Saturday, October 11, 2003
Hmmm, a couple of articles to consider over your morning cereal/cigarette/Jack Daniels...
Dick Cheney on Iraq: "I'm quite prepared to keep repeating this until you believe me" (paraphrased slightly) (registration required).
"Some claim we should not have acted because the threat from Saddam Hussein was not imminent," Mr. Cheney said. "Since when have terrorists and tyrants announced their intentions, politely putting us on notice before they strike?"
Well, Bush and Blair DID announce they were going to attack Iraq... Oh sorry, they were the good guys, right.
"Had we followed the counsel of inaction, the Iraqi regime would still be a menace to its neighbors and a destabilizing force in the Middle East. Today, because we acted, Iraq stands to be a force for good in the Middle East."... In remarks on Friday... Mr. Rumsfeld joined in the administration chorus, rapping the media for dwelling on bad news out of Baghdad. "The part of the picture that's negative is being emphasized, and the part of the picture that's positive is not,"
Naughty news media for reluctantly reporting that people get killed over there, the Iraqi's are starving, there is no system of public order (because the Allies don't feel confident to go out on patrol and when they do they seem to end up shooting down Iraqi police), water and medical supplies are low, anti-US and UK feeling isn't just something that was due to Hussein in charge, etc. etc... It is said that no battle plan survives contact with the enemy, but it seems no Allied plans for post-battle occupation of Iraq survived contact with the people. Even trying to look at the Allies as the most benevolent force imaginable, it does seem that they bombed the Iraqi infrastructure to pieces as part of the war, then went in without the means to immediately restore that infrastructure to support the people of Iraq. Then get surprised that they aren't welcomed with open arms. Saddam Hussein spends several decades telling the Iraqi people the US are evil. Of course, the US has spent several times as long telling it's people that they are good. Perhaps some new paridigms are needed here people?
And after that, Digby has got some things to say about the behaviour and attitude of Schwarzenegger fans before he was elected.
Dick Cheney on Iraq: "I'm quite prepared to keep repeating this until you believe me" (paraphrased slightly) (registration required).
"Some claim we should not have acted because the threat from Saddam Hussein was not imminent," Mr. Cheney said. "Since when have terrorists and tyrants announced their intentions, politely putting us on notice before they strike?"
Well, Bush and Blair DID announce they were going to attack Iraq... Oh sorry, they were the good guys, right.
"Had we followed the counsel of inaction, the Iraqi regime would still be a menace to its neighbors and a destabilizing force in the Middle East. Today, because we acted, Iraq stands to be a force for good in the Middle East."... In remarks on Friday... Mr. Rumsfeld joined in the administration chorus, rapping the media for dwelling on bad news out of Baghdad. "The part of the picture that's negative is being emphasized, and the part of the picture that's positive is not,"
Naughty news media for reluctantly reporting that people get killed over there, the Iraqi's are starving, there is no system of public order (because the Allies don't feel confident to go out on patrol and when they do they seem to end up shooting down Iraqi police), water and medical supplies are low, anti-US and UK feeling isn't just something that was due to Hussein in charge, etc. etc... It is said that no battle plan survives contact with the enemy, but it seems no Allied plans for post-battle occupation of Iraq survived contact with the people. Even trying to look at the Allies as the most benevolent force imaginable, it does seem that they bombed the Iraqi infrastructure to pieces as part of the war, then went in without the means to immediately restore that infrastructure to support the people of Iraq. Then get surprised that they aren't welcomed with open arms. Saddam Hussein spends several decades telling the Iraqi people the US are evil. Of course, the US has spent several times as long telling it's people that they are good. Perhaps some new paridigms are needed here people?
And after that, Digby has got some things to say about the behaviour and attitude of Schwarzenegger fans before he was elected.
