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In reply to the discussion: I remember how sick and hurt, bitter and ashamed I felt in 2003 watching the invasion gather [View all]KoKo
(84,711 posts)124. The Senator Byrd Debates on War in Iraq...DU'ers had Running Threads watching C-Span
DU'ers took part running threads of the debates for days where each of us took a turn commenting for those who couldn't watch. Yes, I know he was controversial in his vote for Alito and his early background....but, in this case he was Spot On and made a huge effort to try to stop the invasion along with Senator Kennedy. So for this I will always appreciate his efforts.
{Here is his best Video with transcript from both. It is a remarkably prescient speech opposing the Iraq war by Senator Byrd in March of 2003.):
(You Tube of Part 2)
Uploaded on Apr 8, 2008
AMERICA'S IMAGE IN THE WORLD
Script Part 1: Mr. BYRD. Madam President, I believe in this great and beautiful country. I have studied its roots and gloried in the wisdom of its magnificent Constitution and its inimitable history. I have marveled at the wisdom of its Founders and Framers. Generation after generation of Americans has understood the lofty ideals that underlie our great Republic. I have been inspired by the story of their sacrifice and their strength. But today I weep for my country.
I have watched the events of recent months with a heavy, heavy heart. No more is the image of American one of strong, yet benevolent peacekeeper. The image of America has changed. Around the globe, our friends mistrust us, our word is disputed, our intentions are questioned. Instead of reasoning with those with whom we disagree, we demand obedience or threaten recrimination. Instead of isolating Saddam Hussein, we seem to have succeeded in isolating ourselves. We proclaim a new doctrine of preemption which is understood by few but feared by many. We say that the United States has the right to turn its firepower on any corner of the globe which might be suspect in the war on terrorism. We assert that right without the sanction of any international body. As a result, the world has become a much more dangerous place. We flaunt our superpower status with arrogance. We treat U.N. Security Council members like ingrates who offend our princely dignity by lifting their heads from the carpet. Valuable alliances are split. After war has ended, the United States will have to rebuild much more than the country of Iraq. We will have to rebuild America's image around the globe.
The case this administration tries to make to justify its fixation with war is tainted by charges of falsified documents and circumstantial evidence. We cannot convince the world of the necessity of this war for one simple reason: This is not a war of necessity, but a war of choice. There is no credible information to connect Saddam Hussein to 9/11, at least up to this point. The twin towers fell because a world-wide terrorist group, al Qaida, with cells in over 60 nations, struck at our wealth and our influence by turning our own planes into missiles, one of which would likely have slammed into the dome of this beautiful Capitol except for the brave sacrifice of some of the passengers who were on board that plane. The brutality seen on September 11th and in other terrorist attacks we have witnessed around the globe are the violent and desperate efforts by extremists to stop the daily encroachment of Western values upon their cultures. That is what we fight. It is a force not confined to territorial borders. It is a shadowy entity with many faces, many names, and many addresses.
But, this administration has directed all of the anger, fear, and grief which emerged from the ashes of the Twin Towers and the twisted metal of the Pentagon towards a tangible villain, one we can see and hate and attack. And villain he is. But he is the wrong villain. And this is the wrong war . If we attack Saddam Hussein, we will probably drive him from power. But the zeal of our friends to assist our global war on terrorism may have already taken flight. The general unease surrounding this war is not just due to ``orange alert.'' There is a pervasive sense of rush and risk and too many questions unanswered...
-------------------
Senator Byrd's Speech Opposing Iraq War 3/19/03 Part 2
Uploaded on Apr 9, 2008
The second part of Senator Byrd's riveting speech opposing the Iraq War in 2003:
Part 2 Script:
How long will we be in Iraq? What will be the cost? What is the ultimate mission? How great is the danger at home? A pall has fallen over the Senate Chamber. We avoid our solemn duty to debate the one topic on the minds of all Americans, even while scores of thousands of our sons and daughters faithfully do their duty in Iraq. What is happening to this country--my country, your country, our country? When did we become a nation which ignores and berates our friends and calls them irrelevant?
When did we decide to risk undermining international order by adopting a radical and doctrinaire approach to using our awesome military might? How can we abandon diplomatic efforts when the turmoil in the world cries out for diplomacy? Why can this President not seem to see that America's true power lies not in its will to intimidate, but in its ability to inspire? War appears inevitable . But I continue to hope that the cloud will lift. Perhaps Saddam will yet turn tail and run. Perhaps reason will somehow still prevail. I along with millions, scores of millions of Americans will pray for the safety of our troops, for the innocent civilians--women, children, babies, old and young, crippled, deformed, sick--in Iraq, and for the security of our homeland. May God continue to bless the United States of America in the troubled days ahead, and may we somehow recapture the vision which for the present eludes us. Madam President, I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum.
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I remember how sick and hurt, bitter and ashamed I felt in 2003 watching the invasion gather [View all]
Fumesucker
Feb 2015
OP
the source material is there -- control of the media from embedding to Generals propagandizing
nashville_brook
Feb 2015
#172
It was a total success beyond the wildest dreams of the war profiteers/criminals. And it continues
sabrina 1
Feb 2015
#130
Yes, and we don't count. But some of 'us' bought into the lies, even some of our elected officials
sabrina 1
Feb 2015
#152
Chelsea Manning warned about Maliki when she was in Iraq. She discovered that the Iraqi
sabrina 1
Feb 2015
#168
They never went away. So many Bush holdovers still remain in place. Most of them in Defense. I
sabrina 1
Feb 2015
#80
This is why "looking forward" and even "truth and reconciliation" are not just a fail but dangerous
TheKentuckian
Feb 2015
#93
What a coincidence for them too. The PNAC gang also stated that it would be difficult to get the
sabrina 1
Feb 2015
#48
I can top that. I wrote one of about a half dozen letters to the editor in July 2012 saying "No War
McCamy Taylor
Feb 2015
#6
I know how I feel about politicians who were fooled, or not, into supporting a war in the WRONG
sabrina 1
Feb 2015
#67
I totally agree with you. I do think some of them were actually on board with the whole
sabrina 1
Feb 2015
#139
Seeing near orgasmic expressions on FauxNews anchor during Shock&Awe led me to put lock on chnl so
Panich52
Feb 2015
#8
The day of the invasion, I remember going into workers and there were protestors in the street
kimbutgar
Feb 2015
#11
Children burned to death with White Phosphorous! Military admits it, no problem.
sabrina 1
Feb 2015
#52
The Senator Byrd Debates on War in Iraq...DU'ers had Running Threads watching C-Span
KoKo
Feb 2015
#124
Thanks for posting, KoKo. In truth, I was thinking even earlier than that
RufusTFirefly
Feb 2015
#125
That was one of the best speeches delivered by anyone that day. I didn't really know much about him
sabrina 1
Feb 2015
#132
Yes, the Right trashed him, but he expected that and at a critical moment in our history, he
sabrina 1
Feb 2015
#140
Yes, there were a huge number of bridges burned that day and the following ones
Fumesucker
Feb 2015
#55
None of the Very Serious People are actual adults, they are grown up children
Fumesucker
Feb 2015
#16
i wouldn't want anyone who thinks there is no difference between Bush and Gore to run the country
JI7
Feb 2015
#46
well, considering what a disaster Bush was and i knew he would be , it's not easy to forget
JI7
Feb 2015
#70
I agree, saying there is no difference between those who voted for war and against is a lie..
Fumesucker
Feb 2015
#89
Why didn't Hillary know what you knew, that Bush was going to 'fuck things up'?
sabrina 1
Feb 2015
#138
Not if someone would have stood up to him. All it took was someone calling the BFEE
Rex
Feb 2015
#40
Hard to tell. When Bush asked for their integrity the DLC'ers couldn't bow low enough
rhett o rick
Feb 2015
#41
I couldn't watch it. But I do remember that CNN was there and showed video at about 4.00 AM the
sabrina 1
Feb 2015
#58
Followed by an immediate media blackout..no casualities were to be shown...just patriotic bombs dropping.
Fred Sanders
Feb 2015
#100
Thank you. He was a totally innocent child and one of the first victims of that massive crime.
sabrina 1
Feb 2015
#129
Yes, it is. Which is why people go eslewhere to get news. And that is why they are trying to control
sabrina 1
Feb 2015
#165
The night of the vote I remember watching Sen Daschle making a great speech
rhett o rick
Feb 2015
#43
I remember how I felt that night also. I am sure I cried, especially when I saw Democrats
sabrina 1
Feb 2015
#47
Yes, it does feel good to know that and to know that not everyone who KNEW has forgotten or
sabrina 1
Feb 2015
#83
Thank you for this thread. People have short memories, either that or they never really did care
sabrina 1
Feb 2015
#63
I didn't read it. Kind of guessed what it was. Maybe I should, it might be interesting to know
sabrina 1
Feb 2015
#68
I wouldn't bother, it's pure snark, trying to imitate Manny from a position of weakness
Fumesucker
Feb 2015
#72
Lol, thanks, won't waste the time then. NO ONE can imitate Manny. He is unique!
sabrina 1
Feb 2015
#75
And yet....21 Democratic Senators, 1 Independent and 1 Republican DID have the courage to vote no.
PassingFair
Feb 2015
#123
A majority of Democrats voted against it, so I think they knew what was going on, in fact in some
sabrina 1
Feb 2015
#131
Thanks for the list. I'd forgotten that more D's voted for it than against. n/t
pnwmom
Feb 2015
#133
meh. I was not involved at politics at all at the time. I was fighting for survival.
magical thyme
Feb 2015
#99
Exactly. Progressives like you and me and others who always seem to consistently come down on the
dissentient
Feb 2015
#87
Why is it so hard for many Hillary backers to just say that she was spectacularly wrong
Broward
Feb 2015
#105
Politically, those who voted against it were marginalized while those who voted Yes rose in the
Bluenorthwest
Feb 2015
#108
Exactly true. I don't hold the IWR against the ones who voted for it, I won't fault the
Autumn
Feb 2015
#113
Thank you, and thank you for your OP. I wish I could rec it about a million times.
Autumn
Feb 2015
#118
The day we started bombing I was visiting one daughter - both of us we anti-war and said so. Then
jwirr
Feb 2015
#116
Holding it over their heads doesn't do any good, you were right for the wrong reasons
Fumesucker
Feb 2015
#147
Who said there was no forgiveness. In fact they were not to blame so they did not need forgiveness.
jwirr
Feb 2015
#148
Yep. I knew the war was a mistake based on lies. I can't believe that US Senators didn't know that.
Scuba
Feb 2015
#122
"Shock & Awe." W justed wanted to get his war on. Any war. So 9/11 warnings were intentionally
blkmusclmachine
Feb 2015
#146
I have more respect for Hillary Clinton's intelligence than to believe she was fooled
Fumesucker
Feb 2015
#157
The pols who were inside the Washington bubble were told that the American people
Lydia Leftcoast
Feb 2015
#171
We Are All Pawns Of The Oligarchs, Corporations And Banks That Own And Control The Politicians
cantbeserious
Feb 2015
#162