quote:Originally posted by smurph:
I am in shock at so many posts of false patriotism. Simply because one puts on a uniform does not excuse any and all acts persons do while wearing that said uniform.
What you say nash is correct of what our soldiers endure,BUT MAYBE that is a key factor for those of power pushing this war should consider, what this is doing to our uniformed men!
Building schools? I am absolutly sick of even hearing about this. Iraq is a very wealthy country,,WHERE is their monies? WHERE are their men that should be doing the labor to build these schools? Our soldiers are now construction workers? I am sorry but in every film,yes even those shown by the precious RIGHT always shows perfectly healthy Iraqian men just sitting around.I have yet to see any PROOF of the Iraqi peoples doing one thing for themselves! Are we now going extending our welfare programs internationally?
Actually when Saddam seized power in 79 he began a program of building Iraq into a modern secular western style country. He spent the treasury on building an infrastructure to promote economic development, education for both men and women, and culture like archtectural buildings, Museums and such, which were looted in his fall while US troops stood by and watched. They did however protect the oil ministry. A fact that did not go by unnoticed by the Iraqi people. He did also build lavish Palaces for himslef and his family and ruled with an iron fist. He allowed no dissent. Most, not all, but most of his atrocities were committed when he was a US ally during the 1980's.
Saddam wanted Iraq to be the leader and "Jewel" of the Mideast. A place that Lebanon had once held before it's civil war.
The reason the people were starving was US/UN imposed UN sanctions after the first Gulf War that destroyed the country. They targeted the people to force "regime change." They were a war crime which killed a million people, half a million children.
It was one of the reason bin Laden stated in his first tape after the 9/11 attacks. The sanctions and "Foreign Troops" occupying Palestine.
The sanctions restricted Iraq's ability to rebuild it's economy and caused severe shortages but according to the UN Saddam made sure the food was distributed equally. He was repressive but he wasn't stupid and knew the purpose of the sanctions. Instead of forcing the people to rise up they caused the Iraqi people to rally together. He continued to build Palaces, as well as his military, and began a program of building Mosques. He was secular and had no tolerance for religious extremists and was known to deal with them brutally but he also knew when times were tough people seek comfort in religion. he also used it as a propoaganda techique to show he was a Muslim and it was a binding force in Iraq and the region.
Though food and medicine were in short supply the majority of the people died due to drinking contaminated water. Under the sanctions Iraq was prohibited from obtaining Chlorine to purify it's water. It was a deliberate policy by the Pentagon, again, targeting civilians. They bombed the water purification plants then denied them chemicals to purify their water. Mostly the weak, elderly and children died. Half a million children. When asked on the program "60 Minutes" was the death of half a million children worth the price of the sanctions Madeline Albright responded, "Yes, we think it's worth the price."
After the US invasion the society basically collapsed and the majority of Iraqi's still have not seen the country provide it with security or the basic services while gasoline and food prices have risen ten fold. The rebuilding was left to US companies that charged twice as much as Iraqi contractors who brought in outside workers while Iraqi's went unemployed. Most projects were either not completed or the work was done shoddily and inadequately. It was nothing but a huge rip-off of tax payer money.
After the first Gulf War, despite sanctions, Saddam was able to have basic services of electric and sanitation within the first year and continued to rebuild the infrastructure to have as much basic services as possible.
The reason for the invasion was to control the oil. If Saddam would have sold out his country and allowed US bases in the regionand privatized the oil he would still be president.