Bush has stated EMPHATICALLY that Iraq had nothing to do with 9-11.
9-11 is NOT the reason we are over there.
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Just Curious. The first part is inconsistent with the last part.
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If my memory servers me (which it does not always) I believe President Bush stated that Iraq had no direct link to 9/11. I don’t think he ever said Iraq was not tied into the fight against terrorism which has many fronts, and which stemmed from the attack on 9/11.
Semantics? Sure. But I believe they are important differences.
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- Sam
The shackles of opression and dependence are most easily slipped on with a smile and kind words of hope.
If my memory servers me (which it does not always) I believe President Bush stated that Iraq had no direct link to 9/11. I don’t think he ever said Iraq was not tied into the fight against terrorism which has many fronts, and which stemmed from the attack on 9/11.
Semantics? Sure. But I believe they are important differences.
There was no link between Al Quaeda and 9/11, there was no financing of the attacks on the US from Iraq, and Iraq provided none of the cash or any resources to Al Quaeda.
Iraq was secular, and against the fundamentalists backing Al Quaeda.
the supporters of Al Quaeda are Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and to some degree, elements in Egypt.
THAT is where the fight against terrorism is.
NONE of whom we are pursuing.
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Woe to him who builds his palace by unrighteousness,his upper rooms by injustice,making his countrymen work for nothing...Does it make you a king to have more and more cedar?Did not your father have food and drink?He did what was right and just,so all went well with him. He defended the cause of the poor and needy,and so all went well...But your eyes and your heart are set only on dishonest gain,on shedding innocent blood and on oppression and extortion. Jer 22:13, 15-17
Er, KS, you meant "no link between Iraq and 9/11", right?
Al Qaeda had everything to do with it.
Not picking on a typo - just getting it all clear.
Also, I agree that Iraq's position as #1 on the Terror War hit parade was ludicrous. At best they deserved to be #5 or #6 (depending on how one views Pakistan's western provinces).
We should be celebrating the 3rd anniversary of the burial of Osama and the Taliban remnants in Waziristan about now, not wondering whether or not the Iraqi government will be able to control their own streets a year from now, while al Qaeda and the Taliban chiefs are holdng PBS interviews in Pakistan and CNN is doing live coverage of snipers (from the sniper's viewpoint yet) zapping U.S. troops in Iraq.
The world is upside down.
Quote:
Originally Posted by kscoyote
There was no link between Al Quaeda and 9/11, there was no financing of the attacks on the US from Iraq, and Iraq provided none of the cash or any resources to Al Quaeda.
Iraq was secular, and against the fundamentalists backing Al Quaeda.
the supporters of Al Quaeda are Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and to some degree, elements in Egypt.
THAT is where the fight against terrorism is.
NONE of whom we are pursuing.
__________________
tripleblack
"You can never be free until you let yourself go."
does anyone besides me remember the "Axis of Evil" speach?
Iraq
Iran
North Korea
One down, two to go.
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does anyone besides me remember the "Axis of Evil" speach?
Iraq
Iran
North Korea
One down, two to go.
If the game plan was to start with Iraq and end with North Korea, that does seem to be what's happening.
Logically, the priority (and the axis of evil list) when speechified prior to 9/11, should have gone:
Afghanistan (center for al Qaeda, Taliban, and jihadism)
North Korea (nuclear threat & exporter of missile tech., etc.)
Iran (state terror sponsor, nuclear threat, and potential tech exporter)
Western Pakistan (tribal allies with Taliban and jihadism)
Saudi Arabia (money source and center of Wahabiism)
Lebanon (Hezbollah, backed by Iran)
China (political sponsor of North Korea, and a strong adversary)
Iraq (engaging in corrupting the UN and multiple governments, and sniping at our troops - acts of war, of course)
Syria (state sponsor of terrorism)
Libya (at that time not yet repatriated, which may not last)
Russia (still a huge threat, and showing clear signs of reverting to old habits)
Yemen, Venezuela, etc, etc.
Keep in mind this was 5+ years ago. Times have changed, and the list looks very different now.
But back then, Iraq was toward the bottom of the list - though temptingly accessible. A valuable boogey man - who should have been bypassed to address problems in more important areas.
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tripleblack
"You can never be free until you let yourself go."
A review of the Axis of Evil list from 2000 (as seen in 2005). Today, it has changed somewhat...
Afghanistan (center for al Qaeda, Taliban, and jihadism) Is now the center of the fight, and an ally in that fight.
North Korea (nuclear threat & exporter of missile tech., etc.) Is STILL right where it was! An astounding example of failed diplomacy and active idiocy from the last 4 administrations.
Iran (state terror sponsor, nuclear threat, and potential tech exporter). Ditto. LIke North Korea, it is only a WORSE problem than it was in 2000 or 2005.
Western Pakistan (tribal allies with Taliban and jihadism). Finally a focus of the fight, this area has festered, relativley un-noticed, for nearly a decade.
Saudi Arabia (money source and center of Wahabiism). STILL the black hole and source of jehadism.
Lebanon (Hezbollah, backed by Iran). Worse and more unstable than ever, despite any internal charade involving power-sharing.
China (political sponsor of North Korea, and a strong adversary). Unchanged.
Iraq (engaging in corrupting the UN and multiple governments, and sniping at our troops - acts of war, of course). Utterly changed. Now it is largely untethered from the American apron strings, and already acting in an independent manner.
Syria (state sponsor of terrorism). Still, but quieter and less overt than then.
Libya (at that time not yet repatriated, which may not last). Still cooperating.
Russia (still a huge threat, and showing clear signs of reverting to old habits). Worse than then, and a growing threat.
Yemen. Still a big terror problem.
Venezuela. Should be near the top of the list now. This is one that has rotted on the vine and become an active danger now.
Quote:
Originally Posted by tripleblack
If the game plan was to start with Iraq and end with North Korea, that does seem to be what's happening.
Logically, the priority (and the axis of evil list) when speechified prior to 9/11, should have gone:
Afghanistan (center for al Qaeda, Taliban, and jihadism)
North Korea (nuclear threat & exporter of missile tech., etc.)
Iran (state terror sponsor, nuclear threat, and potential tech exporter)
Western Pakistan (tribal allies with Taliban and jihadism)
Saudi Arabia (money source and center of Wahabiism)
Lebanon (Hezbollah, backed by Iran)
China (political sponsor of North Korea, and a strong adversary)
Iraq (engaging in corrupting the UN and multiple governments, and sniping at our troops - acts of war, of course)
Syria (state sponsor of terrorism)
Libya (at that time not yet repatriated, which may not last)
Russia (still a huge threat, and showing clear signs of reverting to old habits)
Yemen, Venezuela, etc, etc.
Keep in mind this was 5+ years ago. Times have changed, and the list looks very different now.
But back then, Iraq was toward the bottom of the list - though temptingly accessible. A valuable boogey man - who should have been bypassed to address problems in more important areas.
__________________
tripleblack
"You can never be free until you let yourself go."
But today we have a Commander In Chief who does not want to use the word "Victory", thinks terrorist should be dealt with a police presence and thinks it is "Torture" to raise your voice at a captured terrorist.
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An armed man is called a citizen.A disarmed man is called a subject.
8 years and we're still fighting the Terrorists and Al-Qaeda. This war will not have a timely end.
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Sometimes I think that government fits that old-fashioned definition of a baby: An alimentary canal with an appetite at one end and no sense of responsibility at the other.
- Ronald Reagan
