghdad, 700 people were being killed every month in "non-war-related" criminal activities. I heard that 1,400 American soldiers had been killed and the true casualty figure was approximately 25,000.

<snip>

[Hissyspit]

4. As much as I remember having heard ALL of these things, I had forgotten

...that I had heard some of them. Email this article around the Internet.

[suegeo]

9. Condoleezza Rice asked: "How do you capitalize on these opportunities?"

The head of the NSA, on whose watch this failure went down, asked about capitalizing on opportunities.

There isn't a word for how disgusted the bad doctor's remarks make me feel.

[Hissyspit]

5. This thing just made me tear up. Twice. Another couple of good ones:

"I heard the director of a hospital in Baghdad say: "The whole hospital is an emergency room. The nature of the injuries is so severe-one body without a head, someone else with their abdomen ripped open." I heard him say: "Human beings are so frail in the face of these weapons of war."

I heard an American soldier say: "There's a picture of the World Trade Center hanging up by my bed and I keep one in my Kevlar . Every time I feel sorry for these people I look at that. I think, 'They hit us at home and now it's our turn.'"

I don't see anything like: I heard officials say the occupation would cost $6 billion at he most, or that the oil production would pay for the reconstruction of Iraq.

I may be missing it though.

How 'bout this one: "I heard the President, "bristling with irritation," say: "This business about time, how much time do we need to see clearly that he's not disarming? He is delaying. He is deceiving. He is asking for time. He's playing hide-and-seek with inspectors. One thing for sure is, he's not disarming. Surely our friends have learned lessons from the past. This looks like a rerun of a bad movie and I'm not interested in watching it."

[liberalla]

6. and this...

"I heard that the US military had purchased 1,500,000,000 bullets for use in the coming year. That is fifty-eight bullets for every Iraqi adult and child."

This is obscene. :wtf:

_______________________________


...meanwhile, back in his cell~

"I heard that Saddam Hussein, in solitary confinement, was spending his time writing poetry, reading the Qur'an, eating cookies and muffins, and taking care of some bushes and shrubs. I heard that he had placed a circle of white stones around a small plum tree."

I hope one day GW will be spending his time in a cell, awaiting his own trial for war crimes, crimes against the citizens of the United States, crimes against the world, crimes against the planet (environment), etc.

The State of Texas should issue an official apology.

[ClayZ]

12. I join you in visualizing * PERP Walk!

I wonder what bu$h would do in a cell. Mini-golf?

[Laurab]

17. I hope that not only * but every single member of his administration

who helped perpetuate this travesty, will all be awaiting their trials. I would wish upon them the same type of prison guards they used for the Iraqi prisoners. I would like to see photos of their "interrogations", as well.

[signmike]

7. "Taking care of bushes and shrubs" ? who does that sound like ?

clearing brush on the ranch

[DistressedAmerican]

8. Great Post! America Simply MUST Be Shaken And Slapped Awake!

Somedays I fear it is far too late...



Nominating and Kicking!

[Roland99]

10. Wow...nominated for Home Page!

[Hissyspit]

11. This was originally posted on Net back in January, I believe...

but still great read.

[understandinglife]

13. ....are all the screaming children.....

www.missionnotaccomplished.us (a day to reflect on how many more screams Bu$h and his theocratic neoconsters are going to induce)

[Geo55]

14. Yes, May 2......I will remember.....and remind.

[understandinglife]

16. Thank you...and we all appreciate your support....

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=3495842&mesg_id=3495842

Peace.

[chlamor]

15. Let us all Read this

in a public space on May 2nd. Excellent post.

[Virginian]

18. My BIG questions in the lead up to Bush's war were...

If Saddam is such a dangerous person, why aren't his neighbors in bordering countries worried and asking US to join THEM in neutralizing him?

If we know where his WMDs are, why don't we tell the UN inspectors so they can find them.

He gassed the Kurds 12 years ago. Why are we just now getting huffy about it?

Why is Bush using enthymematic argumentation to make us think he is saying there is a connection between 9/11 and Iraq. If there is a connection, why doesn't he come out and say it, and if there isn't, why is he making it sound like there is a connection?
He would say things like: "Saddam is a bad man. We were hurt on 9/11." But he never did say, "Saddam is a bad man who hurt us on 9/11."

[driver8]

19. Amazing article...and sad because it is true!!

How did we get to this place in our country's history?? How can anyone be proud of America these days?? I love this country as much as anyone, but I am ashamed to be an American. I am ashamed that this is what our country and our leaders have become.

When do the trials for war crimes begin?? I want a front row seat...