[Visirale]

I did a report on this... Saudi Arabia is the fathering country of most modern terrorism. The state religion there is Wahabbism. It's an extremist sect of Islam that is focused on reverting back to the time of Mohammed, at any cost. Most Americans don't know anything about this sect, or that Saudi Arabia supports it.

I find it strange that some of our best relationships are with this country... Actually, it's not strange at all... it's oil.

[ChrisHarbison]

Originally Posted by Danny

No, that's just what people in here are implying (or outright stating--see post #78), which is why the point is being rebutted.

Ahh, groovy, I commited the evil sin of jumping in at the end of a conversation without reading so much as 1 page of the conversation.

Originally Posted by Danny

Yep, that was the official reason for the invasion. How'd that turn out again?

Hey, I put the word "allegedly" in parenthesis.

[JerryLove]

Iraq wasn't responsible for 9/11. Iraq was never accused of being responsible. Bush never claimed to be going into Iraq to punish them for 9/11.

President Bush yesterday defended his assertions that there was a relationship between Saddam Hussein's Iraq and Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda, putting him at odds with this week's finding of the bipartisan Sept. 11 commission. - http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...2004Jun17.html

Before the US invaded Iraq, President Bush said he had intelligence evidence that "Saddam Hussein aids and protects terrorists, including members of al Qaeda." Vice President Cheney said Iraq was the heart of "the geographic base of the terrorists who have had us under assault now for many years, but most especially on 9/11." They repeatedly advanced the idea that Saddam could one day furnish nuclear, biological or chemical weapons to al Qaeda or other terrorists. - http://www.factcheck.org/article203.html

Bush (Jan. 28, 2003): Evidence from intelligence sources, secret communications, and statements by people now in custody reveal that Saddam Hussein aids and protects terrorists, including members of al Qaeda. Secretly, and without fingerprints, he could provide one of his hidden weapons to terrorists, or help them develop their own.
Before September the 11th, many in the world believed that Saddam Hussein could be contained. But chemical agents, lethal viruses and shadowy terrorist networks are not easily contained. Imagine those 19 hijackers with other weapons and other plans -- this time armed by Saddam Hussein. It would take one vial, one canister, one crate slipped into this country to bring a day of horror like none we have ever known. We will do everything in our power to make sure that that day never comes.

My favorite from the short search:

Cheney (Sept. 14, 2003): If we’re successful in Iraq, if we can stand up a good representative government in Iraq, that secures the region so that it never again becomes a threat to its neighbors or to the United States, so it’s not pursuing weapons of mass destruction, so that it’s not a safe haven for terrorists, now we will have struck a major blow right at the heart of the base, if you will, the geographic base of the terrorists who have had us under assault now for many years, but most especially on 9/11 . . .

Cheney (Sept. 14, 2003): So what we do on the ground in Iraq, our capabilities here are being tested in no small measure, but this is the place where we want to take on the terrorists. This is the place where we want to take on those elements that have come against the United States, and it’s far more appropriate for us to do it there and far better for us to do it there than it is here at home.

"For nearly two years, President Bush and senior administration officials claimed links between Saddam and al Qaeda while allowing the impression that Iraq could have been behind the Sept. 11 attacks – an impression that could have lent support to the war in Iraq. " - http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/...in623568.shtml

"Adding additional information is like adding a foot to Mount Everest," he said. "There already is a mountain of evidence that shows that Saddam Hussein, since the Gulf War and prior to the Gulf War, has sought to develop weapons for the purpose of using them. Now, as we saw on September 11th, when our enemies have weapons, they do not hesitate to use them against the American people." - http://archives.cnn.com/2002/ALLPOLI...age/index.html

[niangelo]

Originally Posted by ChrisHarbison

[INDENT]Iraq wasn't responsible for 9/11. Iraq was never accused of being responsible. Bush never claimed to be going into Iraq to punish them for 9/11.

Originally Posted by JerryLove

President Bush yesterday defended his assertions that there was a relationship between Saddam Hussein's Iraq and Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda, putting him at odds with this week's finding of the bipartisan Sept. 11 commission. - http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...2004Jun17.html

Before the US invaded Iraq, President Bush said he had intelligence evidence that "Saddam Hussein aids and protects terrorists, including members of al Qaeda." Vice President Cheney said Iraq was the heart of "the geographic base of the terrorists who have had us under assault now for many years, but most especially on 9/11." They repeatedly advanced the idea that Saddam could one day furnish nuclear, biological or chemical weapons to al Qaeda or other terrorists. - http://www.factcheck.org/article203.html

Bush (Jan. 28, 2003): Evidence from intelligence sources, secret communications, and statements by people now in custody reveal that Saddam Hussein aids and protects terrorists, including members of al Qaeda. Secretly, and without fingerprints, he could provide one of his hidden weapons to terrorists, or help them develop their own.
Before September the 11th, many in the world believed that Saddam Hussein could be contained. But chemical agents, lethal viruses and shadowy terrorist networks are not easily contained. Imagine those 19 hijackers with other weapons and other plans -- this time armed by Saddam Hussein. It would take one vial, one canister, one crate slipped into this country to bring a day of horror like none we have ever known. We will do everything in our power to make sure that that day never comes.

My favorite from the short search:

Cheney (Sept. 14, 2003): If we’re successful in Iraq, if we can stand up a good representative government in Iraq, that secures the region so that it never again becomes a threat to its neighbors or to the United States, so it’s not pursuing weapons of mass destruction, so that it’s not a safe haven for terrorists, now we will have struck a major blow right at the heart of the base, if you will, the geographic base of the terrorists who have had us under assault now for many years, but most especially on 9/11 . . .

[indent]Cheney (Sept. 14, 2003): So what we do on the ground in Iraq, our capabilities here are being tested in no small measure, but this is the place where we want to take on the terrorists. This is the place where we want to take on those elements that have come against the United States, and it’s far more appropriate for us to do it there and far better for us to do it there than it is here at home.

"For nearly two years, President Bush and senior administration officials claimed links between Saddam and al Qaeda while allowing the impression that Iraq could have been behind the Sept. 11 attacks – an impression that could have lent support to the war in Iraq. " - http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/...in623568.shtml

"Adding additional information is like adding a foot to Mount Everest," he said. "There already is a mountain of evidence that shows that Saddam Hussein, since the Gulf War and prior to the Gulf War, has sought to develop weapons for the purpose of using them. Now, as we saw on September 11th, when our enemies have weapons, they do not hesitate to use them against the American people." - http://archives.cnn.com/2002/ALLPOLI...age/index.html

[ChrisHarbison]

Ahh, gotcha, so Bush saying "Saddam aids and protects terrorists" (which he no doubt did) is the same thing as saying "Saddam personally planned and executed the 9/11 attacks and we're gonna kick his ass for it." Thanks for clearing that up.

[JerryLove]

Ahh, gotcha, so Bush saying "Saddam aids and protects terrorists" (which he no doubt did) is the same thing as saying "Saddam personally planned and executed the 9/11 attacks and we're gonna kick his ass for it."

Do you actually believe what you are saying? Or are you just trying to "win"?

The Bush administration repeatedly and deliberatly put out that inference. When discussing the invasion they would talk about 9/11 then Saddam's ties to terror; then they would talk about BinLauden, and then Saddam's ties to terror. The net result was that the vast majority of America believed Saddam was involved in 9/11.

The fact of the matter is that AlQuida had no love for Saddam, nor he for them. There were terrorists operating in Iraq, as there are terrorists operating in the US, but there's no support of any government sponsorship of terrorism against the US.

Though there's an awful lot of terrorism in and from Iraq now.

[ChrisHarbison]

Originally Posted by JerryLove

Do you actually believe what you are saying? Or are you just trying to "win"?

The Bush administration repeatedly and deliberatly put out that inference. When discussing the invasion they would talk about 9/11 then Saddam's ties to terror; then they would talk about BinLauden, and then Saddam's ties to terror. The net result was that the vast majority of America believed Saddam was involved in 9/11.

The fact of the matter is that AlQuida had no love for Saddam, nor he for them. There were terrorists operating in Iraq, as there are terrorists operating in the US, but there's no support of any government sponsorship of terrorism against the US.

Though there's an awful lot of terrorism in and from Iraq now.

All I'm saying is that the Bush Administration blamed Al Queda and Bin Ladin and held them directly responsible for 9/11. Yeah the Bush Administration maintains that there are ties between terrorists/Al Queda and Saddam Hussien, but that's not blaming the 9/11 attacks directly on Saddam, nor was punishment for 9/11 a reason for going to war. I'm not agreeing or disagreeing with the war. I'm not support or opposing Bush. I'm simply pointing out that when giving their reasons for going to war with Iraq, punishing them for 9/11 wasn't ever one of them. Ties to terrorism was a reason. Having WMDs was a reason. But Iraq's direct involvement with 9/11 was never a reason and that's all I'm saying.

[JerryLove]

All I'm saying is that the Bush Administration blamed Al Queda and Bin Ladin and held them directly responsible for 9/11. Yeah the Bush Administration maintains that there are ties between terrorists/Al Queda and Saddam Hussien, but that's not blaming the 9/11 attacks directly on Saddam, nor was punishment for 9/11 a reason for going to war.

9/11 was used as a reason and rallying cry to get the American people to support the invasion of Iraq. The Bush administration acted deliberately to tie Saddam to 9/11 in the American perspective in order to garner more support for the war.

[PaidInFull]

It amazes me how many people are so stupid as to bloat the facts with their own opinions and beliefs, and what they hear on CNN, or some other media network. Research the complete facts and dont get them from one source.

[JerryLove]

What scares me is that such underinformed people came out in droves and elected the bum... usually while preaching their own superiority.