Tuesday, January 3, 2017

Thoughts of the Day - War on Terror

"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 have known for many years that Saddam Hussein is seeking and developing weapons of mass destruction. Our intelligence community is also deeply concerned about the acquisition of such weapons by Iran, North Korea, Libya, Syria and other nations."
    Sen. Ted Kennedy (D, MA), Sept. 27, 2002.

"When I vote to give the President of the United States the authority to use force, if necessary, to disarm Saddam Hussein, it is because I believe that a deadly arsenal of weapons of mass destruction in his hands is a threat, and a grave threat, to our security and that of our allies in the Persian Gulf region."
    Sen. John F. Kerry (D, MA), Oct. 9, 2002.

"He has systematically violated, over the course of the past 11 years, every significant UN resolution that has demanded that he disarm and destroy his chemical and biological weapons, and any nuclear capacity. This he has refused to do."
    Rep. Henry Waxman (D, CA), Oct. 10, 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 unchecked, 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 (D, NY), Oct 10, 2002

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The Democratic leadership claimed to be antiwar and believed President Bush misled them into the Iraq War. That argument carried weight until President Obama came into power. Then it was quickly revealed that the Establishment Democrats love war just as much as Establishment Republicans.

Iraq. Saddam had to go. The aftermath? Chaos. ISIS.

Libya. Gaddafi had to go. The aftermath? Chaos. ISIS.

Syria. Assad had to go. The aftermath? Chaos. ISIS.

Yemen. Ali Abdullah Saleh had to go. The aftermath? Chaos. ISIS.

Are we beginning to see a pattern? Isn't it odd that with the War against Terror, one country is blatantly not talked about? 15 of the 19 terrorists came from Saudi Arabia. Yet we are pretty much involved in every country surrounding Saudi Arabia. US foreign policies are causing severe blow-back and unintended consequences.

As the past 15 years have shown us, regime change sounds good, but it is not well understood and the mistakes are grave. The next time the US tries criticizing some event in the Middle East, take a good hard look at the event. The US fingerprints are probably all over it, and we should do the opposite of whatever the Establishment is thinking.

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