According to Stephen F. Hayes, there is evidence of Saddam’s association with terrorism in the 2 million documents captured in Iraq. Would you be willing to call for an investigation of these documents as a way of clarifying our present administrations justification of the war in Iraq? If not, why not?
The U.S. government's secret memo detailing cooperation between Saddam Hussein and Osama bin Laden.
by Stephen F. Hayes
11/24/2003, Volume 009, Issue 11
From Sharon W - Garden Grove CA
Are we then assuming that the administration who presumably has control of these documents doesn't want to clarify the issue themselves ? If so, yes bring everything out and let us open it up to the world. If not, yes let's look at it all and let the historians decide who was right.
Even after cataloging and making these documents google-able. The question about WMD's is still relevent. If ties to terrorism were the criteria for invasion and occupation, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan would be first on the list. Most likely, Germany, Spain and Great Britain too.
They gave us images of mushroom clouds, N. Korea may have the capability to launch nuclear weapons to California. If its a matter of freeing the world for democracy or protecting the actual soil of the country, which would you prioritize as first ?
The neo-con rationalization was that because terrorism suddenly hit our doorstep, any measure to protect the country from the possibility of another attack, would supercede the idea of personal liberty. It even went further when it made the case that pre-emptive military invasions and occupations would be necessary to prevent another attack. Once the threat proved not credible it was a done deal. Now we have to stay and make things right.
Personally I see this as a problem of the Democrats and Republicans. Libertarians, by and large ( there were dissenters) do not feel responsible for the action of the stronger political factions. The national party outlined an exit strategy a while ago. This Hayes guy, a Weekly Standard fellow, right ?
This one goes out to my favorite aunt.
Comments (2)
Hey Eric,
Congrats on your run for Congress. When addressing one of your issues,
Terror, you note with regard to 9/11 that "Pre-emptive invasions of
distasteful regimes is not self-defense. Osama Bin Laden has not been
caught." Our 'Occupation' is designed to replace a dictator who
developed biological weapons which he used to kill his own people and
who then sponsored suicide bombers in Israel (outside of his borders).
It doesn't take much foresight to see him sponsoring 9/11 style
terrorism outside of his borders by supplying weapons rather than cash.
George Bush led the charge against worldwide terrorism, not just Osama
(who, I'll wager, will be caught). We know Iran and Syria are also in
this group and the clock is ticking for their 'occupation.' I encourage
you to think of our support for this new democracy as 'Foreign Aid'
rather than 'occupation.' Rebuilding infrastructure, training civil
servants, and actively supporting their democratic elections is a
temporary role that the U.S. must continue to play until Iraq is mature
enough to be self sufficient. Then we will come home successful.
Your cousin,
Aaron Bagger
Posted by Aaron Bagger | March 9, 2006 4:59 PM
Posted on March 9, 2006 16:59
Aaron,
Free Tibet, dude. The world is a big bad place.
Saddam was contained by air, sea and economic sanctions.
I beg to differ about sponsoring terrorism in a 9/11 style( my opinion is that attack was an intelligence and security failure).
The bottom line is that once the US withdraws, it will just turn into
an extremist Islamic state. They justified Vietnam through 5 presidencies and
most are coming around about the foolishness of the domino communist theories.
We spend six billion dollars a month in Iraq. I'm against government in general, so it follows that
'foreign aid' is just an extension of that robbery writ large (ie. taxation). I guess my ultimate point is
that whatever our disagreements about an occupation or saving the world for democracy,
it's Congress' responsibility under Article 1 section 8 to 'Declare War'.
I would invite you to 'blog' your comments.
Say Hi to your Dad, and regardless of the outcome of the election, we're
all coming to Disneyland in December.
Peace man,
Eric
Posted by Eric | March 9, 2006 5:01 PM
Posted on March 9, 2006 17:01