Hubris: Selling the Iraq War

Having followed much of the news regarding the run-up to the Iraq war--both at the time, and in the years after--there wasn't much in Hubris: Selling the Iraq War that I didn't already know. Except that it was presented in Rachel Maddow's typically straightforward, educational style, succinctly and all in a 1-hour package, featuring people who know. It also reawakens old ire in this American, a fire that was largely put out when Bush/Cheney slunk away into (near) obscurity.  When Barack Obama took over, many liberals like myself felt like we could finally take a breath. And though we were initially upset with Obama when he said that we were "looking forward" and not back to the crimes of the Bush era, the fight was largely out of us by then. This documentary brings it all back. We were lied into war, plain and simple.

I'm curious whether the MSNBC documentary will reignite the same anger in other people, or whether its source network and host will cause it to be dismissed by people who consider MSNBC to be the counterpart to FOX "News." Though I  think it would be hard to argue that Hubris is liberally biased, beyond--say--the musical score. Don't believe me, check it out, the whole thing:

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Iraq War is Finally Over

Welcome home. Image from source, Reuters

If--back when this war started, in George W. Bush's first term--we knew that it wouldn't be over until December 17, 2011, would it have ever been allowed to start? If we knew that there were no WMDs. If we knew that there wasn't even a tangential relationship to the September 11, 2001 attacks? If we knew that we'd lose thousands of soldiers' lives, hundreds of thousands of Iraqi lives, more than a trillion dollars? And tell me, somebody. . .tell me Republican faithful. . .what did we gain? What did we win? What was all of this for? Can anyone say?

[Excerpt]


Last U.S. troops leave Iraq, ending war

The last convoy of U.S. soldiers pulled out of Iraq on Sunday, ending nearly nine years of war that cost almost 4,500 American and tens of thousands of Iraqi lives and left a country still grappling with political uncertainty. . .

Read more at: Reuters

GQ: Rumsfeld's Creepy War Briefings to Bush

Image from source, AmericaBlog

Last night, I read in several locations that GQ Magazine (of all sources) was about to release a "bombshell" story, wherein Donald Rumsfeld's religion-laden war reports to George W. Bush would be revealed. The thing is, most Democrats can't have their feelings toward Bush, Rumsfeld, and the entire Bush Administration pushed any lower. And Republicans--by and large--seem to have an endless capacity for overlooking anything negative about the whole crew.

So while this story is just one more thing that proves we Democrats were right all along about this insufferable cabal, it probably will have very little effect in changing anybody's mind. After all, the evangelical GOP base will probably be thrilled by these revelations, right?

[Excerpt]

Rumsfeld sent Bush creepy Top Secret religious updates about the Iraq war

Frank Rich reported on this last night. GQ has copies of the documents (I show two of them above, GQ has lots more). I'm a Christian. This is creepy. They look like "end of days" propaganda created by a cult or the Unibomber. . .

Read more at: AmericaBlog

One More Justification for Iraq War Shot Down

Photo from source, Raw Story

There have been quite a few reasons given for our invasion of Iraq, and the necessity of removing Saddam Hussein from power. One of those reasons--hopefully low on the list--was that Hussein tried to assassinate George H.W. Bush, and that the younger Bush was getting his revenge. Now even that reason seems to be suspect.

If any good comes of this, maybe it will be a profound skepticism next time a "Decider" tries to take us--no rush us--to war. Unfortunately, I'm not that optimistic.

[Excerpt]

Pentagon report finds no evidence of Saddam attempt to assassinate Bush

In President Bush's view, former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein was many things -- a developer of weapons of mass destruction, an ally of al Qaeda and "a guy that tried to kill my dad." [snip]

Now skepticism is newly enveloping allegations of an Iraqi plot to assassinate former President George H.W. Bush during a trip to Kuwait in 1993. . .

Read more at: Raw Story

Musharraf to Continue Martial Rule

Bush & his buddy Musharraf have a "common goal" in their fight against terrorism. To which martial law has aided "Mushie" in his efforts to curtail terrorism & will continue to do so... and the US will also continue to aid the Pakistani Dictator/General/Leader.

Be warned: I do believe there was another leader who made a deal with our government & helped stamp out 'terrorists' & what not... We provided him aid, weapons, technology & plenty of rope... then we hung him. Just down the street from Pakistan in a little old town called Iraq. "Heckuva job, Mushie!"

Musharraf Gives No Date for End to Rule
Story Credit to New York Times

Fred Thompson Says Iraq Had WMDs

I thought it had been pretty much concluded that Saddam Hussein had no WMDs after the first Gulf War, and hadn't really tried to get them. Now, sure I could be misinformed, but I don't think I'd decoratively say "he did not have them," without the qualifier, "that we know of."

Fred Thomson has less trouble with declarations, it would seem.

[Excerpt]

Thompson: Iraq had WMDs before U.S. invaded

“In my estimation, his intent never did change,” Thompson said. “And by today, he clearly would have had that (weapons program) rejuvenated.”

Read the story at: DemoinesRegister.com

Bush 'Didn't Give a F--- About Intelligence'

Photo from source, Salon.com

Clearly. Hell, he could just be talking about IQs, and I'd believe him. No, the President isn't the one who used the "F" word, but I wouldn't be very surprised if he had. Makes for a catchy headline though, doesn't it?

Bush knew Saddam had no weapons of mass destruction

Sept. 6, 2007 On Sept. 18, 2002, CIA director George Tenet briefed President Bush in the Oval Office on top-secret intelligence that Saddam Hussein did not have weapons of mass destruction, according to two former senior CIA officers. Bush dismissed as worthless this information from the Iraqi foreign minister, a member of Saddam's inner circle, although it turned out to be accurate in every detail. Tenet never brought it up again. [snip]

. . . Tenet briefed Bush on Sabri. "Tenet told me he briefed the president personally," said one of the former CIA officers. According to Tenet, Bush's response was to call the information "the same old thing." Bush insisted it was simply what Saddam wanted him to think. "The president had no interest in the intelligence," said the CIA officer. The other officer said, "Bush didn't give a fuck about the intelligence. He had his mind made up."

Read the whole story at: Salon.com

Americans Shockingly Uninformed

Hat-tip to John for this story. Appallingly, Americans are still being deluded into believing that Saddam Hussein was somehow connected to 9/11.

NEWSWEEK Poll
June 23, 2007: Conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International.
Do you think Saddam Hussein’s regime in Iraq was directly involved in planning, financing, or carrying out the terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001?

Current Total
Yes 41%
No 50%

From John: Is it possible that the electorate of this country are so uninformed and ignorant of reality that they buy George Bush and Darth Chaney's line on the "war against terrorism?" This is appalling !!

I agree, John.