Posted on 02/14/2003 6:23:30 AM PST by conservativecorner
Yeah, sure. It’s all about oil. You’re right. How could anyone possibly argue the point? Here … let’s look at the massive evidence:
Saddam Hussein has steadfastly refused to abide by more than 17 demands by the United Nations that he divest himself of weapons of mass destruction. He has refused … but it’s all about oil. Saddam Hussein has used chemical and biological weapons against his own people … but it’s all about oil. Saddam says he has no nuclear weapons program. Inspectors find over 3000 pages of documentary evidence to the contrary … but it’s all about oil. Saddam says his missiles can’t fly more than the allowed 150 miles. Inspectors find engineering plans and other evidence which shows that Saddam’s missiles can fly to Tel Aviv and beyond. He lied … but it’s all about oil. Saddam Hussein is on record as saying that his goal is one Arab world with one Arab ruler located in one Arab capitol. That ruler would be Saddam and that capitol would be Baghdad. But it’s all about oil. The UN inspectors were sent to Iraq not to find weapons, but to verify that Saddam had disarmed. Hans Blix says that they have not disarmed … but it’s all about oil. Hans Blix says that Saddam Hussein has not accepted the fact that he must disarm. But it’s all about oil. The United States has an energy policy. All major industrial nations have energy policies. But the fact that the US has an energy policy means … it’s all about oil. Dick Cheney used to work for Halliburton. Halliburton is an energy company. This proves it’s all about oil. When Dick Cheney became Vice President Halliburton didn’t completely divest itself of any and all involvement with the oil industry. This proves that it’s all about oil. George Bush used to work in the oil industry. More proof that it’s all about oil. Convincing evidence, Isn’t it?
Please show me the UNCONDITIONAL surrender agreement North Korea has violated.
Please show me when North Korea kicked weapons inspectors out of its country.
Please show me North Korea's attempt to assassinate a U.S. President.
Please show me North Korea's involvement with terrorism, including the first WTC bombing.
Please show me how North Korea even remotely approaches the level of threat that Iraq poses to us.
Please wake up. You've got a lot to learn. Not that you're receptive to learning...
Because in addition to being oil-crazed, war-hungry unilateralists, we're also really, REALLY stupid.
N. Korea is just getting started. I serious doubt if we wait 12 years before dealing with him.
Besides, Iraq would use them without even being provoked. N. Korea is just trying to bluff in order to get some attention and aid. It is money he wants to bring his country off the edge of being a 3rd world nation, not a nuclear war with the world's only super power. The UN is more likely to deal with them than Iraq.
Talking Points can report that by the end of March, Saddam Hussein will not be living in Baghdad. That's all I can tell you right now. But if they're taking odds in Vegas, there you go. Some believe the removal of Saddam will cause the USA problems, and that's entirely possible. But the up side is enormous.
After removing Saddam, the United States will be able to set up very effective ground intelligence in the Gulf region, making it much more difficult for Al Qaeda to operate there. Also, the USA will be poised on the border of Iran, making it much more difficult for that country to support terrorism. The same thing with Syria in the West.
So, terrorism will suffer a big defeat, along with the criminal regime of Saddam.
With U.S. forces on guard in Iraq, it'll be much more difficult for groups like Hamas and Hezbollah to continue their murderous rampage. And once things calm down in Israel, a truce between the Palestinians and the Israelis becomes much more realistic.
So, there's a huge up side for removing Saddam that has nothing to do with weapons of mass destruction. And that's important to keep in mind. This argument, though, and all others, will not sway people who hate America or President Bush. No matter how the case is made by Colin Powell or anybody else, they'll oppose removing Saddam. But at this point it doesn't matter. Saddam is toast and most nations in the world will provide the butter.
And if you don't think there is a link between Al Qaeda and Saddam...better think again...
Check out the following lawsuit on Find Law
Ashton, et al. v. al Qaeda, et al.: Complaint (PDF) Lawsuit claiming a 9/11 link between Iraq and al Qaeda. Sept. 3, 2002
The file is in slow loading .pdf format, but it is an interesting read. Some excerpts:
39. Upon information and belief, there have been numerous meetings between IRAQI Intelligence agents and high-ranking AL QAEDA terrorists to plan terror attacks. Once such meeting occurred in 1992, when ZAWAHIRI (EGYPTIAN ISLAMIC JIHAD leader and AL QAEDA officer) met with IRAQI INTELLIGENCE agents in Baghdad, IRAQ over several days. An IRAQI serving with the TALIBAN who fled Afghanistan in the fall of 2001, was captured in Kurdistan and has corroborated this meeting and confirmed that IRAQI contacts with AL QAEDA began in 1992.Also...check out the following links:During the early 1990s, Sudan’s Sheikh Hassan al-Tourabi of the Islamic National Front arranged meetings between BIN-LADEN and IRAQI INTELLIGENCE officials. BIN LADEN met with FARUQ AL-HIJAZI, an IRAQI INTELLIGENCE agent in the Sudan who would later head IRAQI INTELLIGENCE for SADDAM HUSSEIN. BIN LADEN again met with IRAQI INTELLIGENCE officers in 1994 and 1995 in the Sudan. At these meetings, BIN-LADEN and IRAQI INTELLIGENCE secret service director FARUQ AL-HIJAZI agreed to work together on terrorist projects directed against the U.S.
55. From 1996 until 2001, BIN LADEN with the financial and logistical support of OMAR and others in the TALIBAN and IRAQ and IRAQI INTELLIGENCE, created, supplied and operated at least five training camps in order to create an “Islamic Foreign Legion” capable of attacking their enemies throughout the world. These camps trained men from 15 nations in guerrilla warfare, terrorist activities, rocket warfare, demolition and bombing, including the use of mines, grenades, TNT, nitroglycerine and plastic explosives. Classes were also given in “how to kill a policeman” and “traps, murder and terrorist moves.”
57. In February 1997, BIN LADEN publicly expressed his support for IRAQ in its conflict with the United States stating:
“The hearts of the Muslims are filled with hatred towards the United States of America and the American president for American conduct towards IRAQ.”59. IRAQ upon information and belief, agreed to supply arms to AL QAEDA and provide AL QAEDA with access to and training in the use of chemical and biological weapons and agreed to instruct AL QAEDA terror trainers at its Salman Pak camp in Baghdad that contained a Boeing 707 used to practice hijacking. IRAQ also agreed to supply AL QAEDA terrorists with new identities and passports from Yemen and the United Arab Emirates.60. AL QAEDA agreed to provide protection from political opponents to IRAQ and SADDAM HUSSEIN, and to commit assassinations and other acts of violence to create instability in regions of IRAQ, particularly Kurdistan, to assist the regime of SADDAM HUSSEIN. AL QAEDA further agreed to provide trained terrorists, assassins and martyrs to carry out terror attacks in concert with IRAQ against their common enemies, including the United States.
64. Between April 25 and May 1, 1998, two of BIN LADEN’s senior military commanders, MUHAMMAD ABU-ISLAM and ABDULLAH QASSIM, visited Baghdad for discussions with SADDAM HUSSEIN’s son -- QUSAY HUSSEIN -- the “czar” of IRAQI INTELLIGENCE.
65. QUSAY HUSSEIN’s participation in those meetings highlights the importance of the talks in both symbolic and practical terms. Upon information and belief, as a direct result of these meetings, IRAQ again made commitments to provide training, intelligence, clandestine Saudi border crossings, financial support and weapons and explosives to AL QAEDA.
66. IRAQI INTELLIGENCE officials met with BIN LADEN in Afghanistan several more times. A second group of BIN LADEN and AL QAEDA operatives from Saudi Arabia were then trained by IRAQI INTELLIGENCE in IRAQ to smuggle weapons and explosives into Saudi Arabia and other countries, which they later accomplished in an effort to carry out future terrorist acts of violence. A third group of BIN LADEN and AL QAEDA operatives received a month of sophisticated guerrilla operations training from IRAQI INTELLIGENCE officials later in the Summer of 1998.
67. Despite philosophical and religious differences with SADDAM HUSSEIN, BIN LADEN continually sought to strengthen and reinforce the support he and AL QAEDA received from IRAQ. In mid-July 1998, BIN LADEN sent Dr. AYMAN AL-ZAWAHIRI, the Egyptian co-founder of AL QAEDA, to IRAQ to meet with senior Iraqi officials, including Iraqi vice president TAHA YASSIN RAMADAN. Upon information and belief, the purpose of this meeting was to discuss and plan a joint strategy for a terrorist campaign against the United States.
69. During the July 1998 visit ZAWAHIRI toured an IRAQI military base and nuclear and chemical weapons facility near al-Fallujah in IRAQ and upon information and belief, observed training by IRAQI INTELLIGENCE officials of AL QAEDA operatives at the al-Nasiriyah military and chemical weapons facility in IRAQ.
79. Following the December 1998 air strikes on IRAQ, SADDAM HUSSEIN dispatched FARUQ AL-HIJAZI to Kandahar, Afghanistan in order to meet with BIN LADEN and plot their revenge.
81. To demonstrate IRAQ’s commitment to BIN LADEN and AL QAEDA, HIJAZI presented BIN LADEN with a pack of blank, official Yemeni passports, supplied to IRAQI INTELLIGENCE from their Yemeni contacts. HIJAZI’s visit to Kandahar was followed by a contingent of IRAQI INTELLIGENCE officials who provided additional training and instruction to BIN LADEN and AL QAEDA operatives in Afghanistan. These Iraqi officials included members of “Unit 999,” a group of elite IRAQI INTELLIGENCE officials who provided advanced sabotage and infiltration training and instruction to AL QAEDA operatives.
82. At that meeting, upon information and belief, BIN LADEN, AL QAEDA and IRAQ agreed to join efforts in a detailed, coordinated plan for a protracted terrorist war against the United States.
84. IRAQ maintains an advanced chemical and biological weapons program and is one of only three countries in the world producing a highly developed weaponized anthrax. Some time during or after 1998, IRAQ agreed to help BIN LADEN and AL QAEDA develop a laboratory in Afghanistan designed to produce anthrax.
85. In addition to the al-Nasiriyah and Salman Pak training camps, by January 1999, BIN LADEN and AL QAEDA operatives were being trained by IRAQI INTELLIGENCE and military officers at other training camps on the outskirts of Baghdad.
86. In January 1999, IRAQ began reorganizing and mobilizing IRAQI INTELLIGENCE front operations throughout Europe in support of BIN LADEN and AL QAEDA. HAQI ISMAIL, believed to be a member of the IRAQ’S MUKHABARAT Secret Service, left IRAQ to train in an Afghanistan AL QAEDA camp. ISMAIL was believed to be a liason between IRAQ, the TALIBAN and AL QAEDA and was rewarded with a position in the TALIBAN Foreign Ministry.
103. On July 21, approximately six weeks before the September 11 th attacks, IRAQI columnist Mulhalhal reported that BIN LADEN was making plans to “demolish the Pentagon after he destroys the White House.”
104. Mulhalhal’s July 21 article further informed that BIN LADEN would strike America “on the arm that is already hurting.” Upon information and belief, this references a second IRAQI sponsored attack on the World Trade Center. This interpretation is further bolstered by another reference to New York as “[BIN LADEN] will curse the memory of Frank Sinatra everytime he hears his songs.” (e.g., “New York, New York”) identifying New York, New York as a target.
105. Mulhalhal further indicated, “The wings of a dove and the bullet are all but one and the same in the heart of a believer.” (Emphasis supplied) This appears to be a reference to the use of commercial aircraft as a weapon. The information was reported in an IRAQI newspaper who’s editor-in-chief serves as secretary to UDAY HUSSEIN’S Iraqi Syndicate of Journalists. The article expressed IRAQI admiration and support for BIN LADEN’s plans and its appearance in the newspaper would clearly have to be endorsed by SADDAM HUSSEIN himself.
106. All IRAQI news media is strictly controlled and censored by the government of SADDAM HUSSEIN and is under the direct oversight of UDAY HUSSEIN. Various members of IRAQI intelligence work at and control the content of each and every newspaper published inside IRAQ.
107. The information contained in Mulhalhal’s published statements were known prior to the events of September 11 th , and that Mulhalhal has ties to IRAQI intelligence, demonstrates foreknowledge of the planned attacks by BIN LADEN and indicates support by IRAQI co-conspirators.
110. According to U.S. and foreign intelligence officials, in the spring of 2000, IRAQI INTELLIGENCE agents met with September 11 th pilot hijackers ZAID SAMIR JARRAH and MARWAN AL-SHEHHI in Dubai, UAE in order to advance the hijacking of U.S. aircraft to commit terrorist acts. Not long after the meeting, AL-SHEHHI entered the United States on May 29 and JARRAH entered on June 27, to begin preparations for attacks.
133. Instruction documents on an artillery weapon known as the “Super Gun” were found in AL QAEDA camps when they were captured by U.S. forces in the winter of 2001-2002. IRAQ is the only state known to have purchased and assembled the super gun, a weapon so large it must be constructed in segments. It has a range of several hundred miles.
Iraq/Al Qaeda Connection, As Reported by JanesRice: Iraq Providing Shelter, Chemical Weapons Help to Al Qaeda
Ansar Al-Isam: Iraq’s Al-Qaeda Connection
Salman Pak: Iraq's Smoking Gun Link to 9-11?
Saddam killed Abu Nidal over al-Qa'eda row
New evidence links Saddam, bin Laden
Arafat-Saddam-Bin Laden Links Surface
Saddam and Osama: A Long History
Saddam 'sends troops to help bin Laden men'
Iraqi Funds, Training Fuel Islamic Terror Group
Alert by Saddam points to Iraq - 23 Sep 2001 Article
Mounting Evidence of Iraqi Link to Terror Attacks
Iraqi defector tells of terrorist training camp
Not too many UN resolutions, but there have been substantial violations of the armistice and military intrusions into the DMZ with prohibited weapons (i.e., a couple machine guns mounted on jeeps over the last few years). No biggie.
Please show me the UNCONDITIONAL surrender agreement North Korea has violated.
No unconditional surrender violations, but numerous armistice violations. Again, offered for precision, not disagreement.
Please show me when North Korea kicked weapons inspectors out of its country.
Actually, CNN reported on Dec. 27, 2002 that N. Korea was expelling the UN inspectors monitoring its compliance with the international nuke treaty and Klinton's 1994 blackmail surrender agreement.
Please show me North Korea's attempt to assassinate a U.S. President. You got me there.
Please show me North Korea's involvement with terrorism, including the first WTC bombing.
N. Korea has been selling arms to numerous nations harboring terrorists and other baddies. A quick google search turns up goodies. See: http://www.armscontrol.org/act/2000_09/nkoreasept00.asp , for example. Now, it's not a great source, but I'm sure there's others.
Please show me how North Korea even remotely approaches the level of threat that Iraq poses to us.
The fact that they now have (1) nukes, and (2) the Taepodong 2 missile that is capable of reaching the western U.S., in addition to the known and proven capability of nuking our strongest (formerly) allies in the region and distracting us from turning China into glass when it tries to invade Taiwan, makes them a pretty substantial threat. It's just that they do have nukes and thus must be handled differently than Iraq, which doesn't yet have effective delivery systems.
The only reason North Korea hasn't violated many UNSC resolutions is because the the UNSC has refused to initiate any.
Please show me the UNCONDITIONAL surrender agreement North Korea has violated.
North Korea was in violation of its surrender agreement the minute it began kidnapping Japanese and South Korean citizens.
Please show me when North Korea kicked weapons inspectors out of its country.
N. Korea's nuke program left unsupervised
Please show me North Korea's involvement with terrorism, including the first WTC bombing.
Destabilization of the South Korean Government
And as far as the WTC goes, please explain why the CIA has gone on record as stating that there just aren't any believable Iraqi links to Al-Queda.
Oh, and explain why the US attacked Afghanistan if Iraq was the real culprit behind 9/11.
Please show me how North Korea even remotely approaches the level of threat that Iraq poses to us.
If you can't understand the threat difference between a country that actually has a working nuclear reactor, and one that doesn't, then any further discussion with you is pointless.
So, believe whatever you want. That you're a fool is of no consequence to me personally.
You're right on that. The rest doesn't sway me at all. North Korea has had nukes for years. The press is trying to make this into breaking news because NK is just now admitting it. NK does not have legitimate and tested delivery systems to reach the U.S. (terrorism excluded), much less a system carrying a nuclear payload. Ties to terrorism probably do exist (certainly a link can be drawn through NK's extensive proliferation of weapons), but Iraq's terrorist ties are much stronger.
Oh really? I wasn't aware that North Korea ever surrendered. To whom?
And tell me again how I'm a fool. I do so enjoy a lively debate.
President Bush: We shall make no distinction between the terrorists (Al Qaeda) and those who harbor them (Taliban/Iraq).
Oh.
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