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#11
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Blix Says Iraq Probably Destroyed WMDs
In article , Simon Elliott
wrote: It's excellent that Saddam has gone, but the US and UK deserve no kudos for getting rid of him. Especially as we have tried to pass most of the cost, both in cash and body count, to the Iraqis. The number of innocent civilians killed is getting close to be a match for what Saddam's regime supposedly killed. |
#12
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Blix Says Iraq Probably Destroyed WMDs
Whytoi writes
It's excellent that Saddam has gone, but the US and UK deserve no kudos for getting rid of him. Especially as we have tried to pass most of the cost, both in cash and body count, to the Iraqis. The number of innocent civilians killed is getting close to be a match for what Saddam's regime supposedly killed. In the initial stages, some credit needs to be given to the coalition for at least having a go at trying to minimise civilian casualties. Although there was some unnecessary bombing and some nasty misses, at least there wasn't an atrocity like the attack on the Amariya shelter this time around. On the other hand, no credit at all for the use of BLU-97/B submunitions, the only weapon system whose main effect is on children under 5 years of age. And no credit at all for the current shoot first, think later (if at all) mentality of the coalition troops. I don't blame the individual squaddie for this - no-one wants to go home in a box. But clearly this attitude is tolerated if not actively encouraged by the senior commanders. One US or UK life is evidently worth that of umpteen Iraqis. Liberation? Hmmm... -- Simon Elliott http://www.ctsn.co.uk/ |
#13
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Blix Says Iraq Probably Destroyed WMDs
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#14
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Blix Says Iraq Probably Destroyed WMDs
In article , Simon Elliott
wrote: In the initial stages, some credit needs to be given to the coalition for at least having a go at trying to minimise civilian casualties. Although there was some unnecessary bombing and some nasty misses, at least there wasn't an atrocity like the attack on the Amariya shelter this time around. That is just spin doctoring. Try telling that to any one of those innocent civilian who died or their families. One death is too many especially in an unjustified agression that's filled with lies and deceits. On the other hand, no credit at all for the use of BLU-97/B submunitions, the only weapon system whose main effect is on children under 5 years of age. Enough said. |
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Blix Says Iraq Probably Destroyed WMDs
On Fri, 19 Sep 2003 09:48:15 +0000, Whytoi wrote:
In article , Simon Elliott wrote: Churchill, who was Colonial Secretary at the time, argued for a separate Kurdistan so that the Kurds would be safe "from some future bully in Iraq." He was overruled on cost grounds as it would be cheaper to administer a single state. And as Britain would control Iraq forever, its rulers would not be permitted to oppress the Kurds. Maybe the best solution. But what you and I think should have no relevance to what the Iraqis think. We don't have the necessary cultural background of the country nor the right to judge. Might have been. But go sell the notion to Turkey and Iran... Lets keep the "smart and wise" foreigners out of it this time. Let the UN get involved and let the Iraqi decide. Whatever Paul Bremer and Bush & Co put together would just be considered to be a puppet government. Best solution always was Saddam. Of course, what process might reinvent one is not terribly clear either. The sad thing remains that this was always quite obvious. (Some of us had been repeating this here ad nauseam *before this crazy war started.) How far can stupidity go at the top remains amazing to me. I suppose this is what they call "intelligence?" |
#16
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Blix Says Iraq Probably Destroyed WMDs
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#17
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Blix Says Iraq Probably Destroyed WMDs
Meghan Powers writes
They helped put Hussein in power. They helped him fight the Iranians. They left the Kurds high and dry after the 1991 war. According to some estimates, the UK lost about a billion pounds sterling through its support of Saddam Hussein's regime. More accurately, various companies made a profit exporting stuff to Iraq, and the British taxpayer was left to pick up the bill. In the 1980s, the UK Export Credit Guarantee Department would not normally guarantee exports to such dubious regimes as Saddam Hussein, mostly because they were seen as a bad credit risk. However, the then Prime Minister requested that an exception be made in the case of Iraq. This allowed British companies to sell, among other things, anti-mortar radar and secure radio systems to the Iraqi army. When Iraq invaded Kuwait and the UK objected, Iraq froze all payments to the UK companies who had been doing business in Iraq. The Export Credit Guarantee Department has had to bale the affected companies out to the tune of at least 660 million pounds sterling. In a final twist to this story, the US has demanded that the UK hand over all Iraqi monies frozen in UK bank accounts since the second Gulf War. Thankfully, the UK has told them to **** off. More details here. The Guardian is a reputable, if rather left of centre, UK broadsheet. http://www.guardian.co.uk/armstrade/...904684,00.html http://politics.guardian.co.uk/econo...921153,00.html -- Simon Elliott http://www.ctsn.co.uk/ |
#18
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Blix Says Iraq Probably Destroyed WMDs
On Fri, 19 Sep 2003 12:25:04 +0100, Simon Elliott
wrote: And no credit at all for the current shoot first, think later (if at all) mentality of the coalition troops. I don't blame the individual squaddie for this - no-one wants to go home in a box. But clearly this attitude is tolerated if not actively encouraged by the senior commanders. One US or UK life is evidently worth that of umpteen Iraqis. Liberation? Hmmm... And today's cultural sensitivity award goes to General Ricardo Sanchez for using the word "crusade" while trying to apologize.... "Sanchez offered his personal apologies Wednesday for the killing of eight Iraqi police in Fallujah last Friday. Members of the 82nd Airborne Division, newly assigned to duty outside a hospital on the outskirts of the city, opened fire on Iraqi police returning to the city after an unsuccessful pursuit of suspected robbers. Sanchez hailed the slain Iraq police as "partners in this crusade." " Time to go home.... |
#19
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Blix Says Iraq Probably Destroyed WMDs
Anders wrote:
TRUE! BUT you must not forget that the US and UK sanctions and war during the sanctions killed ONE MILLION CHILDREN, 1.000.000 during that US and UK led sanctions. Saddam killed the children. The sanctions were an excuse. miguel -- Hit The Road! Photos and tales from around the world: http://travel.u.nu Site remodeled 10-Sept-2003: Hundreds of new photos, easier navigation. |
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