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BlueStateLib

(937 posts)
56. Simple question?
Tue Jul 26, 2016, 06:27 PM
Jul 2016

1- Should Saddam been allowed to keep Kuwait?
2- Should the Iraq no-fly zones been eliminated?
3- Should the Iraq sanctions and embargo been lifted?
4- Should diplomacy and the U.N. Weapons Inspectors involvement been abandoned
5- If it was a vote for war, why was Iraq invade by Hans Blix and the U.N. Weapons Inspectors?

Are you just as angry at those who voted Sept. 14, 2001 congressional resolution approving military action against terrorism (S.J. Res 23) or is your anger just for Hillary.

Within 72 hours of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, a White House lawyer had crafted the Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF). That law, approved by Congress, gave President George W. Bush the power to start the Iraq War, and ostensibly, the entire War on Terror. The bulk of the law's reach boils down to one of the most powerful sentences ever written, only 60 words of the full law:

“That the President is authorized to use all necessary and appropriate force against those nations, organizations, or persons he determines planned, authorized, committed, or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001, or harbored such organizations or persons in order to prevent any future act of international terrorism against the United States by such nations, organizations, or persons."
http://www.businessinsider.com/this-60-word-sentence-started-the-war-on-terror-2014-4


The Iraq war started the summer of 2002 (Downing Street Memo July 23, 2002) long before any congressional 2002 vote. Bush had war authorization from the president's constitutional authority as commander in chief of the military (Article II, Sec. 2), Terms of the 1991 Gulf War resolution they content remains in effect today, Terms of the Sept. 14, 2001 congressional resolution approving military action against terrorism (S.J. Res 23)·

30,000 US Troops Already In Iraq
September 16, 2002

Around 100 US/UK jet fighters 10 days ago bombed and destroyed airbases H-3 and al-Baghdadi in western Iraq, close to the Jordanian border. Earlier, on 5 August, the allied forces destroyed an air defense base in southwest Iraq, near the Saudi border. Reports indicate that the Iraqi forces have withdrawn from the air bases and the command and control centers that were bombed, and have been replaced by US forces which have started repairing the bases to use them later. Before that, US forces, supported by Turkish troops, penetrated northern Iraq and reached a distance of around 30km from Mosul and Kirkuk. The reports also indicate that the US and allied forces are a few kilometers away from Basra, and US and allied forces now occupy more than 15% of Iraqi territory.

The destruction of the first defense lines for the Iraqi forces in the north, south and west and have prepared the grounds for the second move which will see the occupation of Basra, Najaf and Kerbala in the south, and Mosul and Kirkuk in the north. From there, the road will be open to US forces to move towards Baghdad and Tikrit from the west. It is estimated that there are today no less than 30,000 US soldiers in Iraq, mostly in the north
http://aumf.awardspace.com/
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THE NATION: Open Letter to the Members of Congress
September 25, 2002

An alternative path is clearly available. In the short run it passes through the United Nations and its system of inspections, now more promising than before because Iraq, responding to US pressure, has opened itself unconditionally to inspectors. At the very least, this path should be fully explored before military action--the traditional last resort--is even considered. Such a choice in favor of multilateralism, diplomacy and treaty agreements should be part of a much broader policy of nonproliferation and disarmament of the kind that has already enjoyed great success over the past several decades. Under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, for example, 182 nations have agreed to do without nuclear weapons. The larger issue is whether proliferation--not just to Iraq but to many other countries as well--is best addressed by military or political means.
https://www.globalpolicy.org/component/content/article/167/34984.html


THE NATION: Half a Victory at the UN
December 2, 2002

In general, antiwar forces in the United States and around the world can claim the recent UN resolution as a partial victory. The resolution does not endorse the use of force; it redefines the Iraq crisis, at least in the international arena, as one of disarmament, not regime change; and it will at least delay a US attack. It provides a powerful tool to fight for US accountability to multilateralism and the UN. But it still reflects the heavy-handed domination of the UN and the rest of the world by the United States and ultimately sets the terms for war.
https://www.globalpolicy.org/component/content/article/167/35067.html


http://www.theleftcoaster.com/archives/011884.php
http://steveleser.blogspot.com/2015/10/will-bernie-sanders-demagogue-hillary.html
http://aumf.awardspace.com/

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

Wow! still_one Jul 2016 #1
Excellent post. I was like you in most every way. apcalc Jul 2016 #2
I think I'm that Bernie supporter you're talking about. aikoaiko Jul 2016 #3
That's all anyone can do coming from where you are... BooScout Jul 2016 #4
I get what you are saying, but I still have a hard time voting for Hillary Victor_c3 Jul 2016 #5
Peace, Victor. Tobin S. Jul 2016 #8
Do you hate every single person who voted for the Iraq war athena Jul 2016 #12
I...I can't believe I just had to read your post here... TCJ70 Jul 2016 #14
He didn't hold "those people" responsible, only Hillary leftofcool Jul 2016 #15
She's the only one running for President this time who voted for it... TCJ70 Jul 2016 #17
Yup. AllyCat Jul 2016 #75
However she is the only person running for president that voted for that war Victor_c3 Jul 2016 #24
Victor I'm so sorry you are getting this kind of response. I thank you for your service and it emulatorloo Jul 2016 #51
I support you too and understand your reasons for voting the way you say. AllyCat Jul 2016 #76
she had to know it was all bullshit Skittles Jul 2016 #81
Being a veteran athena Jul 2016 #31
It has nothing to do with what apparatus is between her legs Victor_c3 Jul 2016 #34
So, it's hatred to hold people accountable for their decisions... TCJ70 Jul 2016 #41
That post had nothing to do with Hillary being a woman NOTHING!! pangaia Jul 2016 #53
Calling Hillary Clinton "incompetent" is the very definition of misogyny. athena Jul 2016 #55
OK. Have it your way. pangaia Jul 2016 #57
Didn't realize incompetent was a sexist slur now... TCJ70 Jul 2016 #58
Agreed gaspee Jul 2016 #59
Thank you, gaspee. athena Jul 2016 #60
Sorry, but that just ain't so. Calling someone incompetent is NOT the definition of tblue37 Jul 2016 #78
OMG! SammyWinstonJack Jul 2016 #67
Speaking of hatred and vitriol for a fellow human.... Victor_c3 Jul 2016 #84
And your rationale makes your vote a righteous vote. aikoaiko Jul 2016 #13
^^^This^^^ dflprincess Jul 2016 #68
I know it's hard.... BooScout Jul 2016 #19
So you would never accept an apology, which she did give? Loki Jul 2016 #21
Respectfully disagree helmedon1974 Jul 2016 #23
This is a great post. LisaM Jul 2016 #35
Welcome to DU, helmedon1974. calimary Jul 2016 #64
Excellent post. nt tblue37 Jul 2016 #79
Bless you, Victor. And thank you for your service. Tatiana Jul 2016 #30
Thank you for your service . apcalc Jul 2016 #32
I am not even going to thank you for your service, pangaia Jul 2016 #54
Simple question? BlueStateLib Jul 2016 #56
I will say nearly nothing can justify a war Victor_c3 Jul 2016 #85
Hang in there Victor shadowmayor Jul 2016 #73
Thanks for that Victor_c3 Jul 2016 #82
I hear you BooScout. It is hard to dial down commitment to a cause. Ford_Prefect Jul 2016 #6
Don't dial it down! Vote for progressives in down-ticket races! AllyCat Jul 2016 #77
What a brilliant piece, Boo! I'm all Cha Jul 2016 #7
Aloha my friend! BooScout Jul 2016 #46
Did you watch tonight? sheshe2 Jul 2016 #65
I watched up until a few minutes before Bill's speech tonight... BooScout Jul 2016 #80
That is the beauty of the internet... sheshe2 Jul 2016 #86
Aloha, Boo! Cha Jul 2016 #69
I remember when Arkansas united behind Obama, at her request, and gave Obama all their delegates. StevieM Jul 2016 #48
Oh, thanks for that reminder, Steveie! Cha Jul 2016 #70
I was the same. Hillary or nobody. I cried, yelled at the unfairness, sulked, then voted for Obama. Laser102 Jul 2016 #9
That song.... BooScout Jul 2016 #28
I hope that everyone who is angry PatSeg Jul 2016 #10
Lots of positives at the DNC! bekkilyn Jul 2016 #11
Welcome to DU bekkilyn! calimary Jul 2016 #63
Awwww thanks! bekkilyn Jul 2016 #88
Couldn't be better stated, Boo! brer cat Jul 2016 #16
K&R treestar Jul 2016 #18
Thank you Boo Loki Jul 2016 #20
Great post. Skinner Jul 2016 #22
Beautifully written! Bravo Boo! MoonRiver Jul 2016 #25
Excellent post!!!! redstatebluegirl Jul 2016 #26
K & R LAS14 Jul 2016 #27
Such a thoughtful and honest post. Thanks, Boo. writes3000 Jul 2016 #29
Good stuff. Orsino Jul 2016 #33
this is a great post. barbtries Jul 2016 #36
K&R! DemonGoddess Jul 2016 #37
I was for Hillary Clinton in 2008 and was disappointed when Obama The Second Stone Jul 2016 #38
great post!! one_voice Jul 2016 #39
I wish I could rec this 1,000 times NastyRiffraff Jul 2016 #40
I dunno how ya did it.... BooScout Jul 2016 #42
I dunno how I did it either! NastyRiffraff Jul 2016 #44
Me too! BooScout Jul 2016 #45
Well said and well done Sheepshank Jul 2016 #43
My confession zenabby Jul 2016 #47
I also took awhile to warm up to Obama. The compromise I reached about voting for him StevieM Jul 2016 #49
Thank you, BooScout! n/t pnwmom Jul 2016 #50
Thank you for your post. sarae Jul 2016 #52
Very proud to give you the 100th rec, Boo! calimary Jul 2016 #61
I been mentally preparing myself for supporting The democratic nominee since the NY primary LostOne4Ever Jul 2016 #62
Sarah Silverman sums the entire primary up for me... pokerfan Jul 2016 #66
Did the DNC secretly back Obama while publically denying it? That Guy 888 Jul 2016 #71
Holy crap you're awesome, BooScout! liberalnarb Jul 2016 #72
I'd like to add that we should remember that Hillary wasn't forgotten by Obama.... Moonwalk Jul 2016 #74
Nose holders are parts of coalitions. David__77 Jul 2016 #83
What a great OP! Spazito Jul 2016 #87
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