Cheney On Iraq in 1994
August 17, 2007 | Leave a Comment
This video was aired on C-SPAN originally and more recently on the Daily Show. I’m shocked at how accurate his predictions of how an invasion of Iraq would effect America and the region. This account is spot on and certainly if he was uninvolved in the current administration he’d be jumping up and down saying I told you so.
Later on Meet The Press in August of 2000 (sourced from ThinkProgress.org):
Tim Russert: Do you regret not taking Saddam out nine years ago?
Dick Cheney: I don’t, Tim. It was–and it’s been talked about since then. But the fact of the matter is, the only way you could have done that would be to go to Baghdad and occupy Iraq. If we’d done that, the U.S. would have been all alone. We would not have had the support of the coalition, especially of the Arab nations that fought alongside us in Kuwait. None of them ever set foot inside Iraq. Conversations I had with leaders in the region afterwards–they all supported the decision that was made not to go to Baghdad.
They were concerned that we not get into a position where we shifted instead of being the leader of an international coalition to roll back Iraqi aggression to one in which we were an imperialist power, willy-nilly moving into capitals in that part of the world taking down governments. So I think we got it right, so suppose it’s one of those things that’ll be debated for some time. But I thought the decision was sound at the time, and I do today. [Meet the Press, 8/27/00]
The most distressing aspect of this is that when we went into Iraq across the board the administration convinced the American people that this was going to be a simple operation, oil would pay for it all, and the Iraqi people would “greet us as liberators.” This feeling of betrayal and a sense of being manipulated is what demonizes the current government in my opinion.
There are solid arguments on both sides on whether or not we are better off having invaded Iraq and unseated Saddam. I don’t think it is productive to engage in this debate at this point. In many ways this hindsight clouds the overall discussion.
Instead, I am most bothered by this example of clear manipulation of perceptions by the administration. Nothing has changed to prevent this from being done again. They might claim 9/11 changed everything, but it 100% fact that Cheney was not clear with us about what negative potentials this invasion presented. This irresponsibility has cost over 3700 US lives and innumerable Iraqi and international coalition casualties and injuries.
Tags: 911, baghdad, cheney, coalition, dick cheney, iraq, manipulated, manipulation, saddam, saddam hussein, think progress, US, video, war
God Declares War on Boy Scouts
July 29, 2005 | 3 Comments
The angry God has returned. On Tuesday, July 26th, four scout leaders were killed in an electrical accident while putting up a tent. Most thought this was a tragic accident. Proof to the contrary came today when lightning struck another group killing another leader and leaving a 13-year old boy braindead.
These strikes are either acts of war or terrorism on the part of God. Following President Bush’s stance of postponing his speech to the scouts, I believe he has aligned himself with God. Surely God must not be a terrorist if Bush has sided with Him. Therefore war is the only explanation.
Karel from Advocate.com published a similar article, here’s an excerpt:
First came the tragic death of four scout leaders, setting up a dining tent. By all accounts, it was biblical carnage at its best. Scouts watched as a metal pole at the center of the large, white tent touched power lines, electrocuting four adult leaders and injuring others. According to accounts published in the July 29 Guardian Unlimited, “Screams rang out as the tent caught fire and the men burned.�
That’s downright Old Testament.
I suggested that more strikes may be on the way, and boy scouts better be on the lookout. When asked for comment on the subject friend Jenny Sweedler said: “The weekend is a great time for God to do some killing.”
God was unavailable for comment. Updates will follow as info about further attacks comes in.
More info:
CNN: Safety review after 4 Scout leaders die at Jamboree
CNN: Scout on life support after lightning strike
Washington Post: Bush’s Visit to Scouts Postponed Again
Tags: boy scouts, Bush, death, holy war, jamboree, lightning, old testament, president Bush, scouts, terrorism, war
Welcome Home PJ
June 18, 2005 | 1 Comment
When PJ finally made it home from Iraq after a year away, his friends and family threw him a big party. See the gallery of that night here. At this point this is sort of old news, but I just got around to getting the gallery posted.
Tags: family, gallery, iraq, philip tirrell jr, tirrell, troops, war
744th Coming Home!
February 2, 2005 | 2 Comments
Update: My brother is finally home safely.
The following are links related to his unit returning. As more articles come in I’ll post them here:
The 744th is coming home to Hillsboro - Concord Monitor
Danger tempers joy of return - Union Leader
Another NH Guard Unit Prepares To Leave Iraq - WMUR
. . . and another is on the way home - Union Leader
Cheers, tears for returning Guard members - Seacost Online
From Battle Comes New Perspective - Union Leader
At ‘home’ at Camp Anaconda - Union Leader
More NH troops back on US soil - Nashua Telegraph
Tags: 744th, iraq, new hampshire, nh, philip tirrell jr, troops, war