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General discussion

Molly Ivins: Rewriting history

Feb 10, 2004 9:35PM PST

Discussion is locked

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Very good!
Feb 10, 2004 11:54PM PST

I guess even she can't be amusing about this sad subject.

Dan

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Re:Molly Ivins: Rewriting history
Feb 11, 2004 12:12AM PST
Let's start with the absurd quibble over the word "imminent." The word was, in fact, used by three administration spokesmen to describe the Iraqi threat, while Bush, Vice President Cheney and Secretary of State Donald Rumsfeld variously described it as "immediate," "urgent," "serious and growing," "terrible," "real and dangerous," "significant," "grave," "serious and mounting," "the unique and urgent threat," "no question of the threat," "most dangerous threat of our time," "a threat of unique urgency," "much graver than anybody could possibly have imagined," and so forth and so on. So, could we can that issue?

Heh heh.

Before the war, Rumsfeld not only claimed Iraq had WMD but that "we know where they are."

Well gee, why don't we just go get them then?

Heh heh again.
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The best that can be done now
Feb 11, 2004 2:54AM PST

is to put the Sunni's back into control, tell them we just had a beef with Saddam, and get out of there. It would keep balance in the region. The way we are doing this right now, the Shia will gain control, put down dissent from the Sunni, and then ally with Iranian hardliners, which will keep that area in an Islamic Dark Age for even more years.

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Re: The best that can be done now
Feb 11, 2004 12:18PM PST

Hi, James.

The problem with your solution is that it's undemocratic, and would doubtless lead to a bloody civil war that the Shiites would eventually win. We (though not the Iraqi people) were frankly better off with Saddam keeping a lid on things.

-- Dave K, Speakeasy Moderator
click here to email semods4@yahoo.com

The opinions expressed above are my own,
and do not necessarily reflect those of CNET!

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I agree, but unfortunately Sadam made it an untenable situation.
Feb 11, 2004 3:50PM PST

First he invaded another country we have friendly relations with, and one that is pivotal in the oil cartel. Second he committed atrocities using weapons of mass destruction, such as the gas bomb attacks on villages, which then ended up in newspapers and magazines across the world. Third he deliberately led everyone to believe he continued to harbor weapons of mass destruction, even if he didn't actually have any remaining. Saddam sealed his own fate but overplaying his hand, trying to appear more powerful and more menacing than he was at the time. He wanted to instill a respect of Iraq based on fear, and forgot that people kill that which they fear when they have the chance to do so. Saddam had to go, but the alternatives don't look much better.