Tell me again...what was the Iraq war FOR?

[CoffeeCat]

I just finished reading vivid descriptions of the current state of Iraq. It's just devastating.

We decimated their infrastructure. We tortured and humiliated their citizens on the world's stage. The majority of Iraqis are without electricity, water--and many are homeless and without food. Baghdad is burning, Fallujah is a pile of ashes and violence mars all corners of the country.

Bombings are almost a daily occurrence now. As Iraq spirals into inextricable chaos--the U.S.-soldier body count climbs. We've killed hundreds of thousands of Iraqi men, women and children.

How many suicide bombers were in Iraq before we invaded? We've cultivated terrorism that has made Iraqi parents afraid ot send their children to school and people fear being killed on their way to the market. Civil war is imminent, if it's not all ready happening.

The Bush Administration originally claimed that the Iraq war was for ridding the world of weapons of mass destruction.

Now the administration claims the war was for "freedom" and "peace".

Other say the war for moving forward the PNAC plan.

Some suggest the Iraq war was for oil.

It's clear to me...that this war was for NOTHING.

[getmeouttahere]

1. As Edwin Starr once said - Absolutely nothing!!!

"What is it good for???"

[getmeouttahere]

4. Friend only to the undertaker!

[firefox]

2. It was a war for Empire at the world's expense

It also came at the expense of the average American. Hey, we got military bases and we showed the world with our bombs and torture that we mean business.

[stillcool]

3. profit? n/t

[brainshrub]

5. O.I.L.

From the Conyers forum on the DSM:
http://johnconyers.campaignoffice.com/vertical/Sites/%7BEF00C507-612C-4BA3-84C0-446C97F7E413%7D/uploads/%7B195A8E9B-67A3-4245-95CD-D7743E3AF21A%7D.PDF

MR. McGOVERN: Yeah. I use the acronym OIL. O for oil, I for Israel, L for the logistical base necessary, or deemed necessary by the so-called neocons,

[babylonsister]

6. Hey, brainshrub!

I'm entertaining the idea of trying to get to DC on the 24th and just clicked on your link. What a great idea, and I happen to love beer! If I can figure out how to get that link in my sign-on, I will!

[brainshrub]

11. Here's how to do it:

Click on Options --> Edit Your Profile --> Scroll to the bottom of the page and you will see the "Signature" field. In that box, cut-and-paste the following text:

<center> <link:www.brainshrub.com/dcdumeetup|Come to the "Mother Of All DU Meetups" party.></center>

Note: Replace "< >" with the square-brackets. (You can't type square-brackets in DU posts without them creating HTML effects, which is why I used "<" for the demonstration.)

The more DUers that put this simple message in their sig-line, the better the party will be. It's an experiment in viral-marketing.

I will create a ride-board thread for the party when the date of the event gets closer.

[babylonsister]

12. Well, I'm styling now! Thanks, brainshrub! nt

[tuvor]

7. Here you go.

Kerry Campaign: Breaking News! Condi Announces 24th Iraq Rationale

10/10/2004 12:54:00 PM

To: National Desk, Political Reporter

Contact: Chad Clanton or Phil Singer, 202-464-2800, Both of Kerry-Edwards 2004; Web: http://www.johnkerry.com

WASHINGTON, Oct. 10 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Following is a release of Kerry-Edwards 2004:

HOT OFF THE PRESSES: SADDAM'S "INSATIABLE APPETITE": It's obviously a risk but I think to say that this was a greater risk now than before Saddam Hussein was out of power simply doesn't face the fact that Saddam Hussein had an insatiable appetite for weapons of mass destruction. He had an unflinching hatred for the United States. He had every reason to cooperate with our enemies. This was a gathering and growing threat and it was time to take care of it." (Condi Rice, Fox News Sunday, October 10, 2004)

PREVIOUS REASONS:

1. War On Terror: "But no terrorist state poses a greater or more immediate threat to the security of our people and the stability of the world than the regime of Saddam Hussein in Iraq." (Testimony of U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld before the House Armed Services Committee regarding Iraq, Rayburn House Office Building (Washington, D.C.), 9/18/02)

2. WMD: "His regime has amassed large clandestine stocks of biological weapons, including anthrax and botulism toxin and possibly smallpox. His regime has amassed large clandestine stockpiles of chemical weapons, including VX and sarin and mustard gas." (Rumsfeld Testimony, 9/18/02)

3. Denied Access to Inspectors: "His regime has in place an elaborate, organized system of denial and deception to frustrate both inspectors and outside intelligence efforts." (Rumsfeld Testimony, 9/18/02)

http://releases.usnewswire.com/printing.asp?id=37839

[gratuitous]

8. This war is for NOTHING? You must not be a Halliburton shareholder

Halliburton was on the brink of bankruptcy near the end of 2002, having unwisely taken on a huge liability load when it acquired Dresser Industries back in 1998 while a certain vice president was its CEO. Dresser had an enormous civil liability load from its asbestos manufacturing and Halliburton was staggering under the financial strain.

Today, Halliburton is sitting pretty, able to pay deferred compensation to its former CEO in amounts that make the salary from his current government job look kind of paltry by comparison. And with the endless prospect of future government contracts paving the path to the future, it looks like Halliburton will be a high-powered business for years to come.

And you say the Iraq war accomplished nothing, huh? Is $175 billion and tens of thousands of lives, military and civilian, too high a price to pay to make sure that Dick Cheney can continue to hold his head up while running naked around Bohemia Grove? Where's your compassion? Your humanity? Don't you care about our vice president's obscenely overrich lifestyle?

[CoffeeCat]

10. Your post is very comforting...

You are so right. LOL!

It warms the cockles of my heart to know that the war was for SOMETHING.

I'll sleep much better, knowing that Dick Cheney will be resting his big, white, retired hiney on a ruby-encrusted, fur-lined toilet.

I forgot about that.

And by all means...if Cheney's going to run naked around Bohemia Grove--he needs a $1500 pair of custom-made Nikes.

Onward with the war!

[Sparkman]

9. A component has to be the cronyism rewarding mil-Ind-prison complex.

But I prefer to reside in the land of bliss, oblivious to all that is icky or disturbing or radioactive. Anyone know what's on Housewive's last night, I missed it!

[Village Idiot]

13. Hmmm... tough one... lemme guess.... OIL???

[HardWorkingDem]

14. Depends on....

what day of the week you ask the question, who you ask the question and how things are going at any given momement.