Paul Right, Romney Wrong on Iraq and 9/11

John Birch Society ^ | 8-8-07 | Gary Benoit

[CJ Wolf]

Ron Paul was right during the Des Moines Republican debate when he said that our going into Iraq had nothing to do with al-Qaeda. And Mitt Romney was wrong when he interrupted him.

At the Republican debate in Des Moines, Iowa, on August 5, Congressman Ron Paul made clear that our going to war against Iraq had nothing to do with going after al-Qaeda, the terrorist group that attacked us on 9/11.

"The neoconservatives promoted this war many, many years before it was started," Paul said during the debate. "It had nothing to do with al-Qaeda. There was no al-Qaeda in Iraq." As Ron Paul elaborated on how wrong the neocons have been, Governor Romney, apparently attempting to telegraph his disgust with the congressman’s remarks, snidely said to the audience, "Has he forgotten about 9/11?" as he gestured with his hands. A couple seconds later, Romney again rudely interrupted — "Have you forgotten about..." — as Paul continued using the time allotted to him.

Later in the debate, Paul revisited the subject of al-Qaeda. "I supported going after the al-Qaeda into Afghanistan," he said, "but, lo and behold, the neocons took over. They forgot about Osama bin Laden. And what they did, they went into nation- building, not only in Afghanistan, they went unjustifiably over into Iraq. And that’s why we’re in this mess today."

Put simply, Ron Paul does not believe we went into Iraq because of 9/11. But Mitt Romney obviously believes we did. So who’s right?

It is true that President Bush and other neocons in his administration have repeatedly juxtaposed references to Saddam Hussein’s Iraq to those of 9/11 in their public statements. In so doing, they have created the impression among many Americans — apparently including Romney — that Saddam Hussein had attacked us on 9/11. But the administration did not explicitly say this and did not even present evidence supporting this allegation. As President Bush himself said on September 17, 2003: "We’ve had no evidence that Saddam Hussein was involved with the September 11th [attacks]."

The administration did portray an al-Qaeda/Iraq connection as a concrete fact. Yet in a January 8, 2004 press conference, then-Secretary of State Colin Powell acknowledged: "There is not — you know, I have not seen smoking-gun, concrete evidence about the connection, but I think the possibility of such connections did exist and it was prudent to consider them at the time that we did." In truth, the evidence simply was not there.

By interrupting Congressman Paul with his "Has he forgotten about 9/11?" protestation, Governor Romney not only made himself appear less than presidential, he also confirmed that, where Iraq is concerned, he does not know what he’s talking about.

[CJ Wolf]

Let's try to keep this to the subject of the thread all.

[CJ Wolf]

fyi

[Rameumptom]

>Let's try to keep this to the subject of the thread all.

Good luck ;-)

[mnehrling]

I think before responding or making a fight of this, they should consider the source of the article: John Birch Society.

[Hemorrhage]

Is the endorsement of the John Birch Society supposed to make me feel BETTER about Ron Paul?

H

[Dr.Deth]

[Recovering_Democrat]

Ron Paul just proves we have extremists on the right...he is the Pat Buchanan of this campaign. :)

[No Truce With Kings]

“Is the endorsement of the John Birch Society supposed to make me feel BETTER about Ron Paul?”

C’mon. Drink the Pauline Kool-aid.

[The_Victor]

....and the neocons are promoting fluoridation of our water supply, to rob us all of our precious bodily fluids....

[Allegra]

[planter]

“Al Qaeda in Iraq” was not a stated reason for the invasion. However, Al Qaeda was in Iraq. Ron Paul is wrong, and sounding more like a Code Pinker every day.

[bnelson44]

Ron Paul adheres to the teaching of the John Birch Society should be no surprise to anyone.

[bnelson44]

What are you doing awake?

[mnehrling]

Now to get back on subject, what this article completely ignores is the almost fifty references in the 9/11 report to connections between Al Quaeda and Iraq and more importantly, the dozens of other jihadist terrorist organizations that were not only in Iraq but where sponsored and trained by Iraq. If the WOT is only about Al Quaeda, then all they need to do is change their name and the war is over..

This is like saying you will go after organized crime and only going after the Cosa Nostra, but ignore the rest of the crime families.

[WhiteGuy]

"...They forgot about Osama bin Laden. And what they did, they went into nation- building, not only in Afghanistan, they went unjustifiably over into Iraq. And that’s why we’re in this mess today..."

Simply the truth, regardless of who recognizes it.

[mnehrling]

Howdy Allegra,

So, from your view over there, all is hunky dory right? No Al Quaeda anywhere.. It must be true, Paul says so..

[TChris]

There was no al-Qaeda in Iraq

Good grief.

How many different ways must this meme be proven false?

[4CJ]

I think before responding or making a fight of this, they should consider the source of the article: John Birch Society.

The truth is the truth, no matter who proclaims it.

[ejonesie22]

Uh Huh...

[Ben Ficklin]

Is the subject of this thread Paul, Romney, or Birch?

[mnehrling]

Actually, that is a complete myth. Read Tommy Frank's book and the military staffing reports. After the war started in Iraq, the number of troops hunting in Afghanistan went up. As Tommy Franks put it, we just ran out of things to bomb.

Now, unless Ron Paul thinks he knows more or better than Tommy Franks about the first hand situation in the fight, he really need to get a clue.

[NeoCaveman]

We had AlQeda in Florida, but there were no Al Qeda in Iraq.

Repeat until believed.

[EDINVA]

” ...the impression among many Americans ... that Saddam Hussein had attacked us on 9/11 ...”

and the same folks who buy that also believe the CIA spread AIDS in the black commmunity and/or that the US government itself actually plotted the 9/11 attacks. No accounting for what folks will believe.

[bnelson44]

We heard Ron Paul say it was the Jews fault we went into Iraq over and over again during the debate... ok he used the word “neocon” but ask any Bircher and they will tell you that neocon==Jew. Glad Ron Paul and his feathered friends got together finally.

What I am still baffled at is why so many Freepers still are trying to defend Ron Paul? Do that many Freepers want to legalize drugs?

[Rameumptom]

Al Queda was in Iraq before 9/11 and many fled to Iraq after 9/11. The level of cooperation (State Sponsorship) is in question, but it's the MSM that perpetrated the lie that there is no connection at all. (Sort of like Hilary's statement that there were no WMD's in Iraq)

About 1/3 of Al Queda fled to Iran including Osama's son and heir apparent. I wish we would invade Iran.

[CJ Wolf]

I think Saddam needed to come down, regardless if he was involved in 911 or not.

[mnehrling]

The truth is the truth, no matter who proclaims it.

..and if someone has a history of spreading myth after myth after myth, with very few of their predictions shown to be truth, what is the chance they are proclaiming the truth now? (For the record, I'm a former John Birch Society member.)

[ejonesie22]

DAMN...

Tech control, capture "The-Victor’s" ip, triangulate and forward coordinates...

Command, deploy the hit squad and coordinate with tech... Priority Alpha...

[RatsDawg]

Agree with you 100%!

[CJ Wolf]

Supposed to be paul and romney, but I have no control over any other direction this takes. It might end up being a shrimpfest.

[mnehrling]

What I am still baffled at is why so many Freepers still are trying to defend Ron Paul?

Many have been tricked into thinking he is the only(sic) 'true Conservative' or Constitutionalist in the race.

[SlowBoat407]

How’s life in Al Finbar?

[bnelson44]

“Is the subject of this thread Paul, Romney, or Birch?”

Ron Paul believes in the same thing as the Birchers so it hardly matters.

[ex-snook]

Everyone knows that on 9/11 AQ and bin Laden were not in Iraq. Romney just thought this ‘boob bait for the bubbas’ would go over well as a pro-war fund raiser.

[samtheman]

Bush never said Saddam participated in 9/11.

But this much I’m sure of:

If Saddam was still in power, there would be a whole lot of big-ticket, state-sponsored, ready-for-export terrorist plotting, planning and conspiring going on in Iraq today.

Instead, the terrorists are fighting for their lives, and dying in droves.

[ejonesie22]

Well you see there are facts, and there is the truth. The facts are just something the Neocons/Jews/Santa use to warp our minds...

[ejonesie22]

Oh no, its true. Mother Cindy told me...

[Allegra]

What are you doing awake?

Reading my Harry Potter book and dreaming of my upcoming vacation. I'm about to turn in. ;-)

[bassmaner]

I am a libertarian and want to legalize drugs, but I sure as hell don’t support Ron Paul and his ‘cut and run’ bullshiite.

[ejonesie22]

Umm Shrimpfest...

Now I have to go to Red Paulster...

I mean Lobster, Red Lobster...

[uncbob]

If Saddam was still in power, there would be a whole lot of big-ticket, state-sponsored, ready-for-export terrorist plotting, planning and conspiring going on in Iraq today.

And just what does Paul think Saddam would have been doing while Iran and Kadafy were working on their nukes, playing Nintendo games

[redgirlinabluestate]

Romney is right. Going to Iraq had everything to do with preventing the NEXT 9/11.

Appeasement and/or doing nothing kills. See 9/11/01.

[WhiteGuy]

Actually, that is a complete myth.

What is a myth?

That they forgot about binladen?

Or that they went into "nation building"

While I'm sure saying that the CIC forgot about binladen was a figure of speech, (I'll bet someone brings his name up in meetings once or twice a week), capturing or killing the person responsible for 9-11 has really not been much of a priority.

The operation in iraq is clearly classical nation building, which was denounced roundly when the former CIC was doing it....

So the number of troops went up.....so what, 5 years later nothing.

A complete myth? Not a chance.

[GunRunner]

Do that many Freepers want to legalize drugs?

Marijuana should absolutely be legal.

We'll see about the others. I would not want to see coke and heroin legal, but I think the case can be made that the drug war is inherently just as destructive as having these things legal. And I think it is without question that we are a less free society because of the drug war.

[bikerMD]

Is the endorsement of the John Birch Society supposed to make me feel BETTER about Ron Paul?

"RON PAUL ROCKS DUDE!"

No. But this guy's endorsement will go a long way toward getting Ron Paul the respect and recognition that he deserves.

[CJ Wolf]

“Appeasement and/or doing nothing kills. See 9/11/01.”

I assume you are talking about Clintons policies?

[Allegra]

So, from your view over there, all is hunky dory right? No Al Quaeda anywhere.. It must be true, Paul says so..

There's a lot less al Qaeda here now because we aren't cutting and running.

It's been amazing here lately. Anybody who advocates cut and run at this point is either terribly misinformed or has a nasty agenda.

Oh....and al Qaeda was in Iraq before we were. The training camp areas still stand as proof. They are just not being utilized as training camps anymore. ;-)

[ejonesie22]

Ah, the great Paulholio...

[Allegra]

How’s life in Al Finbar?

LOL. Poor Finbar....having his name sound like that place. (Which is remarkably calmer and more settled down these days, by the way.)