January 28, 2004
OH KAY, YOU DON'T SAY!
David Kay has been a major figure in the situation with Iraq for years. He was a chief inspector for the United Nations when that organization had weapons inspectors on the ground in Iraq, and he headed up the United States' effort to find those very same weapons during our own assault in Iraq. But over the last few days, since Kay quit his post, he has said that he thinks it's highly unlikely that weapons of mass destruction will ever be found in Iraq. Does anyone still care about this issue?
The Bush administration has worked hard over the last few months to minimize the importance of the weapons of mass destruction issue, which was once cited as a major reason for our going into Iraq. Just the other day, when asked about it, the President pointed to other issues, and talked about the general danger that Saddam Hussein presented.
There's no question that Saddam Hussein was a ruthless dictator, and that the world is better off without him. But a nagging question persists. How could everyone have been so wrong about the WMDs? If Kay and others are right and the weapons don't exist, why didn't any of the intelligence agencies pick up on that?
This will likely be a major issue in the coming Presidential election. The Democrats certainly want to make it one, and the Bush administration just hopes that it will go away. Should it be an issue, or is what's done done, and now it's time to focus on the future? What do you think?
Posted by Mikal at January 28, 2004 10:44 PM
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It is an issue! I am not sure if it a political issue but a place our country needs to focus. Our security is paramount to our future. Humans produce errors. Who was in charge? Who was responsible in telling the world?
If our President was misled and thus the world... what does it say about our National Security? Example: If someone told you the sky was blue and it seems a given because everyone believed it, would it not be true? (I questioned why Monica was allowed in the Oval Office without scrutiny... uhhh, old story!)
It seems we need to have better checks and balances on policy. It is NOT a political issue, but maybe it is. It IS frightening!
It's like the giant elephant sitting in front of the room during a lecture...everyone sees it...they just don't want to mention it. Maybe they will not see it is what Bush is thinking now...guess what...you can't hide this fact.
As of this posting, 518 U.S. soldiers have lost thier lives in Iraq (57 U.K. & 40 from other coalition forces - http://lunaville.org/warcasualties/Summary.aspx ). More U.S. toops have died in 3/4 of a year than died in the first 4 years of the Vietnam War. Why?
I whole heartedly agreed with our military efforts in Afghanistan. I felt we were justified. I also felt that we were justified to involve the world community in an war against terrorist organizations. However, I felt that it would share the success of the U.S. War on Drugs. I feel that our preemptive strike against Iraq was morally wrong, legally wrong (interantionally and domestically), and unnecessary. I feel that Saddam's reign was ripe for a overthrow, and the Iraqi people are better off without him. However, the ways in which the governments of the United States and the United Kingdom bullied their citizenry into 'accepting' the attack of a sovereign nation that posed no imminent threat to any other country. Not even the Kuwaiti's had anything to fear from Saddam's military.
Our leaders used the tragic, untimely deaths of nearly 3,000 of our fellow Americans to dupe the public into as many conflicts as they felt necessary. Our Vice President, and his former employer, continue to financially profit through illegal contracts. Our President feels that he has avengeaged the assassination attempt on his father. Our soldiers, those citizens that CHOOSE to forgo the Bill of Rights to *defend* our country, continue to die at a rate of 1.64 a day, but NOT for the defense of their country. Rather, they are dying to make money for Halliburton and to vindicate President Bush.
I admire David Kay for having the courage to state what most of us have postulated. I am saddened that he had to leave his post, and that a former international weapons inspector was driven to suicide over the issue of WMD's in Iraq. Do I admire, respect or trust our current leadership? No.
The removal of Saddam from power is an issue resting on a slippery slope. Yes, it is good that he is gone. The timing, 'reasoning' and method for his removal were simply morally and politically wrong. The President of the United Sates is human, and therefore fallable. However, we the voters have the opportunity to overthrow our government every few years and we don't have to vote for someone that makes such significant mistakes.
Even at the time I worried that this was all an issue to finish "unfinished" business. I worried that Powell and Bush were "hell-bent" on getting back over there and cleaning it up. I didn't believe then, nor do I believe now, that the weapons of mass destruction were the main issue. It didn't take weapons of mass destruction to take down the twin towers. It took a mindset of a few individuals. That same mindset permeates the area of Iraq. It has ruined the lives of innocent people there. The hate for Americans and everything we stand for is so strong it easily could have become a problem. Did we create a bigger problem by going in? It's the Butterfly Effect. It's the toss of a coin. The one thing I don't want to happen is create a Vietnam situation where we don't support the troops in the battle they are waging. It worries me that all of this second guessing might just do that. This is not Monday morning and Iraq is not a football game. We're there and we are committed. Let's see what we can do to improve the situation and get out of there. And most of all, let's support our soldiers and show them we think what they are doing is important... because it is.
Is Iraq better off now that Saddam's gone? Certainly it is. Did the ends justify the means, though? Nope. We were snowed by our current administration into taking part in an unjust war that severely damaged our reputation with the International community. We were lied to, forced to commit hundreds of lives and billions of taxpayer dollars to a war that is actually being fought for revenge, corporate gains, and, IMO, as a show of U.S. muscle. Yes, it's still an important issue. It shows what our president is willing to do with the power that has been entrusted to him. It speaks to his values.
I'm just glad my 21 year old cousin is finally home safe after serving almost one year in Iraq. I will always support the women and men who give their lives to protect mine. Let's just make sure we all vote in November to change the current administration. No President is perfect, but we could, hopefully, do better. As for WMD, fear can be a powerful tool. Oh, there are no WMD? Big surprise, Cowboy.
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