Patrick

He did, was Hans Blix and his merry crew a figment of my imagination? Bush had already made up his mind we where going to war and Saddam could of put on dress and sang Barry Manilow songs whilst escorting the weapons inspectors around and he would have still gone to war.

Patrick

Manc

I agreed in my next paragraph Patrick when I accuse the USA of being the schoolyard bully.
I just don't believe Saddam did himself any favours either.

Patrick

I don't for one minute think that anyone on this newsgroup is niave enough to beleive that Saddam need not go. I think that the question is not whether Saddam needed to go but the way in which it was done.

Patrick

Ranjini

That's left to be seen. My objection is that Bush and his cohorts used the trauma of post 9/11 to further their own personal agenda as far as oil. And that stinks. Has anyone succeeded in finding the link between 9/11 and Saddam Hussain?
Another question is did Bush blindside Tony Blair into supporting him in this war?

Manc

al Qaeda
iraQ

see..........

Ranjini

Yeah QED a la Bush...

robclews

I can't recall Bush linking 911 with Saddam.

Ranjini

This was the burning question at the time. What's the link between Saddam and 9/11. And the answer appeared to be that Saddam had bio chemical weapons and wmd's which he would provide the terrorists (ie. Al Quaeda) with at the drop of a hat. A very roundabout way of finding an excuse for war IMHO.
As for my last question re. Tony Blair I don't think anyone need answer that. But I'm sure it has been pondered on from time to time.
I basically think that Tony Blair needed the US to know that Britain could be counted on as ally. Which is really very sweet But it seems to have got him in a lot trouble though...

ScarlettHill

Sweet? Hmmmmmm. Blair... I like the man (so STONE me!) though I think he's misguided. I don't believe the war was right but here's an idea from a Brit that might be unpopular with my own.

We're a little tiny island with big boots and memories of being a big power in the world. Most of us honestly think we're the reason half the known world learns English. Being an ally with America is the only thing that lets us hold onto our big britches. The shoulder to shoulder thing was an emotional trip and all about economics. Just as the Iraq war was.

No one's standing shoulder to shoulder with many thousands of people who die from poverty, injustice and terror in their own countries every day. Nobody with a big mouth and big britches, that is. Is political compassion index-linked? You better believe it!

I'm English. I live in America. There are many reasons I like both countries. There are also reasons I'm ashamed to be linked to either.

Am I a hypocrite? Probably. What would I do different? I have no idea. I once walked out of an extremely good career and got on a plane to go work in one of the smaller countries with little britches and no political clout. I met people who had lived through years of hell and could still laugh. The west was sending the hungry old clothes and mismatched shoes in their wonderful compassion. Big TV sets were sent to hospitals that had no painkillers. Half the world has so little understanding of how the other half lives. The biggest thing I learnt was how little a little person can achieve on their own. So I have learned respect for people who go into politics hoping to change things. But somehow politics changes people too.... Agendas get lost...

Someone once said, all that is necessary for evil to prevail is for good men to do nothing. I believe that. I just wish we were using that knowledge to justify bombing a few less civilians and feeding a few more starving nations.

Regards
-=-
Scarlett

Ranjini

As always, Scarlett tells it like it is I like Tony Blair as you do. And would like to think that he believed he was being honourable in supporting the US in this unpopular war.. I don't know how the British feel. But people like my husband Ken believed that Tony Blair was the best thing that happened to Britain since Margaret Thatcher. But there again, the British themselves may think otherwise...

Pimpbot

I agree with most here, that Saddam needed to go. But the main purpose of this war, was to find WOMD, which American and British intelligence was so sure that Iraq had. Now that they have invaded Iraq and disposed of its leaders, you cannot suddenly change the goal posts and say things like "We may never find WOMD" ala Rumsfeld. 9/11 was the making of Bush as a president. What country is not going to unite behind a leader at such troubled times?. But Iraq and the ongoing "war on terror" could be his undoing. How long are the American people going to sit by while their troops get killed on a daily basis in Iraq? With presidential campaigns just around the corner, you can bet that the "War on Terror" will be the forefront of the Republican strategy, while the Dems will focus on the state of the economy. Its no secret that Afghanistan is starting to fall apart once more, with Taliban influence starting to build in large areas. How long is it going to be before troops in large numbers have to be deployed once more in that region? Or more importantly, how will Bush look if it is seen that he did a half assed job there, before moving onto Iraq?

ScarlettHill

Hold on there, you just lost me completely. Margaret THATCHER!!!!!!

That old witch was the worst thing to happen to Britain since the VIKINGS!!!!

Trust me, you had to endure it to believe it. She might have looked cool overseas but at home she was killing off the poor and the weak faster than a Texan can swallow a steak. She was responsible for a long-lasting legacy of selfishness and a return to the Dark Ages.

In fact, I think she made Essex what it is today! Need I say more?

Regards
-=-
Scarlett

Ranjini

Lol Now must toddle off and tell Ken

Pulaski

That's your view, many would not agree. I would not presume to speak for the majority, but she was widely respected in the UK (and before you start to argue, she did win three general elections) as somebody who stood up for what she believed in, ..... and she had more sincerity in her little finger than Tony the Weasel has in his whole body.

ScarlettHill

Absolutely it's my view. I believe that's what we're doing here - exchanging honestly-held opinions. Many would not agree. Of course they're wrong - but that's their privilege

Regards
-=-
Scarlett