**Skeets, my previous comment was regarding the media/military manipulation of the "rejoicing in the streets." I actually expected WMD to be found, and think it's still possible. Regarding the son-in-law, however, you have the facts wrong. His report is here: middleeastreference.org.uk
A quote, which was conveniently suppressed by the US in the UN presentation and elsewhere and which was eventually reported by Newsweek (http://64.176.94.191/article1773.htm **
interesting. i repeated what i had heard on a discovery channel type documentary. it seems there is some level of conflict so i will look into it further. i corrected the link so folks can view the article.
**In the interview (pages 7-8, 12 and 13), Kamel states categorically, "I ordered destruction of all chemical weapons. All weapons - biological, chemical, missile, nuclear were destroyed" (p. 13). He insisted that “nothing remained” of the biological program, that the production facility was turned to other uses, that he “made the decision to disclose everything so that Iraq could return to normal" (p.8) and that “we gave insturctions [sic] not to produce chemical weapons" (p.13).**
i guess we're about to find out if he was right or not. i'd be shocked if saddam allowed this to actually have been done. however, i've been shocked before... ;-)
**Skeets, I view our foreign policy as failure, so no, I am not rooting for that. I believe we are seriously on the wrong path, so there is no possible avenue of success as I define it; it's now a game of limiting our losses. I believe our children's tax dollars have been seriously misdirected. I grieve the lost opportunities and the loss of the future propserity for my own family and much of mankind.**
i can only focus on this one action and i support it and consider myself antiwar, as do most folks. however, i balance that against my anti tyrant, anti torturer (the word rolls easily off the lips, far too easily), anti murderer and all around bad dude feelings.
in my own attempt to "do unto others as i would have them do unto me," i would want those with the power to end my oppression to do so. i think it is rather naive to expect saddam to walk away so this rally was the only option. we agree that is unfortunate.
the fact is the iraqis couldn't stand saddam. sure, that group of people was small. but the lack of fight was 5 million strong and that was the *real* vote of the people.
let me ask you this. you are an iraqi. your brother was taken to fight for saddam in the iran/iraq war. he's dead. your uncle made bad comments about saddam's wars and the costs on iraqis. saddam cronies looks for him and he runs. you are then interogated to find his whereabouts. you don't know. your daughter is gang raped in front of you to provide an "incentive" to talk.
what would you want the US to do? remove saddam or give him more time with you, your children and your grandchildren?
i know my answer. that's why i support the war regardless of the motives of our govt.
my biggest fear is the next govt is just as bad. however, if they pull off a decent govt then it was well worth it, imho. throw in a palestinian state and some financial help and i think we've done some good.
iow, the jury is still out, imho. it could be as bad as you say... or not... i hope not. |
