Question about Bush?

[klo1335]

This is a random question but what made Bush zone in on Iraq anyway? Was it the Saddam Hussein/Osama Bin Laden connection? Or something else? I honestly can't even remember why he because so obsessed with Iraq!

[TankgirlyC]

Because of how Sadam treated his people. Then because of the UN resolution about NOT having weapons of mass destruction. Sadam had then and was not giving them up so he sent in the UN inspectors...they tried to find evidence, found some. THen it went back to the UN to talk about. Then came all the talk about how to get Sadam to disarm....Sadam hasnt and wont so now we need brute force because talking peace doesnt work with a power hungry dictator.

[klo1335]

I understand that but was there one major point that Bush made focus all his attention on Iraq? Or did he just wake-up one day and say "Saddan treats his people bad and they have too many weapons and I think I want to go to war with them."

[TankgirlyC]

It was the fact that he didnt comply with UN sanctions. He is also the only country running how he does.

Go onto CNN.com or something and look up all the past articles about Bush and Saddam....usually research of news stuff is a good way to go.

[Kasia]

klo, your question is a good one and I am sure there are a lot of people out there wondering the same thing. I was one of them, but I was too embarrassed to ask anyone for a long time. People tend to sidestep this issue because I'm not sure anyone really knows the answer. I'll tell you what I think, if it helps. From what I understand (people, correct me if I am wrong), the Al-Queda thing basically lit a fire under the Bush administration to protect itself and its people from nations that are possible threats, terrorism-wise. This is where the now infamous "axis of evil" came from. From that I deduce that Hussein's posse was labeled as a likely source of terrorism, not only to America but to the Iraqi people. That's the best answer I can give. Iraq's non-compliance to UN sanctions is not the motive for this sudden focus on Iraq, because non-compliance has been the status quo for 12 years, though it is the reason the US is giving for its invasion of Iraq.

I hesitate in even posting this because some people here can get downright nasty when talking about anything war-related. So I re-iterate, these are only my thoughts and if you have something more accurate to present, then please post it, for all our sakes. I just thought it was too bad, klo, that you posted something in good faith and no one gave you a real answer.

[Jacquikay]

I don't think anyone really knows. there is what the government is telling us, what the other coutries are saying, tons of different opinions floating around ......

Some people think that he is continuing his dad's war, others think that he's aiding Isreal, some that he's proving his manhood! LOL.

Thsi entire thing disgusts me. Clinton's admin had word that Sept. 11th was going to happen. did they not say anything b/c they wanted it to happen so they could start this war?

How about the fact that Bush just broke so many different "laws" (is that the right word?) going to war without the UN, trying to assisn a leader, something is so off and we are being blinded.

Diferent topic. I just met with a vendor who's son was standing gaurd in Korea...why are we not being told that there are 30,000 people protesting America in Korea, that their hatred is thick and dangerous?

My thoughts....worth anythign or not who knows!
My stomach is in knots for these people, average americans holding guns, average Iraqians living in tents with no water or toilets. They are not uncivilizedit's like you or I having to leave our homes and gosleep ina tent with 600,000 other people!
Disgusting.

And one more thing (I'm so venting,ranting and all over the place) my father IS fluent in Arabic. He does watch international TV...what they are not telling you is that Saddam killed Kurds (sp?) which are people from Northern Iraq who tried to rebel and become their own country. there was a reason behind it. All they are telling us is that he gassed his own people. EVERYTHING is so twisted!

[klo1335]

Thanks! And I think that your thoughts are pretty good. I came to the same conclusion. Don't you think that North Korea is a bigger threat then Iraq? I am not an expert so don't really know the answer but I would like to hear other peoples opinions.

[klo1335]

I understand that the administration doesn't want to tell the people everything due to "safety" reasons but being a political science major at college...I always "thought" the president was supposed to follow what the "people" want...not what he thinks is best. Isn't it pretty obvious (in my opinion) that Bush is just trying to prove his manhood and make himself look better..by saying he knows what is best? The American people and the international community don't want war! I honestly can't think of another solution but there has to be one.

[TankgirlyC]

Jacq.....its not against the law to go to war without the UN approval. Bush has congressional approval and that is all he needs. He cannot act alone when declaring war.

The UN is in place for talks about what to do...their talks didnt work....so Bush was forced to make a decision.

As for which is a larger threat N. Korea and Iraq.....I think Iraq is a more potent threat at the moment. N. Korea has its weapons...but hasnt done anything direct to the US just yet. Iraq has links to Terrorism. Crimes against Humanity, and Saddam was given chance to disarm....

N. Korea also is in breech of its UN sanctions....but I think it hasnt been pubicized as to talks within the UN concerning them.
Remember we are only told on the news what is released to the press....and even then many conclusions are made before the facts come out-----so there might be talks about N. Korea going on but we havent heard about them due to confidentiality.

[Jacquikay]

yes we supposedly run thsi country don't we?? Funny how I don't feel any of us have a say right now. Are we really any better??

maybe if his brother was counting the ballots he would have had the vote for the entire UN...sorry that was a joke on CNN last night.

Did you guys her the big debate about the Dixie Chicks??

[TankgirlyC]

The statement that we run the country is a broad one meaning that we bring in a prez and representative that we think will do the best job. Majority vote wins.

Once that person is in office they have people around them helping them make decisions--its not just Bush in his oval office saying ok lets bomb...he has congress, his inner cabinet and others backing him...along with the 35 countries backing us.

We arent all going to control and get what we want in this country...but by voting and educating ourselves we will know whose in office and doing what is best for out country.

[klo1335]

Why is it that becasue a person is a celebrity they can't express their opinion? I thinks its crazy. Radio stations in Texas are refusing to play their music!

[TankgirlyC]

Since people arent all going to agree with what a celebrity says...if they say the wrong thing and enough people dont like it...tehy are going to try and ban the band/movie star from being seen or heard even in their art.

I think celebrities are entitled to their opinions and should be able to express them like any of us without being black listed because of it.

[Jacquikay]

That is exactly what I'm saying...free speech my butt. She should have been able to say anything she wanted. She is not turning her back on this country, not threatening anyone...she expressed an opposing opinion to a VERY opposable (is that a word) decision.


I wonder....I don't have a cd but if I sat there and yelled in the street that I didn't agree with this what would happen??

soemthing big is going to come from this... I feel it in my gut.

[TankgirlyC]

If you sat and yelled in your street not much would happen. But if your known WORLD around....and you say something and a TON of people hear it....its going to cause rift.

[pisces2473]

After Natalie (the "Chick") retracted her statement and publicly apologized to Bush via the group's website, I thought about that. I was like, "Why does she have to take it back, if that's how she feels?" But then I realized that she is in a musical group with 2 other people who might not share her views. The protesters did not roll over pictures of just HER face or CDs with HER music on it--they took it out on the whole group. Natalie probably realized that her comments were going to affect Martie and Emily (the other two) and if they weren't in agreement on the Bush/Iraq thing, then they would be really angry at Natalie for saying that and causing such a panic among fans.

As for the Axis of Evil--the real one is Bush, Cheney and Rumsfeld, LOL. Anyone else read "Stupid White Men" by Michael Moore?

[Kasia]

pisces, I haven't yet read it but look forward to it. How did you find it?

As for the Dixie Chicks, you can do something - call your radio stations and request them! Michael Moore put this (#11) on his list of "things you can do to voice your continued opposition to Bush's unjustified war". Check it out.

www.michaelmoore.com (http://www.michaelmoore.com)

[pisces2473]

Kasia,

It is THE BEST book I have read in a long time. Very eye-opening. I heard about Michael Moore when a prof showed "Roger and Me" in class. Then a week later, "Bowling for Columbine" came out and then he was on Oprah. I went out and bought the book immediately. It's at Barnes and Noble, Borders, etc. I don't know where you can get it in Canada, but I assume it's there.

Moore calls Bush, Cheney and Rumsfeld the real Axis of Evil in the book!! LOL

I also have the SWM calendar w/ a stupid true fact about the American govt.

[M4A1]

Bowling for Columbine was sad and gave me creeps. Did you know those 2 kids went bowling that morning before they went on that carnage which ended in both of them commiting suicide?

Did you know that you have hundreds of Tim McVeighs living in Michigan? hics starting a militia for the sake of having a militia. Their girlfriends pose with guns and rifles like it's something to be worshipped with. They can't get over the fact that civil war ended long ago. They are waiting for their second chance or something.

NRA scheduled it's rally right after the Columbine shooting on purpose... it's crazy.

[AMB25]

The NRA is a whole different monster!

Scary stuff...

[Kasia]

pisces,
Now I REALLY have to read it! Oh, and when I said, "how did you find it" I meant it as in, "what did you think of it". No worries.

I think my favorite part of Bowling for Columbine was the Charlton Heston interview - it was so provocative! You don't know whether to laugh or to feel embarrassed for Heston, I did both.

Michael Moore was also recently featured on Oprah a couple of days ago (Tuesday?). It was an extremely interesting show, I even taped it and I can't remember the last time I used a VCR, that's how good it was (ha ha). Basically it was an expose on what motivates other nations to harbour resentment against the US. Did anyone see it? I was pleasantly surprised to see that someone as popular as Oprah Winfrey would take a risk and show the 'other side of the story', so to speak. Though it was done very tactfully, I am sure there are people out there who disagreed with her. But you don't hear about anyone boycotting Oprah, unlike those poor Dixie Chicks.