Thoughts on Rumsfeld's remark on "Iraqi targets" post 9/11

[IrateCitizen]

This was something that really jumped out at me from the Richard Clarke interview on 60 Minutes last night. I was wondering if anyone else caught it.

Clarke was talking about the need to go after targets in Afghanistan, and Rumsfeld was fixated on the need to bomb Iraq. When pressed by Clark, Rumsfeld's explanation was, "But Iraq has more targets than Afghanistan."

I found this remark to be telling for a number of reasons. First, it indicated the complete lack of Administration officials to grasp the reality of the problem that was faced. When confronted with a problem their response was to immediately fall back on Cold War ideology rather than face facts. Second, it highlights the REAL aims of the Administration (specifically, the PNAC crowd) in the aftermath of 9/11.

They wanted to go after Iraq not because Iraq was responsible for the events of 9/11 -- they wanted to go after Iraq because it represented the best showcase for an overwhelming display of American military might.

These people -- Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz, Cheney, etc. -- are consumed with the use of military force to achieve their aims, and in the infallacy of US military hegemony. They also realize that there is no good reason for having all of these high-priced weapons systems if you're not going to USE them. I mean, if operations if Afghanistan could have best been carried out by elite ground units and massive intelligence cooperation between nations, then there's no reason to drop billions on the new fighter aircraft or missile system.

The nature of Rumsfeld's comment betrayed a lot about the true nature of the aims of the Bush Administration. I was wondering if anyone else noticed this, and came to a similar conclusion?

[Az]

1. The PNAC plan

was designed to show the world our might. That we are the undisputed military rulers of the world. A few skirmishes in afghanastan would not be enough to demonstrate this. This is why Iraq was the target of choice in the first gulf war and why they had to pay now.

In the first war the Bush I clan floated rumors that Iraq had the 3rd largest standing army in the world. They wanted it to look like a clash of giants. One where the US totally thrashed the other giant.

It has always been about the sale of the US as a rulers of the world. It is world domination. Pure and simple. Hail Caesar.

[grannylib]

4. That;s it exactly...'total war' is the concept being touted by Perle in

particular. We should be at 'total war' with everyone the US wants to be rid of, while we can do it because we are the only 'superpower.'
PNAC also advocates renewing nuclear testing...wonder what 'expendable' population of people of color we will find on which to test nukes THIS time???

[The empressof all]

2. When I heard this

I thought "Well a boy needs his toys"

[DinahMoeHum]

3. Rumsfeld is the 21st century version of Robert McNamara. . .

and the PNACers and OSP people are this generation's version of the "Pentagon Whiz Kids" of the 1960's.

Yeah, they too thought in terms of weapons systems and "economic game theory".


:evilfrown:

[supernova]

5. When I heard that

Rummy quote I heard:

"We'll attack Iraq not because it has anything to do with 9/11, but because Iraq is more convenient than Afghanistan. Iraq is more accessible and we've been there before."

And this totally ignores not just the reality of the Al-Q way of operating, but Al-Q itself. Al-Q just isn't on the PNAC radar. Poof!

Sometimes I think they went into Afghanistan only begrudgingly just as a way to get a free pass to Iraq.

Hmm. Think I need to reread M M Kaye's The Far Pavillions The primary story is a great piece of historical fiction, but it has wonderful period detail about the interplay between India, what would become Pakistan, and Afghanistan.

[barbaraann]

6. I'm still digesting PNAC's ties to Scoop Jackson.

That's a tough thing for a former Yellow Dog Dem.

[ChickMagic]

7. I irrationally thought of an old joke

"I lost my ring in the living room".

"Then why are you looking in the kitchen?"

"The light's better here."

[cspiguy]

8. Well, Iraq DID have a good motive - see Kuwait '91

n/t