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gsmoove23
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Did Bush ever publish a list of the 50+ countries that contributed and what they contributed? I thought it was pretty funny that the admin considers Turkey part of the coalition. In the beginning of the war US news agencies were proclaiming that Turkey had allowed us to use their air space as if it was a great favour when what they didn't give us is far more telling.
I would love to see a list of those 50+ countries and what they gave, I would love more to see a list of what they didn't give. Supposedly Bush requested military support from Japan, nope sorry but how about a few medical personnel and a check.
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Frogman
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Surely Saddam wasn't counting on the french.  More likely he believed he could hold off in an urban war long enough to inflame the arab nations to join his cause. Getting help from the french would have been an embarassment to him. Leading an islamic "jihad" agaisnt the evil Americans would have been glory for him.
Iraq didn't use wmd against the kuwaities in 91 because he didn't need to. The iraqis have been burying stuff and hiding stuff all over the place. Once we get some intel on it, it will turn up. I would be surprised if some of it wasn't wmd related.
Last edited by Frogman on 12-04-2003 at 10:36
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LoneWolf
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Hey, maybe there are no WMDs after all. Oh well.
Or should we give the whole thing back to Saddam, and say we're sorry.
BTW, where should we start next? Syria? Iran? France? You name it.
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Kramerman
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UT, Austin - The live music capital of the world
Jun 2002
time: 23:27
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quote:
Originally posted by Master Zen
Kramerman, when Iraq attacked Kuwait in 1991 it did not attack the US. Your argument is that if Iraq attacked a country which is not a nuclear power it would do so using WMD. In 1991, Iraq had WMD yet did not use them which invalidates any argument that it would do the same now. |
no no no... you completely misunderstood me.. perhaps its my fault... go back and reread my posts, and maybe what i was trying to say (below) would be more clear:
My arguement is that Iraq ccan take neighboring countries CONVENTIONALLY, and with enough effective WMD, it could hold off a world coalition aimed at removing Saddam from the country(ies) that he had invaded by threatening either the coalition itself, or neighboring countries (effectively holding them hostage) with WMD.
It is very unlikely for any country to us WMD on a country they are planning to occupy, such as Iraq hypothetically using them in kuwait, as there is a major risk of blowback on your own troops from infections, chemicals, or radiation, so i doubt any country would use mass amounts of WMD on a country they want to invade.
The theat of Saddam seizing multiple major oil producing countries could have a drastic indirect impact on the US. Though the US gets a very small percentage of oil form the ME, Japan and Europe get around 70%. If Saddam seized the middle east, he could control the oil supply to the countries, potentially cutting it off. The economies of Europe and Japan (which like most industrial economies, depend on oil) could be devestated. Poor foreign markets means an economic failure in the US as well. Saddam would have us at his feet, there would be little we could do about it...
There are many other fears of Saddams WMD, this is just one of many, but it relates to the point i was trying to make in my arguement
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gsmoove23
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deterance, sound familiar? He wanted to appear strong, he didn't want to ge annihilated.
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Master Zen
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of naughty
Jan 2003
time: 23:27
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quote:
Originally posted by Kramerman
If he wasnt planning on using them, why would he spend who knows how much money on aquiring and developing them? |
Do you understand the concept of deterrence? It works both ways. In fact, the logic of it implies that WMD are actually more usefull by being NOT used, than by being used. The moment you use WMD the whole point of actually having them disappears as you face the risk of equal or greater retaliation.
The Saudi example: let's say Iraq wanted to take on SA, and threatens to use WMD. Do you know with what it would be threatened back? yes, Coalition WMD. Would Iraq risk national suicide for using WMD? Nope. Thus, deterrence worked, just the threat of use of these weapons was enough for the other not to use them.
Now for the "threat". The threat is an empty one and it showed in 1991 and now. Iraq had WMD in 1991 thus there existed an implicit threat to use them. Did that deterr the US? Nope. They still attacked. Did Iraq counter this attack with WMD? Nope. Same thing today. The excuse of Iraq eventually using WMD as blackmail, as you can see, is pretty empty.
Also, the US was aware of Iraq using WMD against its own population during the Chemical Ali campaign against the Kurds. Did it do anything? NOOOOO. Just goes to show how little the US really cared (cares) about what happened to the Iraqi population. Only when a real interest was threatened (ehem.. oil) did it send half a million troops back then.
Sorry guys, that whole "Iraqi Freedom" excuse today holds no ground.... 
Wait, Bush is a "compasionate conservative", oh so I guess I'm wrong and he really cares about the Iraqis. Right...
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gsmoove23
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Its obvious that there were large troop movements within the country after the war had started. As the troops were advancing on Baghdad large movements of reinforcements were seen. If he was going to use them he would've. However, if his troops were issued gas masks as has been reported this could just as well have been a subtle threat that they would be used to get coalition troops jumpy. Psychological warfare. Deterrance in action(though obviously not very effective).
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centrifuge
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quote:
Originally posted by Velociryx
Actually, *all* of the discussions that GePap and I have centering around this issue end the same way....a draw. We just approach things from a different perspective, is all. At the end of the day, I suspect we wind up on the same side of the proverbial fence more often than not....just for different reasons. 
-=Vel=- |
'
Well, Let me just say that I've enjoyed reading these posts, and learning others opinions about the Iraqi situation. I've been extremely busy the past several months, with very little time to spend on these boards, but when I do have time to stop by, it's always good to see a strong heartfelt discussion going on 
However, No offense GePap, but I really was agreeing with the arguments that Vel was making more than I was with yours. His arguments, have seemed more Reaganesque / this is the way it is/ sorry if you don't like it, which is more my style. I, however have still been waiting for the knockout punch, because so far all that I've been seeing is jabs Nevertheless, its been good stuff
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12-04-2003 07:56
I want to see a knockout 
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