Multiple Reasons Were Stated and Are Still Accurate

By Tetracide
February 23, 2005

Fact is fact right? If something is a “fact” it cannot be refuted, and it cannot be argued. If something is a “fact”, it cannot be questioned or disproved. That’s the great thing about history; it is, and always will be. So what if I said there were more reasons than weapons of mass destruction in regards to Iraq? Does anyone know how many of my Leftist opponents would jump on that and question it? Does anyone know how often they use the argument in an Iraq war debate? I’d say too often, and I’d say they’re wrong. The reason I bring this up, is because the Left are attempting to refute, argue, question, and disprove a fact; the fact that numerous reasons were given in the prelude of war in Iraq.

Let us start with the argument, “Freeing the Iraqi people was a backup plan, after WMD were not found.” Not only is this one of the more arrogant arguments, but it is also an attempt to disprove fact. On February 26th, 2003, President Bush came before the American Enterprise Institution, to discuss Iraq, and its continued defiance of the civilized world. In his speech, he said this:

“The first to benefit from a free Iraq would be the Iraqi people, themselves. Today they live in scarcity and fear, under a dictator who has brought them nothing but war, and misery, and torture. Their lives and their freedom matter little to Saddam Hussein -- but Iraqi lives and freedom matter greatly to us. Bringing stability and unity to a free Iraq will not be easy. Yet that is no excuse to leave the Iraqi regime's torture chambers and poison labs in operation. Any future the Iraqi people choose for themselves will be better than the nightmare world that Saddam Hussein has chosen for them.”

Who are we, the free people of this world, to say that an oppressed nation such as Iraq does not deserve the human right to be free? Who are we to deny their civil liberties and continue to grant their unrelenting abuse and torture, under a dictator? The freedom of the Iraqi people was a major aspect, and a critical goal in Operation Iraqi Freedom. To make the argument that the United States, and her many allies in the War in Iraq are only there to topple a dictator, and then leave the country in such a fragile state, is foolish, and imprudent.

Next is one of the more controversial facts. Iraq and terrorism ran hand-in-hand in their quest to destroy their common enemy; the United States. Some are obstinate to this reality, and it is a shame that they refuse to see that. To present the fact that this was a credible reason for engaging Saddam, it requires proof that such a relationship existed. This I will do with detail. Allow me to fill you in.

We’ve all used the 9/11 Commission as a resource to dispute this, but few actually quote its content. This commission was very careful not to contradict itself, and it succeeded in not doing so, but in its section entitled “The Foundation of New Terrorism” it clearly states the Saddam, worked with Osama Bin Laden’s terrorist network to a degree on many occasions. At one point in time, Saddam reached out to Osama, and at another, Osama reached out to Saddam. The Left would lead you to believe that the two people that hate the United States the most did not work together in any way shape or form. They could not be more wrong.

“In mid-1998, the situation reversed; it was Iraq that reportedly took the initiative. In March 1998, after Bin Laden's public fatwa against the United States, two al Qaeda members reportedly went to Iraq to meet with Iraqi intelligence. In July, an Iraqi delegation traveled to Afghanistan to meet first with the Taliban and then with Bin Laden. Sources reported that one, or perhaps both, of these meetings was apparently arranged through Bin Laden's Egyptian deputy, Zawahiri, who had ties of his own to the Iraqis. In 1998, Iraq was under intensifying U.S. pressure, which culminated in a series of large air attacks in December.

Similar meetings between Iraqi officials and Bin Laden or his aides may have occurred in 1999 during a period of some reported strains with the Taliban. According to the reporting, Iraqi officials offered Bin Laden a safe haven in Iraq. Bin Laden declined, apparently judging that his circumstances in Afghanistan remained more favorable than the Iraqi alternative. The reports describe friendly contacts and indicate some common themes in both sides' hatred of the United States.”

It is a fact, that Iraq reached out to Al Qaeda, and it is a fact that Al Qaeda reached out to Iraq. In an intelligence report dated May 22, 2003, a meeting was held between Osama, and a senior intelligence officer. The 9/11 Commission report describes the meeting:

“Bin Laden is said to have asked for space to establish training camps, as well as assistance in procuring weapons, but there is no evidence that Iraq responded to this request. Two CIA memoranda of information from a foreign government report that the chief of Iraq's intelligence service and a military expert in bomb making met with Bin Laden at his farm outside Khartoum on July 30, 1996. The source claimed that Bin Laden asked for and received assistance from the bomb-making expert, who remained there giving training until September 1996, which is when the information was passed to the United States.”

As some Leftist refuse believe otherwise, there are many other terrorist organizations outside of Al Qaeda’s network, some of which operated in Saddam’s Iraq with no opposition. Not only did Saddam request for suicide bombings against American civilians in state-controlled newspapers, but he rewarded families of these suicide bombers with checks. In fact, in April 2002, Saddam increased the payment from $10,000 to $25,000. In a State Department report entitled Background Information on Terrorist groups, dated back in 2000, details Iraq’s funding of multiple terrorist groups. They are as follows:

Abu Nidal Organization (ANO)
a.k.a. Fatah Revolutionary Council, Arab Revolutionary Brigades, Black September, and Revolutionary Organization of Socialist Muslims

Description:
International terrorist organization led by Sabri al-Banna. Split from PLO in 1974. Made up of various functional committees, including political, military, and financial.

Activities:
Has carried out terrorist attacks in 20 countries, killing or injuring almost 900 persons. Targets include the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Israel, moderate Palestinians, the PLO, and various Arab countries. Major attacks included the Rome and Vienna airports in December 1985, the Neve Shalom synagogue in Istanbul and the Pan Am flight 73 hijacking in Karachi in September 1986, and the City of Poros day-excursion ship attack in Greece in July 1988. Suspected of assassinating PLO deputy chief Abu Iyad and PLO security chief Abu Hul in Tunis in January 1991. ANO assassinated a Jordanian diplomat in Lebanon in January 1994 and has been linked to the killing of the PLO representative there. Has not attacked Western targets since the late 1980s.

Strength:
A few hundred plus limited overseas support structure.

Location/Area of Operation:
Al-Banna relocated to Iraq in December 1998, where the group maintains a presence. Has an operational presence in Lebanon, including in several Palestinian refugee camps. Financial problems and internal disorganization have reduced the group's activities and capabilities. Authorities shut down the ANO's operations in Libya and Egypt in 1999. Has demonstrated ability to operate over wide area, including the Middle East, Asia, and Europe.

External Aid:
Has received considerable support, including safe haven, training, logistic assistance, and financial aid from Iraq, Libya, and Syria (until 1987), in addition to close support for selected operations.


Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK)

Description:
Founded in 1974 as a Marxist-Leninist insurgent group primarily composed of Turkish Kurds. The group's goal has been to establish an independent Kurdish state in southeastern Turkey, where the population is predominantly Kurdish. In the early 1990s, the PKK moved beyond rural-based insurgent activities to include urban terrorism. Turkish authorities captured Chairman Abdullah Ocalan in Kenya in early 1999; the Turkish State Security Court subsequently sentenced him to death. In August 1999, Ocalan announced a "peace initiative," ordering members to refrain from violence and withdraw from Turkey and requesting dialogue with Ankara on Kurdish issues. At a PKK Congress in January 2000, members supported Ocalan's initiative and claimed the group now would use only political means to achieve its new goal, improved rights for Kurds in Turkey.

Activities:
Primary targets have been Turkish Government security forces in Turkey. Conducted attacks on Turkish diplomatic and commercial facilities in dozens of West European cities in 1993 and again in spring 1995. In an attempt to damage Turkey's tourist industry, the PKK bombed tourist sites and hotels and kidnapped foreign tourists in the early-to-mid-1990s.

Strength:
Approximately 4,000 to 5,000, most of whom currently are located in northern Iraq. Has thousands of sympathizers in Turkey and Europe.

Location/Area of Operation:
Operates in Turkey, Europe, and the Middle East.

External Aid:
Has received safe haven and modest aid from Syria, Iraq, and Iran. The Syrian Government expelled PKK leader Ocalan and known elements of the group from its territory in October 1998.


Mujahedin-e Khalq Organization (MEK or MKO)
a.k.a. The National Liberation Army of Iran (NLA, the militant wing of the MEK), the People's Mujahidin of Iran (PMOI), National Council of Resistance (NCR), Muslim Iranian Student's Society (front organization used to garner financial support)

Description:
Formed in the 1960s by the college-educated children of Iranian merchants, the MEK sought to counter what it perceived as excessive Western influence in the Shah's regime. Following a philosophy that mixes Marxism and Islam, has developed into the largest and most active armed Iranian dissident group. Its history is studded with anti-Western activity, and, most recently, attacks on the interests of the clerical regime in Iran and abroad.

Activities:
Worldwide campaign against the Iranian Government stresses propaganda and occasionally uses terrorist violence. During the 1970s the MEK staged terrorist attacks inside Iran and killed several US military personnel and civilians working on defense projects in Tehran. Supported the takeover in 1979 of the US Embassy in Tehran. In April 1992 conducted attacks on Iranian embassies in 13 different countries, demonstrating the group's ability to mount large-scale operations overseas. The normal pace of anti-Iranian operations increased during the "Operation Great Bahman" in February 2000, when the group claimed it launched a dozen attacks against Iran. During the remainder of the year, the MEK regularly claimed that its members were involved in mortar attacks and hit-and-run raids on Iranian military, law enforcement units, and government buildings near the Iran-Iraq border. The MEK also claimed six mortar attacks on civilian government and military buildings in Tehran.

Strength:
Several thousand fighters based in Iraq with an extensive overseas support structure. Most of the fighters are organized in the MEK's National Liberation Army (NLA).

Location/Area of Operation:
In the 1980s the MEK's leaders were forced by Iranian security forces to flee to France. Most resettled in Iraq by 1987. In the mid-1980s the group did not mount terrorist operations in Iran at a level similar to its activities in the 1970s. In the 1990s, however, the MEK claimed credit for an increasing number of operations in Iran.

External Aid:
Beyond support from Iraq, the MEK uses front organizations to solicit contributions from expatriate Iranian communities.


Palestine Liberation Front (PLF)

Description:
Broke away from the PFLP-GC in mid-1970s. Later split again into pro-PLO, pro-Syrian, and pro-Libyan factions. Pro-PLO faction led by Muhammad Abbas (Abu Abbas), who became member of PLO Executive Committee in 1984 but left it in 1991.

Activities:
The Abu Abbas-led faction is known for aerial attacks against Israel. Abbas's group also was responsible for the attack in 1985 on the cruise ship Achille Lauro and the murder of US citizen Leon Klinghoffer. A warrant for Abu Abbas's arrest is outstanding in Italy.

Location/Area of Operation:
PLO faction based in Tunisia until Achille Lauro attack. Now based in Iraq.

External Aid:
Receives support mainly from Iraq. Has received support from Libya in the past.

As anyone can see, Iraq is not shy when it comes to support for international terrorism. This was one of the major justifications for the war. With Saddam’s clear and obvious intent on lifting sanctions and becoming a nuclear power, and his ongoing relationship with Terrorist organizations, the United States, and her many allies decided that such a mixture of interests were one of grave and urgent attention. If the civilized world was to do nothing, countries like Germany, and France would continue to work with the dictator to lift sanctions, and allow Saddam to raise himself to a recognizable, dangerous, world power. But we did not do nothing. We took actions, despite heated opposition, and our accomplishments are clear and rewarding. And to seal the case; in a PBS interview with Richard Perle, Chairman of the Defense Policy Board, and James Woolsey Former director of the CIA from 1993-1995, both stated clearly that Saddam was a terrorist sponsoring state. What do they know that the Left doesn’t? Better question: What does everyone know that the Left doesn’t?

Another critical justification runs hand-in-hand with Saddam’s continued oppression of the Iraqi people, and that was his violation of economic sanctions. The UN Oil-for-Food Program (OFF) was one of sound, and warranted motivation. The OFF was a band-aid, attempting to fix a broken arm; the band-aid being the assistance of the Iraqi people, and the broken arm being the totalitarian dictator, Saddam Hussein. The OFF stated that all profit made by the limited selling of Iraq’s oil was to be used for humanitarian efforts. Instead, Saddam used that profit to line his palaces with gold, and bribe French and German companies into making even more money through Saddam.

According to Peter van Walsum, a Dutch diplomat who headed the Iraq sanctions committee in 1999 and 2000, the UN “never had clear decisions on anything. So we just in effect condoned things.” In an interview with the New York Times, he also stated, "Everybody said it was a terrible shame and against international law, but there was really no enthusiasm to tackle it,"

This kind of negligence allowed thousands of Iraqis to starve, including women and children. Through the OFF, Iraq was given the decision of who it would sell its oil, and from whom it would buy its humanitarian relief provisions. To oversee all of this, and to make sure Iraq sold its oil at a reasonable price, was the UN. With an annual budget of only 1.5 billion, the UN was overseeing and monitoring a 10 billion dollar program. Corruption was imminent, and has now been uncovered.

A Congressional investigator reported as late as August of 2004 that $5.7 billion was earned from selling oil outside of the OFF. That was $5.7 billion that was, under UN sanctions, supposed to go to the starving Iraqi people. It didn’t. The Independent Inquiry Committee into the United Nations Oil-for-Food Program submitted a report on February 3rd, 2005 describing their findings. This, to date, is their most current document. According to the Committee, “There can be no question that bribes and other abuses, including shipments of overpriced or substandard goods, provided many opportunities for illicit gains, often part of a deliberate effort by Iraq to ‘reward friends’ or cultivate political influence.”

Adding to the corruption, the UN had no eagerness to fix the well known problems. In the same 246 page report provided by the IIC, it noted “weaknesses in some of the supporting documentation, controls and safeguards in place to maintain the integrity of the accounting and financial reporting functions.” With both sides of the table turning a blind eye to international law, Iraq continued to “reward friends” and cultivate political influence in hope to life sanctions and rise to a world power.

What I have described only scratches the surface of Saddam’s continued violations. In fact, the IIC continues its research in uncovering one of the largest scandals in our history in terms of dollars. Of course, this information, this detailed, was not available to President Bush when making the difficult decision of war or continued deception. But what was available was the obvious. Corruption was being covered sleazily and to ignore it would have been a lack of leadership and candor.

To some degree, Leftists refuse to see heinous human rights violations as a justification for war in Iraq. While they continue their campaign for gay rights, gun control, and minority rights, they continue to turn a blind eye to torture of which was not uncommon in Iraq under Presidential order. One early example of this was a speech by President Bush to the Ford Community and Performing Arts Center on April 28th, 20030. He said this in his opening statements:

“I spoke with Najda Egaily, a Sunni Muslim from Basra who moved to the United States five years ago. Najda learned the price of descent in Iraq in 1988, when her brother-in-law was killed after laughing at a joke about Saddam Hussein in a house that was bugged. In Iraq, Najda says, we could never speak to anyone about Saddam Hussein -- we had to make sure the windows were closed. The windows are now open in Iraq.”

But why would anyone take the President seriously? Besides, he is only a man with top level clearance on all intelligence and receives daily updates. Why should we take his word seriously? Why don’t we just go straight to the credible sources shall we? In a State Department report dated March 4th, 2002, it covers 7 different sections in great detail. I will highlight key facts (there is that word again) from only three of them.

Arbitrary or Unlawful Deprivation of Life:
The State Department reported that as of 2001, “membership in certain political parties [was] punishable by death,” and “that there is a pervasive fear of death for any act or expression of dissent, and that there are recurrent reports of the use of the death penalty for such offenses as "insulting" the President or the Ba'th Party.”

Disappearance:
The State Department report mentioned that over 16,000 cases of disappearances were reported by the U.N. The majority of those cases are persons with Kuridish backgrounds. “The Special Rapporteur estimated that the total number of Kurds who disappeared during that period could reach several tens of thousands. Human Rights Watch (HRW) estimated the total at between 70,000 and 150,000, and AI at more than 100,000. The second largest group of cases known to the Special Rapporteur consists of Shi'a Muslims who were reported to have disappeared in the late 1970's and early 1980's as their families were expelled to Iran due to their alleged Persian ancestry.”

Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment:
Saddam Hussein violated his own countries constitution, when he ordered torture to a degree only seen by his police and his Sons. “According to former prisoners, torture techniques included branding, electric shocks administered to the genitals and other areas, beating, pulling out of fingernails, burning with hot irons and blowtorches, suspension from rotating ceiling fans, dripping acid on the skin, rape, breaking of limbs, denial of food and water, extended solitary confinement in dark and extremely small compartments, and threats to rape or otherwise harm family members and relatives. Evidence of such torture often was apparent when security forces returned the mutilated bodies of torture victims to their families.”

According to a British Foreign Office Report released December 2nd, 2002, “about 15% of Iraqi’s population have fled the country, rather than live under Saddam.” That 15% amounts to between three and four million. It should not be so quaint in the minds of Leftists, Saddam’s ability to systematically torture and starve his own people. But the Left ignore this; they would care more about African American’s vote for their next candidate than the genocide that took place in Saddam’s Iraq.

Saddam not only captured, arrested, or killed random and strategic enemies, but most distinctively he gassed his own people using weapons of mass destruction. In March of 1988, Saddam ordered a massive mustard and cyanide gas attack on the city of Halabja in northern Iraq, killing more than ten thousand innocent Kurdish civilians. Photos of the event are out there, but why would anyone need to see them? Why would someone think that these events aren’t worth action to stop them? How could someone dismiss this atrocity?

Many have, and they will forever be guilty, but the justifications for war in Iraq are many, and these are just a few. All of which are still facts, even after being analyzed, scrutinized, and debated by the Left. Facts will always be facts, and it is a fact that Saddam threatened the peace of the region and in turn threatened the peace of the world. Attacking such threats on their turf is a new strategy, which was never even thought of before September 11th. Terrorism spawns where tyranny exists, and tyranny existed in Saddam’s Iraq. His support for international terrorism, his ambition to acquire weapons of mass destruction, and his continued defiance of U.N. resolutions, and economic sanctions were a deadly combination. And in the world of post-9/11, the free people of the world cannot and will not stand by as threats gather and plot to kill more innocence. To ignore such threats, to trust dictatorships or terrorist-sponsoring countries at their word, is something we cannot do any longer.

Some may call this propaganda. Some may call it the twisting of facts. Some might call it blind faith behind a man who has no idea what he’s doing. I call it truth. I call it fact. And I call it steadfast leadership. This is Iraq. These are but a few reasons. And may we thank those who saw these facts, and addressed them properly in defense of the free world.

posted by Tetracide_ @ 8:34 PM 0 comments