On March 19, 2003
President Bush addressed the nation...
"My fellow citizens, at this hour, American and coalition forces are in the early stages of military operations to disarm Iraq, to free its people
and to defend the world from grave danger.
On my orders, coalition forces have begun striking selected targets of military importance to undermine Saddam Hussein's ability to wage war. These
are opening stages of what will be a broad and concerted campaign. More than 35 countries are giving crucial support -- from the use of naval and air
bases, to help with intelligence and logistics, to the deployment of combat units. Every nation in this coalition has chosen to bear the duty and
share the honor of serving in our common defense...."
(Visit the above source link for the full speech text)
11 days later Donald Rumsfeld, in a television interview said..
"We know where they (Weapons of Mass Destruction) are. They’re in the area around Tikrit and Baghdad and east, west, south and north somewhat."
On April 9, 2003:
We all seen the images, and video of this event.
Imagry that many were led to believe was the end of the evil dictatorship of Saddam over Iraq. Some have claimed that this event was staged, and one
report said this...
Army Stage-Managed Fall of Hussein Statue
Optimism was high, patriotism abundant, and international support was solid, though Saddam had not yet been captured or killed, and no signs of the
"grave danger" that threatened the world in the form of "weapons of mass destruction"
A truly impressive show of military power, only 21 days to destroy Iraq's defenses, and bring down its government, and Saddam.
Given all that we have seen happen in Iraq since that time, thousands of deaths, and constant attacks against both US and coalition forces, and the
Iraqi people, sectarian violence, tribal conflicts, and a mysterious insurgency who seems to almost indiscriminately attack anyone and everyone. Iraq
seems to have suffered a fate worse than Saddam, and there is apparently no longer reason to be optimistic about this war.
A kind of hell as taken Iraq, a hell that affects all, and possess far too many, evils that both infect and victimize.
No longer does there seem to be an end game, or exit strategy, only daily relentless violence and bloodshed. Political divisions in the USA have shown
the level of alarm, and confusion over what course to take, and how to stabilize this new Iraq.
I submit to you, that in those 21 days to that staged victory and fall of Saddam, we not only removed an evil dictator, we removed the keeper of the
gates of hell, the gates opened, and unleashed evil on Iraq, and there may never be a way to close them again.
At some point in the future a new American president and administration will take over where the Bush administration has safely exited from power,
they will be tasked with finding ways to to deal with this hell formerly known as Iraq, and find a way to remove our forces from the region, attempt
to repair destroyed infrastructure, and find solutions for implementation of government and a form of democracy that actually works for the Iraqi
people, I do not envy those who will face these tasks, the hell that awaits them will not relent or go away because they wish them gone. One could
argue that war in itself is a form of hell, or evil, and that it is indeed. This war brings us from a place which we may never find a way to return,
and could ultimately leave Iraq in far worse condition than anyone could have ever dreamed.
The world is not built on good intentions alone, nor can it be saved always by military force, hell will not be conquered easily. Iraq begs to be left
alone, as hell would want to have it now. Can the United States of America ever find a way to escape this
hell in Iraq?
The thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own, and may not necessarily reflect the views of the staff and ownership of
AboveTopSecret.com
[edit on 30-5-2007 by UM_Gazz]
