Here’s a little piece that lit a fire under me this morning: #

MSNBC – GlennReynolds.com #

EXPERTS AGREE:  WAR GOING WELL! #

“I’ve written here repeatedly that things are going better in Iraq than anti-war critics have been claiming, and that the whole WMD issue is overblown.” #

Reynolds goes on to quote Tom Daschle’s comments about the success of the war effort, including the fact that Daschle apparently isn’t worried about the debate over pre-war intelligence. Then, in a bizarre twist, he ends up saying that Kerry’s insistence on talking about his Vietnam War record is proof that things are going well in Iraq. #

What Did I enter a time warp while reading this article? #

Well, of course I couldn’t let this pass. Read the extended entry of this post for my response to Mr. Reynolds.  #

Glenn, the issue isn’t whether reconstruction is going well now. The issue is that the Bush administration’s entire justification for going to war when we did was based on the immediate threat that Hussein posed with his purported WMDs. The issue is that it looks like the administration lied to the American people and the world community, and that we never should have gotten into this war in the first place. #

The issue is whether the ends justify the means. Have we made the world safer by getting rid of Sadaam? Not if there weren’t any WMDs. Not if Iraq’s links to al Qaeda weren’t as strong as we suggested. Not if the Bush Doctrine of preemption and lying to support policy decisions weakens our credibility in the world community and makes it harder for us to prosecute wars in the future. Not if the money that we’re spending on reconstruction weakens our economy. #

I don’t particularly care who says how well the war effort is going. The world is not safer when a superpower can lie, cheat, and bully its way to regime change no matter how big a creep the deposed leader was. I don’t have much respect for congressmen who give away their congressional power, and I don’t think much of people who blithely accept being lied to and misled. #

I have grown up with the belief that the United States is on the side of right, that we stand up for democratic principles, that we are an honorable people. If lying, ignoring civil liberties and dispensing with due process are all going to be okay now, then please let me know, ‘cause there’s a few laws I wouldn’t mind breaking myself, should the opportunity arise. #

In case you’ve forgotten why we went to war, I’ll include some text from Bush’s Address to the Nation of March 17, 2003. You can read the entire text here: http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/03/20030317-7.html #

“Intelligence gathered by this and other governments leaves no doubt that the Iraq regime continues to possess and conceal some of the most lethal weapons ever devised. This regime has already used weapons of mass destruction against Iraq’s neighbors and against Iraq’s people. #

“The regime has a history of reckless aggression in the Middle East. It has a deep hatred of America and our friends. And it has aided, trained and harbored terrorists, including operatives of al Qaeda. #

“The danger is clear: using chemical, biological or, one day, nuclear weapons, obtained with the help of Iraq, the terrorists could fulfill their stated ambitions and kill thousands or hundreds of thousands of innocent people in our country, or any other. #

“The United States and other nations did nothing to deserve or invite this threat. But we will do everything to defeat it. Instead of drifting along toward tragedy, we will set a course toward safety. Before the day of horror can come, before it is too late to act, this danger will be removed.” #

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Monday, February 23rd, 2004 @ 10:17 am Rants
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