Don't panic. Saddam's Capture now = Good thing for us.

[Meldread]

Don't worry. Today the bastard may walk with a smirk on his face but it will be short-lived. After the "Victory" high wears off (not unlike the day after a night of good sex) people will be asking questions. Both Iraqi and American.

"Now that we have Saddam, we/the Americans can go home now, right?"

Wrong. We are still stuck in Iraq for the long haul. This will make us look even worse to the Iraqi's -- especially seeing as how their last fear has been dispelled. (Saddam is gone, why are you still here?!)

This of course, will mean more attacks on our soldiers, leading to more deaths, which will translate into bad things for Bush.

Oh, and let's not forget the questions that will arise, "I thought all those guys were fighting for Saddam?! We have him captured! Why are our troops still being killed?!"

If you hate Bush as much as I do, then I suggest you put on a smile and congratulate him thoroughly. Play up Saddam's capture. Make it sound like Bush himself -- alone -- walked into Iraq and fought off an entire army single-handedly, then personally captured Saddam just to bring him to justice. That way when the shit hits the fan: Bush gets chopped to chunky bite-sized bits.

This is the begining of the end for Bush. The only way he will be able to survive the oncoming storm is to get the hell out of Iraq now... and if he does that in and of itself brings complicated problems. Either way, in the end, Bush is going to lose far more than he thought he'd gain.

[Bozola]

1. What I'm wondering is "what are they going to charge him with?"

Resisting an illegal, invading force?

Killing thousands of Iraqis with the explicit blessing of Ronnie & Poppy?

Thinking about having "Weapons of Mass Distruction"?

Not giving Halliburton a better deal back in 1999?

Fixing elections?

[BertrandL]

3. War Attrocities going way, way back

Gassing the kurds
Gassing the kurds again
Forced relocations
Mass executions and purges
Illegal invasion of Kuwait
Political torture
Non-political torture
Trying to have Bush I assassinated
Writing terrible, terrible novels
Gassing the Iranians
Genocide

You know. The usual brutal dictator things.

[Bozola]

8. Uh-huh.

So you think they are going to use the international laws, that the US has seriously violated, to prosecute him with?

Remember, that most of what you mentioned above, the US was an active participant with him.

I think he's a complete bastard and I don't actually give a damn about him, but I'm much more curious how Bush is going to avoid getting entangled in the same laws that he's planning of persecuting with.

[SlavesandBulldozers]

2. I agree

Though I don't think it was accurate to equivocate the furthering of violence in Iraq with a good thing for us, which your post nearly did. That being said, I agree wholeheartedly that Bush will find this to be a Catch-22. Who will the boogeyman be now that you got the boogeyman caged? How will we function without a boogeyman?

[Bozola]

4. They're cashing in Saddam because they have a new "boogeyman"

His name is Howard Dean.

[Meldread]

11. Can't ignore facts.

I'm glad that Saddam has been captured -- he was a horrible man that did horrible crimes, with the backing of horrible American Presidents. Hopefully that will come to light.

However, we cannot overlook or ignore the facts. It is a bad thing when Troops die in Iraq -- I feel for every family that loses a son or daughter. My own brother in law spent six months in Iraq, missed the birth of his first child, and may be going back after New Years. But *ANY* American deaths that happen as a result of that war can be laid at the feet of the Commander-n-Chump. Americans see that and therefore his poll numbers fall, which indirectly translates to rising poll numbers for us. It's sad that more people must die in order for Bush to be removed from power, but the fact is many more will die if he is allowed to remain in power.

Personally, I am willing to capitalize on whatever is thrown my way, because I know Bush and his Administration will be doing the same. Politics is a cut throat game with high stakes -- someone is always getting hurt -- but the fact of the matter is it's a game we can't afford to lose.

As much as it sickens me to be playing a "game" by the Republicans "rules", I've come to understand that any semblance of morality in politics died the moment Bush was placed into office.

[DrBB]

5. Almost exactly the same thing I said in another thread

...and I doubt if we're the only ones who can see it this far ahead.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=906207

The one thing that may complicate it is that, if they're smart, they'll use the lengthy war crimes/human rights tribunal on Saddam to help build unity in the country and isolate the insurgents. Which would be a good thing, I have to keep reminding myself, even if it is also good for the Flying Chimp's election position.

[corporatewhore]

6. I totally agree

those of us who are antiwar and the cannidates who are anti war need tp stay on messaage.Our cannidates started while the war was popular and we still protested while the war was popular we made it throughthe first bombings and the "end" of the war with statue pulling and all
the media whores will treat prince georgie as His Holy Emperor George Freedom loving Bush for awhile. and will make it out as if he personally lassoed saddam himself for a couple weeks but we need to stay on message

[opihimoimoi]

7. The Opi concurs

yup, the deficiet is still $490,000,000,000.08

This guy is bankrupting us for 1 cowardly asshole who couldn't bring himself to pull the trigger.

[htuttle]

9. Would it have justified anything if Hussein had been killed...

...the first night of the war? Remember, that's what they told us for some time.

There's certainly no logical relationship between Hussein's capture, basically cleaning up after a military op that failed months ago (his assassination by missile), and the rationale for going to war.

However, weak-minded individuals will accept the propaganda that the two items are connected somehow. If this had happened in October 2004, it would be a classic PR 'October Surprise', and might have a huge bearing on the election. Next November, it would have affected Bush badly if Hussein hadn't been caught, but I'm not sure it helps him that positively, once today's media 'sugar rush' wears off.

And the war slogs on...

[moondust]

10. This could end up a disaster for Republicans.

An open trial could expose Repugs and their dirty business. They'll have to insist on a hand-picked Repug prosecutor who will agree not to delve too far into the truth.

[stopbush]

12. There will be no open trial n/t

[mzmolly]

13. Totally agree.... bad news for Bush in the long run, though they'll

spin it as best they can...

[Moderator]

14. Consolidating threads on a very hectic day.....

Please continue the discussion here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=904501

Thank you for your patience and understanding.


DU Moderator