Quote:
Originally posted by Skunk:
Leastways when we've had enough time to plant some...
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Of course we'll plant them. The democratic countries taking part in this war, who have graciously allowed embedded reporting to view all of their actions in minute detail, will go to a great deal of trouble to ship over and plant chemical weapons just to prove to the world that this guy really does have them.
That's *far* more likely to be the case than assuming an insane despot who has a proven track record of using chemical weapons and ruling his country with a reign of terror, actually has them.
[/sarcasm]
I'm as distrustful of and cynical about the actions of the western governments as the next anarchist (
), but I think you are a little
too quick to assume that
we are the bad guys in this war, rather than the mass murderer on the other side with the track history of using the very weapons he claims not to have.
But then, you probably believe that the Iraqi Information Minister is correct, and there are
no tanks of US origin in Bagdhad, that US soldiers
are being slaughtered in their thousands in the city, and that Iraq
is on the verge of a glorious victory resulting in the complete destruction of the coalition forces. After all, we all claim the exact opposite, and
anything the coalition says must be a lie.
Yes, we should question the actions of governments and organisations that we are suspicious of, and yes - speaking out in opposition to the government is one of those rights that we (as opposed to Saddam) hold dear. I would think the least reward we could actually get would be a bit of trust when it came to life or death matters like WoMD.
If I know a cop (even one with previous rumours of excessive use of force) who has arrested a drug dealer with previous convictions and beat him up in the process, but afterwards evidence is found that the drug dealer drew a gun, then i
will believe the cop is being truthful and the dealer is a scumbag. I will keep an open mind, and allow myself to believe that any evidence against the cop may well be verifiable, but until that evidence is shown, I believe the cop.
If we find a chemical weapons stash, and a team of coalition forensic experts deems that it is indeed genuine, then I will believe them, and think that if anyone wants to shout "fit-up!", then it is up to
them to prove we planted the weapons.
Saddam is a proven liar. He has used chemical weapons before. He kills, tortures and maims his own people. He rules through terror, persecution and oppression. He lives in fantastic luxury while his people live in squalor. Aid shipments and money meant for the people of Iraq instead found it's way into his bank account.
I know the USA, UK, Australia etc aren't perfect, but come on - don't you think we deserve just a little bit of credit? Just even a tiny little bit?
Is it really
that much of a stretch to believe that -gasp- the coalition might just be
telling the truth, and
Saddam might be lying?
As I've said, I'm all for people having an open mind and questioning authority and their government, but I don't think you
do have an open mind, Skunk. You are the one with a closed mind, determined to believe what you want to believe, no matter the cost. I think you would do a little better to try and view things with a bit less harshness towards the coalition, and a bit more towards Saddam's regime.
[ 04-07-2003, 07:20 PM: Message edited by: Bardan the Slayer ]