Iraq

What with all the political and media spin being put on the capture of Saddam Hussein, I thought it was time to remember the following pronouncements, just to put matters into perspective:

Vice President Dick Cheney, August 2002

Simply stated, there is no doubt that Saddam Hussein now has weapons of mass destruction. There is no doubt he is amassing them to use against our friends, against our allies, and against us."

Bush's Address to Nation, March 17, 2003

"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. "

....

"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.

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. The United States and other nations did nothing to deserve or invite this threat, but we will do everything to defeat it. "

Secretary Rumsfeld interview, March 30, 2003

"...the area in the south and the west and the north that coalition forces control is substantial. It happens not to be the area where weapons of mass destruction were dispersed. We know where they are. They're in the area around Tikrit and Baghdad and east, west, south and north somewhat. "

Presidential Letter, March 21, 2003

I have also determined that the use of armed force against Iraq is consistent with the United States and other countries continuing to take the necessary actions against international terrorists and terrorist organizations, including those nations, organiza-tions, or persons who planned, authorized, committed, or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001.



Ane many more like the above over here.



No matter what spin is put on it, this is what it is: a war started and fought under false pretenses. An occupation by a foreign force.



The US now controls (directly, or via propped up governments) the three countries with the largest oil reserves in the world: Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Kuwait. In the end - in my eyes - that was what this war was all about: a method of securing a steady and reliable source of oil when the oil production world-wide is peaking.

Period.