Are You Going To Get Mad?

Charley Reese ^ | 1-24-2004 | Charley Reese

[TomHolly]

Are You Going To Get Mad?

It is now about as clear as it's going to get that Saddam Hussein had no weapons of mass destruction. Secretary of State Colin Powell even contradicted himself (in his U.N. speech) by admitting recently that there is no evidence of any link between Saddam and al-Qaida.

Prior to the Iraq War, the Bush administration asserted as fact that Saddam had huge quantities of chemical and biological weapons and was actively pursuing nuclear weapons. Administration members ridiculed people who expressed any doubts. Today, after spending millions of dollars looking for the weapons, they haven't found anything. And every Iraqi official captured, none of whom has any reason at all to lie, has said the same thing: There are no weapons of mass destruction.

In fact, the Iraqis had been saying that for years, and the Bush administration replied, "You're lying." Now we have this situation. The facts on the ground prove that the Iraqis, whom President Bush called liars, were telling the truth. What does that make Bush? It makes Bush either very badly mistaken or a liar.

It seems to me that if Bush were merely mistaken, he would admit it. He would say to the American people: "Look, I thought Iraq had those weapons based on intelligence, but apparently the intelligence was wrong. I apologize for misleading you." But the president will not do that. He gets huffy and defensive when asked about weapons of mass destruction. Before the war, he never opened his mouth without talking about weapons of mass destruction. It might be that there is simply an arrogant gene in the Bush family. It might be that he was just lying.

It is true that the intelligence reports contained a lot of reservations, expressions of doubt and uncertainty, but when this came out of the political process, it was told to the American people as unquestionable fact without reservations. "Intelligence gathered by this government and other governments leaves no doubt that the Iraq regime continues to possess and to conceal some of the most lethal weapons ever devised," Bush said on March 17. All the Bush people were asserting this to be a fact.

Now we have nearly 500 dead Americans who died to protect the United States from weapons that don't exist. And more will die, and for what reason? So Halliburton and other big corporations can make a lot of money? So Israel can feel safer? So we can have permanent military bases in Iraq? So the president can strut about and call himself the Conqueror of Iraq? One thing you can be sure of: They won't die defending the United States, because Iraq is not now and never was a threat to the United States.

It's no wonder Bush avoids military funerals and has barred the press from the airport where our dead come home. It's no wonder he has clamped a lid of secrecy on the search for weapons of mass destruction. What he ought to do is write a letter of apology to the families of every dead and wounded soldier. That'll be the day.

I don't know about you, but I'm damned angry that the president took this country to war on false pretenses. He has now dreamed up all these other reasons for going to war, but he sold this war to Congress and to the American people on the basis that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction.

This is far more serious than anything Bill Clinton did. He lied about dillydallying with a young girl. This president apparently lied about the reasons he wanted to take this country to war. He is, behind his facade of good old boy, apparently a man so arrogant that he does not think the American people deserve to be told the truth.

Maybe he's right. If the American people are not offended enough to throw him out of office, then apparently — in this country, anyway — the truth no longer matters.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- © 2003 by King Features Syndicate, Inc. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Tijeras_Slim]

When we were growing up, we didn't even HAVE an internet!

We knew how to make our own fun!

[4mycountry]

Ok ok... you guys aren't middle-aged. You're pre-middle.

Yeesh. And they say women are sensitive about their age.

[Tijeras_Slim]

Ask 'em about their bald spots!

[4mycountry]

[TheBigB]

Darn right we didn't! We didn't have internet access, shoes, running water, fire, or those little waddyacallem umbrellas that they stick in those fruity drinks. There was a DEPRESSION going on and you could buy a whole railroad for a nickel but nobody HAD nickels in those days! But we were HAPPY because we had VALUES back then...

I'm babbling. Pay no attention.

[4mycountry]

Who, the women or CD & B?

[4mycountry]

[FourtySeven]

Right now, you're probably staring at your screen wondering what the HELL just happened. Here's a short explaination:

Anyone who comes to FR, and, on their very first day here (or near to their first day) posts an article that's critical of President Bush or the WOT is going to be labeled a "troll", or someone who comes to merely disrupt. (especially since you didn't even ask for help rebutting it until your post 20)

I'm a pretty trusting person, so my gut instinct is to say you probably didn't know any better, and are now wondering if FR is inhabited by a bunch of nutcases. It is kind of strange though that you didn't ask for help rebutting it until post 20. But, again, I'm pretty trusting.

Hopefully though, you can now see where most of the people on this thread were coming from, when they labeled you a "troll" and issued some rather strong language in your direction! Personally, while I don't think you are a troll, I think it's pretty easy to see how one could think you are. Without further ado though.....

WELCOME TO FR! :D :D :D

(hey, I wish I had such a flourish when I came online......no one seemed to notice my arrival.....you should feel lucky......hehe)

[Constitution Day]

I'll have you know that my head of hair is rich and luxuriant, as seen in the photo below.

[Redleg Duke]

No, jackass, I'm not going to get mad...however, I am fed up with you liberal traitors.

[Tijeras_Slim]

Yes

[4mycountry]

Yes, but is that it's natural color? Or did we use Just For Men?

[colorado tanker]

This author can just go kerry himself.

[Tijeras_Slim]

It's his natural color...

[4mycountry]

Hey guys, I have a question:

Are you going to get mad?

*title*

[4mycountry]

Oh god, there goes lunch... ugh...

[Constitution Day]

Get a tranquilizer gun!

That ain't no man, it's a Bigfoot!

[4mycountry]

Attention, all : We have FOUND the missing link!!

[Tijeras_Slim]

Fend him off with this...

[4mycountry]

You're gonna need a bigger razor.

I'm thinking "chainsaw"...