How USA & Bush are blowing their selling of the war on Iraq

Post-9/11 Era Forum

Hello. My name is Mark and I am Canadian. Many Americans are puzzled as to why Canada, Mexico and many other supposed allies of the United States are not backing the American war in Iraq. Please read this post and consider it for yourself.

At present, I would say that Canada is about 50% for and 50% against helping our American neighbours in their quest to get rid of Saddam and his regime. And I am one of those Canadians who are in favor of taking action against Iraq side by side with the American military. Yet nearly everytime I hear Bush, Rumsfield or some other American politician open their mouths to try to justify what they are doing in Iraq, I cringe because they are very much shooting themselves in their feet.

First, let's examine how this all got started. Bush came out with his famous (or some would say infamous) speech that other are nations are "either with us or against us". Such a bullying tactic IS NOT appreciated by most nations.


Second, the Americans have not given us a list. By this i mean that they are so focused on getting Saddam out that they have failed to explain why Saddam is on the top of the most hated and dangerous people in the world as opposed to the the leader of other cruel dictatorships such that exist in Iran, Syria, N Korea and Cuba to name just a few.

Third, came the attempts at bribing various countries (such as Turkey) with billions of dollars in aid provided that they get behing the American war effort. While this may influence some countries political leaders to help the Yankees out, it points out to the citizens of that country in question just another example of The Americans trying to 'buy' influence through their riches rather than through other means such as trying to argue logically.

Fourth, came the blackmail. America giving stern warnings to many other nations that you don't help us out, trade could suffer and hence the populations of other nations may lose out in fiancial and non-financial ways.

Fifth, now we see the pathetic whining of many American politicians and statesmen crying and wimpering that Canada doesn't like USA, France hates USA, nobody loves us, you are all against us, etc. This type of paranoid yammering must stop. It is NOW winning you friends and is in fact alienating the same people you wish to help you out in this war.

Finally sixth is the backroom deals that America is making. What do I mean by this? Simple, you see the USA claims that they are doing this for the benefit of the world. That they have no selfish motives. That their motives are purely 100% altruistic. But even there, they are destroying their credibility. For example, George Bush and the American government has recently given a multi-million dollar contract to an American company called Halliburton to fight oil fires in Iraq once the war is over and done with. The problem with that deal is that it seems like a way of the American governemnt attempting to reward their friends. Why do I say this? The reason is that from 1995 to the year 2000, guess who the CEO of Halliburton was? The answer: current United States vice president Dick Cheney.

The American governement has a long history of sticking their noses into places they have no business sticking thier noses into. And while I believe the Iraq situation is different, America has not done a good job at all in getting other nations other than England and Australia to help. And even in those 2 nations, the majority of the population is against them.

For America to convince its allies to side with them in this Iraq situation, the Bush administration must stop acting like utter fools.

Thank you for reading my opinion.

Mark R

I really could give a rats fat ass about what you or any nation thinks about the United States. President Bush was man enough to say what many of us have been saying for years. You fools are blinded by the crap that you want to see and hear.

we are all about promoting peace thru out the world. I can't believe that so many idiot people don't see this. The government has always been in the politics of peace, for example the courts let some **** actor/football star get away with murder --OJ SIMPSON-- the courts saw what was coming, another devestating riot by a bunch of [blah ] in L.A., Now that is ****in great politics.

It saved lives, yes 2 whities died by the hands of OJ , but in the long run it saved many lives and destruction of personal and government property.

This is kinda like the iraq situation just in opposite way. Kill the bad *****--sadam and his regime-- and of course unfortunatley a few thousand civillian casuties, no more than what Sadam does on a weekly basis with or without American sanctions .

In the long run after the smoke has cleared, the iraqi people will be prosperous ,free and back to hating America the way that it has always been, except without an army which is good for us and the rest of the civilized world, It's a win win situation for us and the rest of the world. America has the answers and the solution for everybody, just leave it to us will make your world a safer place.

Thankyou for reading my outragous views on peace

I agree with you that Bush isn't the most eloquent statesmen (he uses terms like "evildoers" and "nucular") but I applaud him for having the ***** and the convictions to see past the shallow facade of peace protestors and their whining about this or that US policy and to act when necessary.

BTW: Since when does the US need permission from the rest of the world to do what it feels to be in its best interests, i.e. security? And also, France was also bribing various African ***** to vote against the second resolution, so the US is not the only one guilty.

When I asked for people to respond to my posting, I was hoping to receive some INTELLIGENT commentary. Alas that is missing thus far. First we have BushFan insulting me and my nation stating that he doesn't give a (pardon the phrase) "rat's ass" what other nations think. to that I respond if you want other countries to be on your side, you better give a hoot about what they think. P.S. to BushFan. I AGREE that America is RIGHT in attacking Iraq. I am merely saying they are doing a horrible job of selling it

Then we have dave rush making some weird and irrelevent point about the O.J. Simpson trial and having the audacity to use to N word. Fact is dave rush, many of the troops defending your freedom and way of life are men and women of colour. What kind of right wing neo nazi racist are you?

Then comes MikeXXL saying that the USA does not need permission of the rest of the world to do what they feel is in their best interests. Yipes! that kind of opinion scares me to death. I hope that MikeXXL isn't implying that because the U.S.A. is the most powerful nation on earth that they can do what they want, when they want, how they want, etc just cause they are America. I hope MikeXXL is not implying that might makes right!

Someone please resond intelligently and do not resort to name calling or refering to various African nations as 's***holes'

Thank you

Mark R

Sorry MikeR that I haven't accomodated your wishes, because...

[Direct attack against person has been removed]

markR
Can you explain to me why you feel the United States must sell anything to you? That part I really cant understand. If we feel there is a threat to our country, we shouldnt think twice about protecting it. Thats one of the reasons I admire George Bush.

I agree with our Canadian friend in the respect that the administration has done a god awful job or presenting its case.

Bottom line is that everyone already agrees with the case. I haven't heard anyone say Saddam is a decent misunderstood fellow.

I would have made up a list of UN requirements compiled from all the resolutions, and asked each UNSC member to check a yes or a no next to each requirement.

Since nop one has yet claimed that Saddam is in compliance, it would have been a pretty picture, and tough for even the wily French to wiggle out of.

1441 doesnt require an additional resolution for "war" - but at least, for Blair's sake god bless the brits, it would have been a UN activity.

BushFan, you asked me why i think The States is required to 'sell' the war to other nations. The answer is simple. The U.S. wants other nations to be alongside them. hence this coalition. If America wants to go to war on its own, then they need only sell it to their own citizens. But if you want the demonstrations to stop and people to aide America in its quest to rid the world of Saddam, then you guys need to do some convincing. Charles is right, Saddam is not a misunderstood fellow. I am sure that 99% of the men and women protesting the war world wide would agree with that. the question these people have though is this war the best way to handle him. I believe it is. These war protestors do not.

Mark R