Picture: Rumsfeld with Sadam (handshake)

[ThomWV]

I just ran across this picture. If you would find it useful in any discussion you might be having feel free:


Thom

[wryter2000]

1. Thanks

I've been looking for that.

[bigwillq]

2. When and where was this taken?

[bfusco]

3. in the 1980's

It was taken in the early 80's when Rumsfeld was sent as a special envoy to Iraq to establish relations in order to support Hussein in his war against Iran. In 1988, Rumsfeld considered a run for president on the Republican ticket and one of the claims was the man that reestablished US relations with Iraq.

[bigwillq]

4. How come we didn't take SH out then? n/t

[Rainbowreflect]

5. He was their business partner then.

Something they seem to forget to mention these days.
Reminds me of a great joke.
How does bush know S.H. has weapons of mass destruction?
His daddy gave him the receipts.

[bfusco]

6. because

Because he played an important role for US oil interests in the region. In 1979, the US puppet the Shah was over thrown, Khomeini rose to power and there was a strong anti-American Islamic fundamentalist backlash that culminated in the taking of hostages and embarrassing the US for 444 days. It was one of the first times that a radical Islamic movement directly challenged the US. Terrorist actions in Beirut, which included the bombing of the US embassy and Marine barracks killed around 300 Americans and resulted in the US withdrawing from Beirut in humiliation. Iran was the most populous nation in the region and there was fear of exporting the revolution. Since Iraq is majority Shiite and Hussein's Bathtist regime was secular, there was fear of this growing extremism/revolution being exported into the region so it provided the perfect opportunity to support and opportunistic murderous thug to do our dirty work against Iran. The US provided Hussein with support, technology to build WMD's, satellite images of Iranian troop movements so that he could use them effectively, maintained a presence in the gulf and escorted oil tankers from Kuwait to ensure stability. Even after the war and when he gassed the Kurds the US still wanted to maintain good relations with Hussein. It wasn't until he invaded Kuwait (which a US ambassador gave him a green light to do) that Bush I and the Saudis decided to make him a bogey man because he was no longer playing the US's game.

Hussein was also vital ot US interests because he served as a power balance against Iran and Syria held all the different warring/competing ethnic, tribal and religous factions that make up Iraq with an iron fist and prevented regional instability.

Another crucial plot at that time was the Cold War and how the US turned a blind eye to another scourge, Sunni fundamentalism. Organizations such as the Islamic brotherhood were vital recruited, trained and imported them to Central Asia to fight the Soviets. This was the foundation for the Taliban and one of these "freedom fighters" was bin Laden. Gives some perspective on the games we have been playing in the region and the backlash.