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Originally posted by The Whackmiester:
Remember: Until they realize this can happen, THEY ARE YOUR ENEMY!!!
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Quote:
Originally posted by promethius9594:
so did the UN's intelligence.
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Not exactly; they found weapons and designs that were illegal under UN resolutions (eg in terms of range etc) but no real nuclear/chemical capability.
As for the strength of US Military Intelligence, allow me to draw your attention to the climb-down by Secretary of State Powell admitting that the information he told the UN and swore was accurate actually....well..wasn't. A key pillar in the US attempting to convince the UN to support the war.
http://www.twf.org/News/Y2003/0211-Smoke.html
and a CNN one to ensure no anti-american charges are laid against the story
http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/...sprj.irq.labs/
In contrast, the UN weapons inspectors (or intelligence if you prefer) said nothing conclusive had been found and wanted several more months to inspect. I think the wiser course is now clear in retrospect.
Whilst nobody is particularly bothered that Saddam is gone (being the evil person that he was), it is the persistent double standards in US foreign policy that is the root of anti-US resentment across the world. Eg human rights are an issue in iraq but not saudi arabia (cheap US oil). Democracy is an issue in north korea, but not in chile, iran etc where the US ousted democratically elected people and installed dictators.
Senior figures in the Bush administration have admitted plans to invade Iraq were drawn up before Sep 11th. The Iraq War is the culmination of a foreign policy contingent upon oil and a personal score with Saddam dating back to the President's father. There were no Islamic fundamentalists in Iraq before the war, they were a threat to Saddam's dictatorial regime that he would not have permitted, so invading under the guise of a war on terror is inexcusable.
And to top it off, the latest Bush endorsement of Israeli settlements in the West Bank - a complete departure from the agreed Road Map.
I would suggest that instead of individuals dedicating time, energy and money to preparing for a terrorist attack that is extremely unlikely to affect them even if another one does happen (consider the size of the US, both geographically and in terms of population), that the American public takes the time to read media from outside the US and get the other side of the story and use their electoral muscle to force a change towards a more humane and ethical foreign policy at the next election. It is only by tackling the root causes of the problem that the threat of terrorism can be defeated.
[ 04-26-2004, 05:53 PM: Message edited by: shamrock_uk ]