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In reply to the discussion: Oh Fuck... I'm Gonna Throw Up... [View all]Zorra
(27,670 posts)266. This is all "true": "But even in Iraq, America sought to work within the international system.
We did not claim or annex Iraqs territory, nor did we grab its resources for our own gain. Instead, we ended our war and left Iraq to its people."
(Analyzed and paraphrased by an expert in the study of the universal neocon/neoliberal language of Straussian weaselspeak):
"But even in Iraq, America sought to work within the international system."
Paraphrased: We are the world police for multinational corporations/global, and we invaded Iraq to further their interests, ie, privatize the oil so they could make zillions in profit.
"We did not claim or annex Iraqs territory, nor did we grab its resources for our own gain."
Paraphrased: We destabilized the country for multinational corporations/1%, so they could privatize and control Iraq's oil, and make zillions in profit from it.
"Instead, we ended our war and left Iraq to its people"
Paraphrased: We destabilized the country, and once it was thoroughly destabilized, war torn and in chaos, we left when we were sure it was a sitting duck for multinational corporations/global 1% to to control and privatize the oil and make gazillions in profit from it.
"and a fully sovereign Iraqi state could make decisions about its own future."
Paraphrased: We left a huge, confused, destroyed mess where multinational corporations/global 1% could privatize and control the oil and make gazillions of dollars in profit.
Welcome to the Oil Embassy of the Multinational Corporations/1% in Bagdhad:
http://s3.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&d=20111214&t=2&i=546752504&w=&fh=&fw=&ll=700&pl=390&r=2011-12-14T154523Z_01_GM1E7CE1IP301_RTRRPP_0_IRAQ-WITHDRAWAL
http://www.reuters.com/news/pictures/slideshow?articleId=USRTR2V8ES#a=22
New embassy
The embassy is on the Tigris River in the Green Zone
A new embassy opened in January 2009 in the Green Zone in Baghdad.[2] The embassy complex comprises 21 buildings on a 104 acres (42 ha) site, making it the largest and most expensive U.S. embassy in the world.[8]
It is located along the Tigris River, west of the Arbataash Tamuz bridge, and facing Al Kindi street to the north. The embassy is a permanent structure which has provided a new base for the 5,500 Americans currently living and working in Baghdad. During construction, the US government kept many aspects of the project under wraps, with many details released only in a U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee report.[8] Apart from the 1,000 regular employees, up to 3,000 additional staff members have been hired, including security personnel.
With construction beginning in mid-2005, the original target completion date was September 2007. "A week after submitting his FY2006 budget to Congress, the President sent Congress an FY2005 emergency supplemental funding request. Included in the supplemental is more than $1.3 billion for the embassy in Iraq ..." An emergency supplemental appropriation (H.R. 1268/P.L. 109-13), which included $592 million for embassy construction, was signed into law on May 11, 2005. According to the Department of State, this funding was all that was needed for construction of the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad.[9] However, Walter Pincus of the Washington Post found that the new embassy had cost more than $700 million by 2012,[10] and Business Insider reported in 2013 that the cost of the embassy had surpassed $750 million.[11] The Obama administration requested more than $100 million for a "massive" upgrade to the embassy compound in 2012.[12] As of 2006, construction was being led by the Kuwaiti firm First Kuwaiti Trading & Contracting,[13][14][15]
The embassy has extensive housing and infrastructure facilities in addition to the usual diplomatic buildings. The buildings include:[8]
Six apartment buildings for employees
Water and waste treatment facilities
A power station
Two "major diplomatic office buildings"
Recreation, including a gym, cinema, several tennis courts and an Olympic-size swimming pool
The complex is heavily fortified, even by the standards of the Green Zone. The details are largely secret, but it is likely to include a significant US Marine Security Guard detachment. Fortifications include deep security perimeters, buildings reinforced beyond the usual standard, and five highly guarded entrances.[citation needed]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Embassy_of_the_United_States,_Baghdad
It's All About Oil
Summary and Notes from Congressman Kucinich's One Hour Speech Before the United States House of Representatives
On Administrations Efforts to Privatize Iraq Oil
As you know, the Administration set several benchmarks for the Iraqi government, including passage of the Hydrocarbon Law by the Iraqi Parliament. The Administration has emphasized only a small part of this law, the fair distribution of oil revenues. Consider the fact that the Iraqi Hydrocarbon Law contains a mere three sentences that generally discusses the fair distribution of oil.
Except for three scant lines, the entire 33 page Hydrocarbon Law, is about creating a complex legal structure to facilitate the privatization of Iraqi oil. As such, it in imperative that all of us carefully read the Iraqi Parliament's bill because the Congress is on the record in promoting oil privatization.
This war is about oil.
We must not be party to the Administration's blatant attempt to set the stage for multinational oil companies to take over Iraq's oil resources.
http://www.commondreams.org/news2007/0523-07.htm
Summary and Notes from Congressman Kucinich's One Hour Speech Before the United States House of Representatives
On Administrations Efforts to Privatize Iraq Oil
As you know, the Administration set several benchmarks for the Iraqi government, including passage of the Hydrocarbon Law by the Iraqi Parliament. The Administration has emphasized only a small part of this law, the fair distribution of oil revenues. Consider the fact that the Iraqi Hydrocarbon Law contains a mere three sentences that generally discusses the fair distribution of oil.
Except for three scant lines, the entire 33 page Hydrocarbon Law, is about creating a complex legal structure to facilitate the privatization of Iraqi oil. As such, it in imperative that all of us carefully read the Iraqi Parliament's bill because the Congress is on the record in promoting oil privatization.
This war is about oil.
We must not be party to the Administration's blatant attempt to set the stage for multinational oil companies to take over Iraq's oil resources.
http://www.commondreams.org/news2007/0523-07.htm
Don't Blame Me, I Voted For Kucinich
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almost laughed out loud at work hearing him decrying big countries bullying little countries...
KG
Mar 2014
#1
I know. That jumped out at me too. Thanks Bush for giving excuses to warmongers to come.
applegrove
Mar 2014
#2
Then there is your proof....but there ARE people here who cannot do it...
VanillaRhapsody
Mar 2014
#233
"WE" are giving international war criminals refuge within our borders.
PowerToThePeople
Mar 2014
#336
Obama's statements regarding Iraq has become a mountain in the eyes of Obama's detractors.
lumpy
Mar 2014
#200
Who is he defending here: ""We did not claim or annex Iraq's territory. We did not grab its
rhett o rick
Mar 2014
#329
Worse, we forced Iraq to give their oil to BP, Shell, Exxon, etc. This is not a reason to be proud.
rhett o rick
Mar 2014
#352
we can't wait for the appropriate remorse before working against dictators like Putin
uhnope
Mar 2014
#342
I dont disagree. But we need to have a conversation as a country as to who we are with regard
rhett o rick
Mar 2014
#353
I agree w/you but I point out that US is not proposing foreign aggression in Ukraine
uhnope
Mar 2014
#357
An overwhelming number of Crimeans voted for that annex to Russia. A majority of Crimeans ARE
sabrina 1
Mar 2014
#225
So! Who got the oil, hmm? Hint, it wasn't the USA. Read post for correct answer>
KittyWampus
Mar 2014
#254
Maybe he should just pardon the Bush War Criminals and then we could move "forward".
rhett o rick
Mar 2014
#12
First of all American "moral authority" is dead. It wont be back for many a day.
rhett o rick
Mar 2014
#30
Good point - it never really existed, given our treatment of Native Americans...
polichick
Mar 2014
#96
Good point, I should demean McDonalds workers to suggest the The Dim-Son could handle
rhett o rick
Mar 2014
#326
Those that say that one cant be pardoned until they are tried and convicted
rhett o rick
Mar 2014
#178
Krugman said that taking the Presidency right after Bush would not be worth it.
Dawson Leery
Mar 2014
#31
I really like the way the president is rallying his 2008 voters for this year's midterms
Doctor_J
Mar 2014
#10
LOL, really? Seems to me like there is only one thought, that Obama is god and all
rhett o rick
Mar 2014
#51
Ya Know... Oddly... I Have A Certain Affinity For The True Believers...Especially Since...
WillyT
Mar 2014
#72
WTF. "In fact, the U.S. forced Iraq to privatize its oil industry, which had previously been under
rhett o rick
Mar 2014
#19
We were promised that oil. That was going to pay for the invasion. And now we
rhett o rick
Mar 2014
#45
So I am guessing that you will welcome the day when the Pres pardons Bush
rhett o rick
Mar 2014
#195
And the US is supporting a RW coup attempt in Venezuela, to privatize their oil, right fucking now.
Zorra
Mar 2014
#83
This oil situation is exactly what I thought of when I heard the prez go there...
polichick
Mar 2014
#105
well it's true it wasn't for our gain. it was for Big Oil's gain, not the American people.
magical thyme
Mar 2014
#157
I Don't Think So... Over My Lifetime It Looks Like Presidents Cover For Each Other...
WillyT
Mar 2014
#29
I dont think so. But I think he realizes that prosecuting war criminals would be
rhett o rick
Mar 2014
#55
Somewhere in Texas, a man painting pictures of dogs is laughing his ARSE off.
WinkyDink
Mar 2014
#34
Thanks for posting Obama's full speech. I guess he shouldn't have tried to defend our war against
lumpy
Mar 2014
#188
It is a stupid statement, but it must be remembered he would not have gone into Iraq in the first
lostincalifornia
Mar 2014
#58
He should have said: "Mr Putin, given that Bush wrongly invaded Iraq, you should feel free to ...
JoePhilly
Mar 2014
#299
This is the worst thing Obama has ever said, since that thing he said yesterday.
JoePhilly
Mar 2014
#67
So... President Obama's Justifying President Bush's Illegal Invasion Of Iraq Is OK With You ???
WillyT
Mar 2014
#98
I'm Not Gonna Alert You For That... Cause I Really Couldn't Care Less... But...
WillyT
Mar 2014
#103
At least We tried to get support before we invaded a country for oil illegally.
tea and oranges
Mar 2014
#82
Yet Our System Of Government... Was Linked To The Theory That We Followed The Laws Of Humans...
WillyT
Mar 2014
#168
Which shows the reason why we continue have combat troops in Iraq today, right?
MrScorpio
Mar 2014
#115
Nope sorry, O won't be medaling GWB, you'll have to hope for President Hillary for that. n/t
PoliticAverse
Mar 2014
#235
lol - I would have thought the Obamabots would have blamed the speech writer...
pragmatic_dem
Mar 2014
#124
OFFS yea ...well we should have attacked Saudi Arabia since most of the 911 hijackers were Saudis...
L0oniX
Mar 2014
#137
Could you please start throwing up in private instead of all over this board?
BeyondGeography
Mar 2014
#139
His restating his opposition to the Iraq war doesn't bother me in the least n/t
BeyondGeography
Mar 2014
#152
And his continued votes for funding the war after one speech does not bother you, actions do speak..
slipslidingaway
Mar 2014
#158
Not to mention all the wars he has unilaterally launched as President, eh?
BeyondGeography
Mar 2014
#162
Stay on topic, how many displaced persons and orphaned children in Iraq do not forget...
slipslidingaway
Mar 2014
#164
Now what the hell are we talking about? Obama opposed the war, famously called it a dumb war
BeyondGeography
Mar 2014
#172
I remember one speech from Obama and then several votes to fund the "dumb" war. n/t
slipslidingaway
Mar 2014
#198
I remember a right-wing friend being all stoked about the Iraq invasion. Drinking at our
brewens
Mar 2014
#159
Calm, Cool, and Collected, President Obama Schools ABC Reporter During Press Conference at The Hague
ProSense
Mar 2014
#167
aren't you even a little 'happy' President O. has worked to move the USA out of those wars?
Sunlei
Mar 2014
#185
a thousand ways, over & over, he already has said bushwars were wrong." I'm opposed to dumb wars"
Sunlei
Mar 2014
#209
maybe not to you, sorry.But I accept the thousands of times Pres. O has 'said' bushwars were wrong
Sunlei
Mar 2014
#215
then why not say THAT this time instead of trying mitigate the sheer hypocrisy?
Skittles
Mar 2014
#221
we'd likely still have a presence (aside from the thousands of contractors) if not for bush's SOFA
frylock
Mar 2014
#359
I suppose you're welcome to take the PoV that the US is the sole arbiter of right and wrong
struggle4progress
Mar 2014
#244
Your hatred clouds your reading comprehension. Your two paragraphs aren't contradictory.
KittyWampus
Mar 2014
#255
Just to point out how uniformed your post is>>> the RESOURCES went elsewheres
KittyWampus
Mar 2014
#256
This thread is filled with the usual DU'ers who have zero reading comprehension.
KittyWampus
Mar 2014
#257
Remember when the Huff. post did a picture of Obama and Bush morphed and called it George W. Obama?
quinnox
Mar 2014
#253
This is all "true": "But even in Iraq, America sought to work within the international system.
Zorra
Mar 2014
#266
Definitely. If I didn't know better, I'd wonder if Obama had been hitting the scotch bottle cabinet
quinnox
Mar 2014
#272
Even the most stalwart Obama defenders should just admit the President was wrong.
Enthusiast
Mar 2014
#282
The swooners are not here to *discuss* policy, but to rationalize it whatever it is.
bobduca
Mar 2014
#297
You and I differ greatly in our assessment, but thanks for clarifying your stance. Nt
Hekate
Mar 2014
#380
Pretty soon we'll hear that it was Ed Snowden who FORCED Obama to end the Iraq war.
randome
Mar 2014
#300
It's not "defending" the Iraq war to recognize the difference between it and the Crimea annexation.
WatermelonRat
Mar 2014
#308
Yes, it would be more analogous if we grabbed Cuba at gunpoint. Or Baja California.
treestar
Mar 2014
#351
Obama's not the only one...someone needs to come out and tell it like it is...
joeybee12
Mar 2014
#333
He didn't defend it. He highlighted falsehoods in Putin's statement. nt
Bernardo de La Paz
Mar 2014
#349
Why doesn't he just pass on "IOKIYAR"? The world will accept that. .........right?
Spitfire of ATJ
Mar 2014
#368
To use a legal term, what President Obama did was to distinguish the Iraq war from Crimea
Gothmog
Mar 2014
#374
I listened President Obama's comments live on my car radio when he made the speech
Gothmog
Mar 2014
#381