Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Sauron · 07-10-2003, 10:48 PM

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...ml?nav=hptoc_p

Quote:

Bush Reverts to Liberal Rationale for Iraq War
Critics Still Oppose War Despite Hussein's Human Rights Record

By Terry M. Neal
washingtonpost.com Staff Writer
Wednesday, July 9, 2003; 11:58 AM

If the Bush administration had wanted to make the case for going to war against Iraq on purely humanitarian reasons, it could have done so. Saddam Hussein was one of the world's truly bad guys, a horrific leader who brutalized and terrorized his own people. But the administration likely would have found much resistance from conservatives who have long argued that the United States should not try to act as the world's police department.

So the administration made national security its strongest case for launching an exceedingly rare, historically discouraged, internationally frowned-upon preemptive war.

Fast forward to the present: The administration that had 100 percent certainty that there were weapons of mass destruction has zero percent certainty as to where they are now. The White House and the president's defenders have reverted to their fall-back humanitarian position -- that the removal of Hussein was justification enough for the war.

Jacey · 07-11-2003, 06:34 AM

If it's about human rights, when're we invading Cuba?

Godless Dave · 07-11-2003, 06:36 AM

Hell, when are we invading Saudi Arabia?

And what about rebuilding Afghanistan?

Jacey · 07-11-2003, 06:41 AM

Arken · 07-11-2003, 06:48 AM

Forget Cuba and Saudi Arabia, when are we invading the neo-Stalinist state of Tadjikistan?

Oh wait, they're our allies.

Bill · 07-11-2003, 09:09 AM

Another invasion to add to the list: Myanmar rejects 'brutal' charge (Myanmar is also known as Burma):

Quote:

... followed by even stronger criticism from U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell who described Myanmar's military leadership as "brutal rulers."

So, here is yet-another governemt that the US knows is a major violator of human rights.

But of course, there isn't any oil in Myanmar, so far as I know, so there isn't any way to charge the people of Myanmar to pay for their own liberation, so the Myanmar people will just have to do it themselves, rather than hiring the US rent-an-army.....

Mercenaries have always had a bad reputation. Now, its increasingly looking like Bush's only real justification for attacking Iraq (as opposed to dozens of other nations around the world) was the oil that Iraq has in the ground.

What else could it be, anyway?

== Bill

Godless Dave · 07-11-2003, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bill
What else could it be, anyway?

One could argue that Iraq under Saddam posed a long-term threat to Israel, as well as Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. One could then argue about whether an invasion and occupation was the best way to eliminate threat, and then one could argue about when and how to carry out that invasion.

Or one could ride into town, six-shooters blazing, whoopin' and hollerin' like a maniac, consequences be damned. Yee haw.

conkermaniac · 07-13-2003, 09:00 AM

If we're talking about human rights here, when are we going to invade our own country? :boohoo:

jman0904 · 07-13-2003, 10:54 AM

If China wasn't so damn big and the names unpronouncable (At least for Dubya) we'd have invaded it two years ago.

Arken · 07-13-2003, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by jman0904
If China wasn't so damn big and the names unpronouncable (At least for Dubya) we'd have invaded it two years ago.

Oh, like being unable to pronounce names stopped Bush from invading EYE-rack.

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07-11-2003, 06:34 AM	#2
Jacey Banned Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: the gulag Posts: 3,043	If it's about human rights, when're we invading Cuba?

07-11-2003, 06:36 AM	#3
Godless Dave Contributor Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: With 10,000 lakes who needs a coast? Posts: 10,762	Hell, when are we invading Saudi Arabia? And what about rebuilding Afghanistan?

07-11-2003, 06:41 AM	#4
Jacey Banned Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: the gulag Posts: 3,043

07-11-2003, 06:48 AM	#5
Arken Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: North Hollywood, CA Posts: 6,303	Forget Cuba and Saudi Arabia, when are we invading the neo-Stalinist state of Tadjikistan? Oh wait, they're our allies.

07-13-2003, 09:00 AM	#8
conkermaniac Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: American in China Posts: 620	If we're talking about human rights here, when are we going to invade our own country? :boohoo:

07-13-2003, 10:54 AM	#9
jman0904 Regular Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Oregon, the new Least Religious State in America Posts: 453	If China wasn't so damn big and the names unpronouncable (At least for Dubya) we'd have invaded it two years ago.

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