Okay to begin this "argument" if that's really what you want to call it...
Get off President Bush's back, it is no vendetta, no war for oil, not a failed search for weapons of mass destruction. The war in Iraq was to spread democracy, furthering the world, while helping thousands of people with their oppression, and of course to dis-arm Saddam Hussein before mass destruction took place.
First, it is clearly not a war for oil, look up the statistics online. We only get 4.9% of our current oil from Iraq, which averages out to some odd number of dollars, but CLEARLY does NOT offset the approx. 9 billion dollars we spend a month on the reconstruction of Iraq. So find a new argument.
Second, Iraq & Al Qaeda were tied together whether or not you want to accept it. Saddam Hussein funded all of these terrorist activities from years ranging over 2 decades ago. Saddam funded:
--Abu Nidal, a terrorist who planned the 1973 assault on an American passenger plane in Rome taht resulted in 34 deaths along with the 1974 bombing of TWA 841 which resulted in 88 deaths.
--On April 24, 1977, the Palestine Liberation Front, was reorganized under the leadership of the terrorist Abu Abbas, the group was organized with money and help from the IRAQI government stated by the New York Times, and to prove it, On april 14, 2004 Abu Abbas was captured by US special forces during a raid near Baghdad...he was there for terrorist conference meetings. Clearly affiliated with the Iraqi Government.
--In 1979, Congress passed legislation which required the executive branch to create and maintain a list of countries deemed to have repeatedly provided support for acts of international terrorism. In December 1979, the CARTER ADMINISTRATION declared four countries as state sponsors of terrorism including,
IRAQ, Libya, Syria and Southern Yemem.
--During the 1992 presidential campaign, AL GORE criticized the FIRST BUSH administration for its "blatand disreguard of Iraq's ties to terrorism."
--On June 27, 1994 ABC news reported that Abdul Rahman Yasin (indicted for his role in the 1993 World Trade Center Bombing) was known to be living in Iraq with assistance from the government.
--The U.S. Department of State's 1995 Patterns of Global Terrorism report stated, "Iraq continues to provide haven and training facilities for several terrorist clients. Abu Abbas' Palestine Liberation Front (PLF) maintains its headquarters in Baghdad. Along with the (ANO), and (ALF), groups responsible by Supreme Court of Law for US aircraft bombings on the US, was all still being funded by Saddam Hussein's regime being headed by Abu Ibrahim in Baghdad.
--Saddam Hussein paid $25,000 bonuses to the families of Palestinian homicide bombers. Mahmoud Besharat, who was in charge of dispensing this "reward money" to the families of deceased bombers said "You would have to ask President Saddam why he is being so generous. But he is a revolutionary and he wants this distinguished struggle, the intifada, to continue."
--After the fall of Saddam's government, coalition forces found and destroyed a terrorist training camp located near Baghdad called Salman Pak. This terrorist training camp featured and airplane fuselage where Iraqi defectors had earlier reported foreign terrorists were being trained in hijacking aircraft.
--On Nov. 5, 1998, a Federal Grand Jury in Manhattan returned a 238-count indictment charging Osama bin Laden in the bombing of two United States Embassies in Africa and with conspiring to commit other acts of terrorism against Americans abroad. The grand jury indictment also charged that Al-Qaeda had reached an arrangement with President Saddam Hussein's government in Iraq whereby the group said that it would not work against Iraq, and that the two parties agreed to cooperate in the development of weapons.
--On February 13, 1999, CNN reported, "Osama bin Laden, the Saudi millionaire accused by the United States of plotting bomb attacks on two US embassies in Africa, has left Afghanistan, Afghan sources said Saturday. Bin Laden's whereabouts were not known..." The article reports, "
Iraqi President Saddam Hussein has offered asylum to Bin Laden..."
--After 9/11 attacks, Saddam Hussein became the only world leader to offer praise for Bin Laden, even as other terrorist leaders, like Yassir Arafat, went out of their way to make a show of sympathy to the US by donating blood to 9/11 victims on camera.
Third, Weapons of Mass Destruction!
--March 16, 1988, the Iraqi Air Force appeared over the city of Halabja. The attack was ordered by Saddam Hussein, and this attack on Halabja was the most notorious and the single deadliest attack against the Kurds killing 5,000 civilians and injuring 10,000 more. Saddam Hussein wanted to eliminate the Kurdish society.
--On April 3, 1991, the UN adapted ceasefir resolution 687, Iraq was required to destroy, under international supervision, all chemical and biological weapons and stocks of agents and all related development, research, and manufacturing facilities. However at the end of the second Gulf War, US forces found over 500 chemical weapons proving that Iraq had never destroyed their WMD in violation of the ceasefire agreement.
-- On January 28, 1998, the Senate passed Concurrent Resolution 71, "condemning Iraq's threat to international peace and security." Among the co-sponsors of this bill were Tom Daschle, John Kerry, Bob Graham, Patrick Moynihan, Robert Byrd, Patrick Leahy, and Christopher Dodd. This resolution "urges the President to take all necessary and appropriate actions to respond to the threat posed by Iraq's refusal to end its weapons of mass destruction programs." In defense of President Cliton's inclination to use military force in Iraq, Daschle said this resolution would "send as clear a message as possible that we are going to force, one way or another, diplomatically or militarily, Iraq to comply with international law."
--Many people will say that the findings of weapons of mass destruction came up short, however the educated mind will say just the opposite. SADDAM HUSSEIN WAS the weapon of mass destruction, as he killed hundreds of thousands of people in his region. A weapon of mass destuction could be classified as a household shovel, as long as it kills a large amount of people, it is a weapon of "mass destruction". In this case, Saddam Hussein was the weapon of mass destruction, therefore when we dis-armed him, mission complete.
Fourth, The Iraq War was not a Bush Family vendetta. The Clinton administration did so much more than what the media could get a hold of. Clinton actually launched numerous amounts of air-strikes on Iraq for them to comply with international law, however Bush gets blamed for finishing the Clinton administrations policies.
--On November 15, 1998 the New York Times reported a massive air-strike involving hundreds of cruise missiles were called off after a last-minute flurry of diplomatic activity. Mr.Clinton blamed the cancellation of the missile strike due to ships not being properly established outside of Iraq yet.
-- On December 16, 1998 President Bill Clinton ordered an attack on Iraq's nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons programs and its military capacity to threaten its neighbors. Clinton said, "Heavey as they are, the costs of action must be weighed against the price of inaction. If Saddam defies the world and we fail to respond, we will face a far greater threat in the near future. Saddam will strike again at his neighbors. He will make war on his own people. And mark my words, he will develop weapons of mass destruction. He will deploy them, and he will use them. Because we're acting today, it is less likely that we will face these dangers in the future."
--On December 17, 1998 the Washington Post reported, "The opening US attack against Iraq yesterday involved more than 200 cruise missiles launched from ships in the Persian Gulf and scores of bombs dropped from aircraft flying from the carrier USS Enterprise against targets across the country, defense officials said. All ordered by President Clinton himself.
--During the 9/11 hearings, former CLINTON Defense Secretary William Cohen testified that the manager of chemical weapons plant in Sudan (which was funded by Osama bin Laden and later destroyed by US cruise missiles on Aug. 20, 1998) met in Baghdad with an Iraqi nerve gas expert.
--According to the Congressional Research Service: Under the Clinton administration over 15,400 soldiers died in Bosnia, Serbia, and Iraq attacks, in 5 years of un-official war. Bush declares official war on Afghanistan & Iraq and only has a total running number of 7,033 soldier deaths.
Fifth, Human Rights Infringements on Saddam Hussein's Citizens! Saddam Hussein was portrayed as the modern day Adolf Hitler, as he would kill and torture anyone with different political views or differing religions.
--On July 8, 1982 Saddam Hussein drove into the city of Dujail, Iraq. After six men attempted to ambush the dictator, thousands of Dujail residents were thrown in jail and tortured. At least 148 men and boys were executed on order signed by Saddam Hussein.
--During the Iran/Iraq war, Saddam appointed his cousin, Ali Hassan al-Majid, as his deputy in the North. In 1978-88, al-Majid led the "Anfal" campaign of attacks on Kurdish villages. Amnesty International estimates that more than 100,000 Kurds were killed or disappeared during this period of time.
--Human Rights Abuse under Saddam Hussein:
4,000 Prisoners were executed at Abu Ghraib Prison in 1984.
3,000 Prisoners were executed at the Mahjar Prison between 1993 and 1998.
About 2,500 prisoners were executed between 1997 and 1999 in a "prison cleansing for space" campaign.
I use the word "prisoner" loosely, as they were people who had spoken out againt Saddam Hussein, not people who had commited crimes.
133 male prisoners were executed at Abu Ghraib prison in February / March 2000. A further 23 political prisoners were executed there in October 2001.
In October 2000, dozens of women accused of prostitution were beheaded without any judicial process. Women prisoners at Mahjar were routinely raped by their guards. Methods of torture used in Iraqi jails include using electric drills to mutilate hands, pulling out fingernails, knife cuts, sexual attacks and "official rape". I guess it's okay since its "official" rape ordained by the government. Prisoners at the Qurtiyya Prison in Baghdad and elsewhere were kept in metal boxes the size of tea chests, if they did not confess, they were left to die.
Saddam issued a serios of decrees establishing severe penalties for criminal offenses. These include amputation, branding, cutting off ears, and other forms of mutilation. Those found guilty of slandering the President could have their tongue removed on spot.
The Fedayeen (Uday Hussein's militia) assassinated opposition figures, broke the backs of those accuses of lying to the government and chopped off tongues, fingers, hands, and heads. Sometimes victims wre decapitated and the heads were delivered back to their families.
Uday would video tape beheadings by sword, which was reported taking "multiple attempts to complete", and would beat them with iron bars, tan the soles of their feet, drag them on the pavements until their backs became bloodied and then dunk them in sewage to ensure the wounds became infected. These are a small percentage of human rights infringements, do not tell me Saddam Hussein was not an advocate of evil and civil rights infringements.
"One way or other, we are determined to deny Iraq the capacity to develop weapons of mass destruction and the missiles to deliver them. That is our bottom line." --President Clinton, Feb. 4, 1998.
"My position is very clear: The time has come for decisive action to eliminate the threat posed by Saddam Hussein's weapons of mass destruction. I'm a co-sponsor of the bipartisan resolution that's presently under consideration in the Senate. Saddam Hussein's regime is a grave threat to American and our allies..." --John Edwards Oct. 7 2002
"I will be voting to give the Presiden of the United States the authority to use force - if necessary - to disarm Saddam Hussein because I believe that a deadly arsenal of weapons of mass destruction in his hands is a real and grave threat to our security." --Sen. John F. Kerry Oct. 9, 2002
"In the four years since the inspectors left, intelligence reports show that Saddam Hussein has worked to rebuild his chemical and biological weapons stock, his missile delivery capability, and his nuclear program. He has also given aid, comfort, and sanctuary to terrorists, including al Qaeda members... It is clear, however, that if left un-checked, Saddam Hussein will continue to increase his capacity to wage biological and chemical warfare, and will keep trying to develop nuclear weapons." --Sen. Hillary Clinton Oct. 10, 2002
"We have known for many years that Saddam Hussein is seeking and developing weapons of mass destruction." --Sen. Ted Kennedy Sept. 27, 2002
"Iraq's search for weapons of mass destruction has proven impossible to deter and we should assume that it will continue for as long as Saddam is in power." --Al Gore, Sept. 23, 2002
"We are in possession of what I think to be compelling evidence that Saddam Hussein has, and has had for a number of years, a developing capacity for the production and storage of weapons of mass destruction."
--Sen. Bob Graham (D, FL), Dec. 8, 2002
"Without question, we need to disarm Saddam Hussein. He is a brutal, murderous dictator, leading an oppressive regime .... He presents a particularly grievous threat because he is so consistently prone to miscalculation ... And now he is miscalculating America's response to his continued deceit and his consistent grasp for weapons of mass destruction .... So the threat of Saddam Hussein with weapons of mass destruction is real ...." --Sen. John F. Kerry (D, MA), Jan. 23. 2003.
Also, you can check out President Clinton's State of the Union Address on Iraq. It seems Bush wasn't the sole thinker behind Iraq having weapons of mass destruction, get off his back along with the rest of the Republicans in support of war. Just because Democrats flip-flop, because it is normal for them, does not mean they should be any less criticized than Republicans. If anything, Republicans should be criticized of less, as they at least stick to their prior commitment and statements.
People will argue that we are not the world police, and should mind about our own business. "We have too many problems at home to face rather than other countries." Yeah, well last time we took part in isolationism and didn't give two shits about other countries, it was too late and Hitler rose to power. Hitler killed millions of "political and religious opposition." Saddam had the EXACT same traits, and given the same supplies as Hitler, could have easily done the exact thing on the same scale.
We DID NOT rush into war, we passed over 18 UN resolutions seeking appeasement. Liberals will also argue that terrorism will not end just because the Iraqi regime is gone. Well, actually, yes it will help tremendously as we are slowly eliminating the radical leaders of fundamental islam. Was it morally or ethically wrong to attack Iraq without them attacking us first? Absolutely not, look back at our country's history of pre-emptive strike; World War I, World War II... it was extremely necessary to take out Saddam as soon as possible. Besides, after all of the terrorist funding and the HARBORING of Bin Laden, you could easily argue that they DID attack us first using 9/11. Just because Saddam didn't do it personally does not mean that they did not attack us first; Saddam easily had influenced Bin Laden and possibly even funded him. Another question asked of me was, "Should the US government withdraw troops immediately? Should we phase them out? Or should we stay until the job is done?" And I would have to respond by rejecting the premise of that question, as there are only two choices. Leave now or stay until the job is done. There is too much time, treasure, blood already invested; what do we suggest to our troops, Iraqi allies, and Iraqi citizens by leaving them vulnerable after creating a war we do not finish. Lastly, "What is the best way ti improve current Iraq situation?" The surge is working- the blindess of all idealogues will agree. Security, voting, violence decrease, sense of safeness, education for all, police forces, allowance of different views...all factors coming about in the new DEMOCRACY of Iraq-- the surge is efficient. And for the liberals skeptic of how long it is taking- just how long did it take for our own country's civil war, formation of Constitution, Articles of Confederation? It will take time, do not rush a good thing.
"Given the ties between Iraq and Al Qaeda, the 9/11 attacks, human rights concerns, Iraqi weaopns of mass destruction, and a history of terrorist support leads the educated, intelligent, non-partisan, and non-idealogue mind to believe the Iraq War was Justified." --Dementus
"We must have the world safe for democracy." --Woodrow Wilson
