Posted on 02/06/2003 7:01:46 AM PST by txradioguy
Hoffman blasts Bush's war plans
Dustin Hoffman has become the latest US star to voice his opposition to war with Iraq.
Dustin Hoffman arrives for the Empire Film Awards /PA
Hoffman accused the Bush administration of "manipulating the grief of the country" after the events of September 11.
The president's real motives for going to war are power and oil, he said.
He spoke out after receiving a lifetime achievement award at the Empire Film Awards in London.
"For me as an American, the most painful aspect of this is that I believe that that administration has taken the events of 9/11 and has manipulated the grief of the country and I think that's reprehensible," he said.
"I don't think, like many of us, that the reasons we have been given for going to war are the honest reasons.
"If they are saying it's about the fact they have biological weapons and might have nuclear weapons and that gives us the liberty to pre-empt and strike because we think they might hit us, then what prevents Pakistan from attacking India, what prevents India from attacking Pakistan, what prevents us from going into North Korea?
"I believe - though I may wrong because I am no expert - that this war is about what most wars are about: hegemony, money, power and oil".
Hoffman pointed out that the US had once funded Saddam Hussein's regime even as he killed tens of thousands of Kurds. He added that he believed all politicians were incapable of telling the truth.
"If I was asked what is the most important aspect of being a politician, I would say getting re-elected. And when that's the goal, then all bets are off with the truth".
Those who hold faith in the UN do not want weapons of mass destruction to be found. The anti-capitalists in the anti-Bush-American-war movement would have their spokesman Scott Ritter shown to be a paid shill for the dictatorship.
Since Iraq has not suspended weapons production since Gulf War I and has obstructed attempts to inspect sites, the only recourse can be resuming Gulf War I since Saddam has violated the "peace" treaty.
Saddam already violated the "peace" so so-called-peace protestors should be protesting against Saddam and not President Bush. They should also be calling for the ousting of Saddam and not the ousting of elected President Bush (as much as the left denies it, George W. Bush was elected President).
The loudmouth blowhard at that table yesterday also picked on the President by saying that Collin Powell made the presentation since George W. Bush is "such a liar that he is not believable anymore". It is not the President's place to address the UN in this matter for 90minutes.
I have resisted commenting on the debate about Iraq in our local paper for a couple of reasons; one, I thought focusing so much on secular Iraq dilutes our main fight against the Islamic terrorist networks, second, the administration (excluding Colin Powell) pursuit this goal with utter disregard to the international norm of diplomacy. No one argues that we are the only super power; however, we must never flex our muscles with arrogance lest we get undeserving resentments. The neocons in the Bush White House, as well as some right wing media personalities led the charge by calling our western allies insulting names, and then acted surprised by observing resistance to our demands.
We have always counted on Canada, Australia, France, Germany, Mexico, as close allies. It is pitiful to imagine that these countries who are suffering from similar threats by the Moslem fanatics can be against our position. I dare to say, they are simply against our arrogance. We had almost 100% supports from the whole world in our fight against the barbaric Moslem terrorists. How do we take a wining hand like this and misplay it so bad to create resentment by our closest allies? Our inability to soft sell the Saddam removal campaign has caused major rift between us and the majority of the world.
Now back to the needs for a change in the Iraqi leadership. The high paid advisors in Washington need to find another career. Kicking sand in the rest of the worlds face does not bring cooperation or win allies. The way to sell our wishes to remove Saddam should go like this: Arab leaders never get voted out of office-ever! Saddam has chemical and biological materials that can create havoc. He has been defeated, and humiliated, and he has billions of dollars to do what he pleases with. Again, the point is; a defeated tyrant with billions of dollars, and WMD should never be allowed to stay in power lest he give these materials to the Moslem terrorists to avenge his defeat. Since his population is unable to vote him out, and he has no honor to spare his country and the whole region the calamity of war, the international community must hold its nose and remove him for the sake of our peace of mind, and the liberty for the Iraqi population. The Iraqi wealth should be used to improve the lives of the Iraqi people and not to extract vengeance for a tyrant dictators ego.
Remember, we were not suppose to go to the UN for disarming Saddam, we did! We were not supposed to go to the UN again for permission to use force; the president just said he will! Hence all the insults to our allies, and the beating of our chest were not needed. Thank god for Tony Blair and Colin Powell for moderating the Bush White House undiplomatic stance. This, my friend is not from a leftist commie liberal! I am a right-wing Republican, and have voted for Bush. Yes there is a lot of leftist hate for Bush, specially after the great defeat in the last election, but my position is to soft sell to garner lots of supports.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.