Seemingly unbiased/interesting article on 'Why we're there.'

noel · Post by **noel** » March 24, 2003, 8:12 pm

http://www.msnbc.com/news/889490.asp?0ql=c9p

I found this Newsweek article to be a very impartial and interesting look at our motivations for being in Iraq as well as profiles of the men who are directing our countries' foreign policies. It also covers the history of our the conflict with Iraq.

Still in the midst of reading it. I might comment more when I'm done. Seems to be an excellent article thus far.

Acies · Post by **Acies** » March 24, 2003, 8:27 pm

Damn.
Nice find Aranuil.

Atokal · Post by **Atokal** » March 24, 2003, 9:36 pm

An excellent read Aranuil, thanks

Adelrune Argenti · Post by **Adelrune Argenti** » March 24, 2003, 9:57 pm

I read through the whole article. I have also read the Bernard Lewis book, "What went Wrong" that was mentioned in the article. I must say that my philosophy is also that the world is a dangerous place and force is an option that has to be taken, more often than we think. War truly is the extension of politics through other means and conflict is what pushes along civilizations. There is so much to this entire conflict beyond the "Blood for Oil"rhetoric.

Marbus · Post by **Marbus** » March 25, 2003, 2:16 am

Very nice, thanks man!

Fallanthas · Post by **Fallanthas** » March 25, 2003, 2:10 pm

A very good read.

The Clinton administration finally gave in and allowed Saddam to export more oil to alleviate his people’s suffering. The strongman promptly pocketed , which he used to build more palaces—and fund his secret WMD program. “We could see this happening,” said one Clinton administration official, “but there wasn’t a whole lot we could do about it.”

Interesting.

kyoukan · Post by **kyoukan** » March 25, 2003, 2:44 pm

OH SHIT ITS FALLANTHAS HAS DISCOVERED THE SECRET PLOT ITS ALL CLINTON'S FAULT

Fallanthas · Post by **Fallanthas** » March 25, 2003, 2:47 pm

Do you have any idea how idiotic you look doing that Kyou?

kyoukan · Post by **kyoukan** » March 25, 2003, 2:51 pm

about half as idiotic as you look picking out one tiny sentence in an entire massive article about clinton and spotlighting it like a stupid fucking partisan moron?

edit: on two threads!

Fallanthas · Post by **Fallanthas** » March 25, 2003, 2:56 pm

/sigh

It was an interesting piece. Maybe a bit biased towards apologetism for the personalities involved, if there is such a word.

I found the comment from the Clinton official interesting in ligh of the insistence here that Saddam doesn't have WoMDs. That's all.

Glad to hear you are bursting a blood vessel over it.

miir · Post by **miir** » March 25, 2003, 2:57 pm

It's more truer if you say it louderer and post it in more threads.

Fallanthas · Post by **Fallanthas** » March 25, 2003, 3:02 pm

If you want to dispute the truth of the quote, I suggest you take it up with the official that said it in the first place.

miir · Post by **miir** » March 25, 2003, 3:16 pm

Fallanthas wrote:If you want to dispute the truth of the quote, I suggest you take it up with the official that said it in the first place.

Well no shit Saddam took some of that money and used it on weapons programs... he'd be stupid not to. With the Kurdish threat, the US threat and the Iranian threat he'd be an idiot to not want the ability to defend his country.

As for 'nothing they could do about it'... well no shit again.. the 'oil for food' program was an attempt to control what was done with the proceeds from oil sales... but the UN sanctions were not put into place to obliterate Iraqs economy, they were punishment and to deter Saddams military ambitions.

Iraq was not a country in turmoil.
There was no mass starvation.
I don't think Iraqis were exposed to undue suffering from questionable use of government funds.

Fallanthas · Post by **Fallanthas** » March 25, 2003, 4:33 pm

Well no shit Saddam took some of that money and used it on weapons programs... he'd be stupid not to. With the Kurdish threat, the US threat and the Iranian threat he'd be an idiot to not want the ability to defend his country.

Then you will have to take that up with the drafters and signatories of UN resolution 678.

Obviously they thought it was unreasonable for him to build those forces up.