“Arrest shows U.S. critics wrongheaded”…
…At least that’s the header for a Dec 15th column by Cal Thomas. He says, “The critics – political and journalistic – who said the administration’s efforts were failing have been proved wrong.” I have to ask, “How so..?”
There have, as of this writing, been no weapons of mass destruction found in Iraq. Nor has any credible evidence of the existence of said weapons been found. The threat of weapons of mass destruction was, after all, the primary justification set forth by the Bush administration for the invasion of Iraq. But, just as the sands of Saudi Arabia shift with each little gust of wind, so to do the reasons set forth by the Bush administration for its dirty little war.
The possibility of a trial for Saddam must be giving those who supported his regime, both at home and abroad, chills at the thought of all their dirty linen being aired. But Mr. Thomas contends that “…Embarrassment should not be a reason for any cover-up…” I can’t help but wonder if Mr. Thomas feels the same when those who stand to be embarrassed are named Bush (Poppy), Rumsfeld, Cheney, Wolfowitz…I could go on, but I’m sure you get the point. Any mention of those names, and others who supported his rise to power, by Saddam will be scrubbed from any publicly released transcripts of his trial.
The entire Middle-East in general, and many Iraqis in particular, seem skeptical of U.S. motivations for invading Iraq. To say that it was just about oil is too simplistic. But it’s a safe bet that if Iraq’s only export had been arts and crafts, we wouldn’t be there now. Other motivating factors are were the need for the U.S. to draw down it’s military presence in Saudi Arabia…all of those troops are now in Iraq. And an attempt to take some of the pressure off of Ariel Sharone’s government by having the new Iraqi government make peace with Israel.
And let’s not forget all of the U.S. companies, who also not coincidentally, were contributors to Bush’s election campaign. Iraqi contractors can’t afford the kind of grease used on those skids. Iraq is being looted at the expense of the average Iraqi and the U.S. taxpayer. So, Mr. Thomas, how are the critics wrong?
