I saw an interesting interview on FOX news last night. It was with the American ambassador to Iraq from 1991. His last face to face with Saddam was 4 days prior to the first war. I don’t recall the ambassador’s name so I apologize. If I was a little better with searching the internet I would post a copy here. I am sure someone, with the know how, will come along and maybe find it.

Anyhow, he said something that I found to be interesting. Granted I do not know if this is indeed factual I was not in the room. However you have to give it some weight, and frankly I do find it quite believable.

What was basically said in this last exchange between Saddam and the ambassador was this:

Saddam had told the ambassador that if America let him keep Kuwait, which he believed was his, to begin with that he could promise America stability in the region and “very cheap oil prices”. Now the key there is “very cheap oil prices”.

If that is truly what was stated behind closed doors, of which I believe very well may have, it goes to show this is NOT about the oil. At least that oil is not first priority. I know, and rightful so, that oil is a big part of it as it should be.

Oil is world stability, not just America, but basically the entire world. I am not going to go into a book here and explain why I believe that but I think most would agree when you think about the importance of oil and how it could drastically effect the world if only a few, unstable, people had basically total control over the reserves.

I just thought I would pass that information along. Perhaps someone will find the ambassadors statement from last night on FOX news and post a link.

 

Found this if it will help:

http://csmweb2.emcweb.com/durable/1999/05/27/p23s3.htm

 

Serrota,

That's impressive you dug that up so quickly.

01XLT,

You're right. If it was about the oil it would have been ours for the taking then, as no-one could have stopped us.

IF Saddam said that, it was naive on his part , as what would we be doing now if we didn't have Kuwait as an ally?? We would be SOL- BIGTIME. The Turks screwed us, the Saudis can't look like they're giving us alot of help. Jordan desperately needs our help and wants to help us but can't show it.
We're in good shape to deal with Iran and anybody else in that region once iraq is secured and sanitized.

I saw a clip this morning from I think one of the presidential debates where Bush said very candidly and sincerly that he didn't think it was the US's business to go around the world sticking our nose into other countries and coercing (or forcing) them into doing things the way we thought they should be done, politically. ideologically, diplomatically. or economically. (I'm paraphrasing here)

I think it's pretty clear that 9/11 changed that . A loud wake up call.
In all the other attacks against the US we failed to respond, Embassy bombings, the 1st WTC, the Cole, Marine barracks, etc., etc., this emboldened these a$$holes and now it's time to open the institutional sized can of WOOPA$$ to get things back on track.

Chris Matthews had a great idea this morning, RELOCATE THE UN TO THE NEW WORLD TRADE CENTER BUILDING---- That's F%$KING BRILLIANT !!

......IF we don't dismantle it all together instead, in favor of something that works - which is the best choice.

 

I read that link and it is not what I was talking about. It is not even the same person on FOX news last night. I will have to look around.

 

AS far as the war being for oil i think a good idea would be to use the oil in iraq to pay for the war and then the iraqi people would be able to benifit from the oil resources that are righfully theirs anyway. the middle east can be stable if you get rid of the extremists i dont know if any of you are old enough to remember beruit but it used to be a great tourist place it was called the las vegas of the east. the extemists killed it.

i am also glad that this time we are going in to bagdad cause history has proven that if we dont go all the way bad things can happen. i.e. afganastan..... we helped the people fight off the russians and then when the russians left we just left the country and its people to fend for them selves and thats how the taliban took over. before that it was the korean war we should have gone all the way but once again the pressure from the rest of the world stopped us and now look at north korea. well not this time we are going all the way and if the un dont like it the they can go to hell with saddam.

I know i am long winded about this topic but this is something i feel realy strong about and everytime i see these hippie protesters it drives me nuts. if you think about it they are not really protesting the war they just dont like bush. they didnt say a thing when clinton bombed iraq or when he sent soldiers to bosnia. hell sheryl crow went to bosnia to play for the soldiers and she had this to say i dont want to play any regular shows i just want to play for the soldiers we need to support the guys over here. thats not an exact quote i cant remember it word for wor but that was the jist of it.


here is something for all the people against profileing at airports take a look at history and give me a good reason why every man of arab disent shouldnt be strip searched at airports before they get on the plane.


Please pause a moment, reflect back, and take the following Multiple Choice
test. The events are actual cuts from past history. They actually happened!

Do you remember?

1. In 1972 at the Munich Olympics, athletes were kidnapped and massacred by:
a. Olga Corbitt.
b. Sitting Bull.
c. Arnold Schwartzeneger.
d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40.

2. In 1979, the U.S. embassy in Iran was taken over by:
a. Lost Norwegians.
b. Elvis.
c. A tour bus full of 80-year-old women.
d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40.

3. During the 1980's a number of Americans were kidnapped in Lebanon by:
a. John Milliner.
b. The King of Sweden.
c. The Boy Scouts.
d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40.

4. In 1983, the U.S. Marine barracks in Beirut was blown up by:
a. A pizza delivery boy.
b. Pee Wee Herman.
c. Geraldo Rivera.
d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40.

5. In 1985 the cruise ship Achille Lauro was hijacked and a 70 year old
American passenger was murdered and thrown overboard in his wheelchair by:
a. The Smurfs.
b. Davey Jones.
c. The Little Mermaid.
d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40.

6. In 1985 TWA flight 847 was hijacked at Athens, and a U.S. Navy diver
trying to rescue passengers was murdered by:
a. Captain Kid.
b. Charles Lindberg.
c. Mother Teresa.
d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40.

7. In 1988, Pan Am Flight 103 was bombed by:
a. Scooby Do.
b. The Tooth Fairy.
c. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.
d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40.

8. In 1993 the World Trade Center was bombed the first time by:
a. Richard Simmons.
b. Grandma Moses.
c. Michael Jordan.
d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40.

9. In 1998, the U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania were bombed by:
a. Mr. Rogers.
b. Hillary, to distract attention from Wild Bill' s women
problems.
c. The World Wrestling Federation.
d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40.

10. On 9/11/01, four airliners were hijacked; two were used as missiles to
take out the World Trade Center and of the remaining two, one crashed into
the US Pentagon and the other was diverted to a crash by the passengers.
Thousands of people were killed by:
a. Bugs Bunny, Wiley E. Coyote, Daffy Duck and Elmer Fudd.
b. The Supreme Court of Florida.
c. Mr. Bean.
d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40.

11. In 2002 the United States fought a war in Afghanistan against:
a. Enron.
b. The Lutheran Church.
c. The NFL.
d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40.

12. In 2002 reporter Daniel Pearl was kidnapped and murdered by:
a. Bonny and Clyde.
b. Captain Kangaroo.
c. Billy Graham.
d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40.

Nope, I really don't see a pattern here; justify profiling, do you? So, to
ensure we Americans never offend anyone, particularly fanatics intent on
killing us, airport security screeners will no longer be allowed to profile
certain people. They must conduct random searches of 80-year-old women,
little kids, airline pilots with proper identification, Secret Service agents
who are members of the President's security detail, 85-year old Congressmen
with metal hips, and Medal of Honor winning former Governors.

Let's send this to as many people as we can so that the ACLU,
and other dunder headed attorneys along with Federal Justices that want to
thwart common sense feel doubly ashamed of themselves.

As the writer of the award winning story Forest Gump so aptly put it,
"Stupid is as stupid does!"

once again sorry its so long but this is a important topic

 

Punkrockford:

You are absolutely right. There is nothing at all wrong with profiling people of Arab descent. It is sad that the majority of them are good people, stand with America, but the fact of the matter is it is a few people ALL of Arab descent that are radical towards America, and when possible will perform terriost acts.

It makes absolutely no sense at all to pick an elder lady, or a child to search at an airport. When terriost acts are committed by elderly ladies then fine profile them as well and search them.

It is liberal nut cases that say “we must be fair” if we are going to profile. I say give the liberal nut case another ounce of mother natures wonder weed and them let be on their way.

If I was mugged by a white guy, 6’3” tall, 260lbs I don’t want them looking for a 5’6” 125lbs black guy, a midget, or and elderly women. I want them looking for white guys that fit the description.

It is only logical for those at airports to be on the look out and randomly searching those that fit the “PROFILE” and no one else.

 

"01" ,

I think the guy you're referring to is Joseph C. Wilson IV, former ambassador to Iraq. I just can't find the FOX link, but you will be interested to see articles he's written and speeches he's given in the last year or two. He vasilates between advocating immediate war with Iraq as the only means to control Hussein, and only using diplomatic means for control of the situation. It appears that in writing he is very hawkish, but in face to face interviews he's more doveish. I have read and listened to very little of his ideas, but he does appear more eloquent and persuasive in his written work.

john

 

Serotta:

Thanks for your assistance. I wish I could remember the gentlemen’s name and it sounds like you have the right person. It was just interesting to listen to last night. Again, as I said, I don’t know if it is all true or not, I wasn’t there, but do give it creditability since he was an ambassador.

That’s too bad the guy goes back and forth. From what you said in his writings he is, it seems, more honest about what he thinks, but then in person kind of plays to the crowd as to not upset too many. I would just tell it like it is, IF that is how I truly felt about a situation. People will either agree of disagree. Nothing worse then agreeing with someone based on their writings then disagree with the same person when they talk to the public. Not credibly in my book.