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Debate tonight
| Thu, 09-30-2004 - 10:54pm |
So, what did everybody think? This debate was my first (missed last yr's) and I enjoyed it. I liked how they were both respectful to each other and professional. No sighing, making facial expressions, slouching etc. I can't wait for the vp debates. :) XOXO.

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The insurgents will never have enough power to oust the US, but they can try to do as much damage as possible.
They are fighting for their very lives, as when Iraq has the elections, and there are enough trained Iraqis to properly provide security within their own country, the Iraqi army will be dealing with the insurgents in much the same manner that the US forces currently are.
Then the insurgents will not be killing the infidel American, but fellow Muslims, thereby losing support for their cause. This is already beginning to happen with the car bombs that kill innocent Iraqis.
A free Iraq is no friend to a terrorist organization and it is not in the best interest of terrorists around the world to have a free and democratic Iraq right in the heart of the Middle East.
"The Sale of Technology to Iraq
Although official U.S. policy prohibited military sales to Iraq, the Commerce and State departments pushed to sell the Iraqis 'dual-use' items which could have both civilian and military purposes like trucks, computers or helicopters.
Richard Murphy, a top State Department official (Assistant Secretary of State for the Near East Bureau) remembers that the pressure to sell was enormous.
"Certainly there was pressure to sell and there was the argument, if the contract doesn’t go to an American you can be darn sure it’s gonna go to a German, British, French manufacturer and trucks were one example. Civilian helicopters were a dicier decision. Could they be turned into the equivalent of an attack helicopter?"
Despite opposition from the Pentagon, the U.S. approved the sale of 100 helicopters to the Iraqis who claimed they would be used as agricultural sprayers. Dr. Bryen says many were transferred to the military, perhaps to be used in chemical attacks.
"You know, we don’t like that, that’s a very dangerous thing, and of course Halabja is a perfect example of what you do with helicopters filled with chemicals."
Then Iraq requested 1.5 million vials of atropine - the antidote for nerve gas - to protect Iraqi soldiers from chemical weapons. The State Department supported the sale even through nobody had nerve gas except the Iraqi army.
Dr. Bryen raised the red flag and Iraq was not allowed to purchase the drugs. But according to documents recently released by the Iraqis themselves, several U.S. companies provided chemical and biological components to Iraq during the 1980s which were used to develop weapons.
Iraq also received billion in loans and credits to purchase American food and goods - more than almost any other country. It left Saddam free to spend his hard currency on more weapons.
Washington's Reaction to the Attack on Halabja
But after the chemical attack on Halabja in 1988 (read more) the truth seemed too sinister to ignore.
Senate staffer Peter Galbraith drafted legislation - the Prevention of Genocide Act - that imposed harsh economic sanctions on the regime. (read more)
Billions in loans and agricultural credits would be cut off. America would no longer purchase Iraqi oil which accounted for one quarter of Iraq's production. And all U.S. exports to Iraq would be suspended.
Although the bill passed through the Senate in only one day the powerful farm and business lobbies warned that the legislation would only punish the Americans trading with Iraq.
When the Bill reached the House of Representatives, the provisions to remove agricultural credits and end bank loans were removed. Eventually the Act was caught up in Congressional bureacracy and died before it was passed. (read more)
Turning a Blind Eye Towards Saddam
Although the U.S. government officially denounced the gassing of the Kurds, it was business like never before with Iraq. After 1988 business with Iraq actually increased. By 1989, Iraq was given American agricultural guarantees worth $1 billion. Iraq was the largest importer of U.S. rice and the 2nd largest participant in the agricultural credit program..........more"
http://www.cbc.ca/fifth/kurds/alliance.html
http://english.people.com.cn/200301/09/eng20030109_109829.shtml
Schwarzkopf agreed, and it turned out that the Iraqi's used these copters in attacks on the Kurds.
The details I was looking for was how we supposedly sold Iraq the actual WMD's.
I remember reading about the atropine which sent alarm bells going off, and I am glad that Dr. Bryen noticed this too.
My thoughts are that US Senator John Kerry is ready to lead America !!!
ForeverHugs,
--Genie
I thought both vp candidates did well. Cheney came off as the sharp, experienced, and older and wiser guy he really is, and Edwards, for all his inexperience seemed to have held his own. In conclusion I think Cheney won the foreign affairs debate, while Edwards did quite well on the domestic front.
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