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Bush's Reasons For War (Vanity...need help from FREEPERS)
ME | August 21, 2005 | Me

Posted on 08/21/2005 6:54:18 PM PDT by SideoutFred

One of the favorite lines by our leftist friends is that the reasons for war by Bush keep changing. Personally, I don't buy that at all.

I've been using the State of the Union Address prior to the war, the speech to the UN General Assembly as my guiding tools here. I find that there were about 8 or 9 reasons given, not just the WMD reason. I'm trying to dispute this garbage from the left but I'm looking for some better sources. Any help folks?

Reasons I have documented (most of which are true or on their way)

1) WMD (not found in mass quantities, but could still be there or moved or destroyed 2) Regime Change (Successful, Hussein is gone). Elected gov't put in place 3) Removal of Hussein (Successful) 4) Stabilize region (TBD, but in the long run I think so) 5) Part of the War on Terrorism (Iraq funded Hamas and others for suicide bombers) 6) Uphold UN Resolutions that called for "serious consequences"


TOPICS: Your Opinion/Questions
KEYWORDS: bush; iraq; iraqcampaign; reasons; war; waronterror
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To: SideoutFred
One of the favorite lines by our leftist friends...

Wouldn't know; I don't have any...

21 posted on 08/21/2005 7:21:59 PM PDT by streetpreacher (If at the end of the day, 100% of both sides are not angry with me, I've failed.)
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To: SideoutFred
Unfortunately, these jerkoff, kumbaya singers still won't get it, but print these off for them!! Make sure to use glossy photo paper, it goes down smoother after shoving it down their throats!!
22 posted on 08/21/2005 7:23:15 PM PDT by Hand em their arse
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To: xcamel

When they say that after WMD weren't found, GWB changed his reason for going to war to liberate the Iraqi people, ask, "Why then did he name it Operation Iraqi Freedom"? The answer, of course, is it was an important reason from the beginning.

But the State of the Union address where he outlines all the reasons should be enough.

The fact is no amount of proof will be enough, because they aren't interested in facts. They'll listen to your facts, and then look at you dead in the eyes and repeat their false claims as if you hadn't said a word.


23 posted on 08/21/2005 7:25:14 PM PDT by alnick
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To: SideoutFred
One of the favorite lines by our leftist friends

I don't think of them so much as "friends" as "acquaintances whom I find annoying."

24 posted on 08/21/2005 7:27:16 PM PDT by Psycho_Bunny (Every evil which liberals imagine Judaism and Christianity to be, islam is.)
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To: A.A. Cunningham; SideoutFred
BINGO!, JOint Resolution 114 lays it out best. And for more ammo, here's the list of the 136 co-sponsors from the House and the 16 in the Senate.

The Joint Resolution passed 296-133 in the House and 77-23 in the Senate.

25 posted on 08/21/2005 7:27:31 PM PDT by mark502inf
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To: SideoutFred

read later


26 posted on 08/21/2005 7:28:11 PM PDT by Sam Cree (Democrats are herd animals)
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To: xcamel

My leftest "friends" call Bush a liar re WMDs. Somewhere, during the campaign, someone posted a collection of articles or cites where dems decried the WMDs in Iraq and demanded action - of course, that was when clinton was bombing Iraq. Does anyone have any cite to these articles or quotes from dems on this topic when their boy was Pres?


27 posted on 08/21/2005 7:30:38 PM PDT by uscabjd ( a)
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To: Prime Choice

" 1. Iraq was not complying with U.N. resolutions it had agreed to comply with at the conclusion of Gulf War I" In what way?
" 2. Iraq knowingly aided and abetted terrorists and terrorism." There is not a shred of evidence of that.
"3. The U.N. was no longer fit to monitor Iraq due to the scandals in which it was embroiled; chiefly, the oil-for-food scandal." Get out of the UN and get the UN out of the US.
" 4. The U.S. built its own multi-national coalition to liberate Iraq and dismantle its war-making capabilities." There was a pathetic joinder of England which was a laughable "Coalition". Iraq was preparing for nothing against anyone. Iraq is a disaster. 4 out of 10 want to leave right now!!!! Bush will never live down "No WMD" which was the absolute stated reason for 1900 dead and 14,000 wounded Americans.


28 posted on 08/21/2005 7:31:29 PM PDT by milighthous
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To: SideoutFred
Image hosted by Photobucket.com tis better to fight them there with Tanks and Planes, than here with Firemen and Policemen...
29 posted on 08/21/2005 7:33:43 PM PDT by Chode (American Hedonist ©®)
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To: MarkeyD

"They found 500 tons of yellowcake"


First of all, keep it away from Michael Moore, he'll eat the evidence.

Second...where exactly was that found?


30 posted on 08/21/2005 7:36:25 PM PDT by trubluolyguy (Come on you apes! D'ya wanna live forever?!!?)
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To: SideoutFred
Joint Resolution to Authorize the Use of United States Armed Forces Against Iraq

Whereas in 1990 in response to Iraq's war of aggression against and illegal occupation of Kuwait, the United States forged a coalition of nations to liberate Kuwait and its people in order to defend the national security of the United States and enforce United Nations Security Council resolutions relating to Iraq;

Whereas after the liberation of Kuwait in 1991, Iraq entered into a United Nations sponsored cease-fire agreement pursuant to which Iraq unequivocally agreed, among other things, to eliminate its nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons programs and the means to deliver and develop them, and to end its support for international terrorism;

Whereas the efforts of international weapons inspectors, United States intelligence agencies, and Iraqi defectors led to the discovery that Iraq had large stockpiles of chemical weapons and a large scale biological weapons program, and that Iraq had an advanced nuclear weapons development program that was much closer to producing a nuclear weapon than intelligence reporting had previously indicated;

Whereas Iraq, in direct and flagrant violation of the cease-fire, attempted to thwart the efforts of weapons inspectors to identify and destroy Iraq's weapons of mass destruction stockpiles and development capabilities, which finally resulted in the withdrawal of inspectors from Iraq on October 31, 1998;

Whereas in 1998 Congress concluded that Iraq's continuing weapons of mass destruction programs threatened vital United States interests and international peace and security, declared Iraq to be in "material and unacceptable breach of its international obligations" and urged the President "to take appropriate action, in accordance with the Constitution and relevant laws of the United States, to bring Iraq into compliance with its international obligations" (Public Law 105-235);

Whereas Iraq both poses a continuing threat to the national security of the United States and international peace and security in the Persian Gulf region and remains in material and unacceptable breach of its international obligations by, among other things, continuing to possess and develop a significant chemical and biological weapons capability, actively seeking a nuclear weapons capability, and supporting and harboring terrorist organizations;

Whereas Iraq persists in violating resolutions of the United Nations Security Council by continuing to engage in brutal repression of its civilian population thereby threatening international peace and security in the region, by refusing to release, repatriate, or account for non-Iraqi citizens wrongfully detained by Iraq, including an American serviceman, and by failing to return property wrongfully seized by Iraq from Kuwait;

Whereas the current Iraqi regime has demonstrated its capability and willingness to use weapons of mass destruction against other nations and its own people;

Whereas the current Iraqi regime has demonstrated its continuing hostility toward, and willingness to attack, the United States, including by attempting in 1993 to assassinate former President Bush and by firing on many thousands of occasions on United States and Coalition Armed Forces engaged in enforcing the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council;

Whereas members of al Qaida, an organization bearing responsibility for attacks on the United States, its citizens, and interests, including the attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001, are known to be in Iraq;

Whereas Iraq continues to aid and harbor other international terrorist organizations, including organizations that threaten the lives and safety of American citizens;

Whereas the attacks on the United States of September 11, 2001 underscored the gravity of the threat posed by the acquisition of weapons of mass destruction by international terrorist organizations;

Whereas Iraq's demonstrated capability and willingness to use weapons of mass destruction, the risk that the current Iraqi regime will either employ those weapons to launch a surprise attack against the United States or its Armed Forces or provide them to international terrorists who would do so, and the extreme magnitude of harm that would result to the United States and its citizens from such an attack, combine to justify action by the United States to defend itself;

Whereas United Nations Security Council Resolution 678 authorizes the use of all necessary means to enforce United Nations Security Council Resolution 660 and subsequent relevant resolutions and to compel Iraq to cease certain activities that threaten international peace and security, including the development of weapons of mass destruction and refusal or obstruction of United Nations weapons inspections in violation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 687, repression of its civilian population in violation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 688, and threatening its neighbors or United Nations operations in Iraq in violation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 949;

Whereas Congress in the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution (Public Law 102-1) has authorized the President "to use United States Armed Forces pursuant to United Nations Security Council Resolution 678 (1990) in order to achieve implementation of Security Council Resolutions 660, 661, 662, 664, 665, 666, 667, 669, 670, 674, and 677";

Whereas in December 1991, Congress expressed its sense that it "supports the use of all necessary means to achieve the goals of United Nations Security Council Resolution 687 as being consistent with the Authorization of Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution (Public Law 102-1)," that Iraq's repression of its civilian population violates United Nations Security Council Resolution 688 and "constitutes a continuing threat to the peace, security, and stability of the Persian Gulf region," and that Congress, "supports the use of all necessary means to achieve the goals of United Nations Security Council Resolution 688";

Whereas the Iraq Liberation Act (Public Law 105-338) expressed the sense of Congress that it should be the policy of the United States to support efforts to remove from power the current Iraqi regime and promote the emergence of a democratic government to replace that regime;

Whereas on September 12, 2002, President Bush committed the United States to "work with the United Nations Security Council to meet our common challenge" posed by Iraq and to "work for the necessary resolutions," while also making clear that "the Security Council resolutions will be enforced, and the just demands of peace and security will be met, or action will be unavoidable";

Whereas the United States is determined to prosecute the war on terrorism and Iraq's ongoing support for international terrorist groups combined with its development of weapons of mass destruction in direct violation of its obligations under the 1991 cease-fire and other United Nations Security Council resolutions make clear that it is in the national security interests of the United States and in furtherance of the war on terrorism that all relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions be enforced, including through the use of force if necessary;

Whereas Congress has taken steps to pursue vigorously the war on terrorism through the provision of authorities and funding requested by the President to take the necessary actions against international terrorists and terrorist organizations, including those nations, organizations or persons who planned, authorized, committed or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001 or harbored such persons or organizations;

Whereas the President and Congress are determined to continue to take all appropriate actions against international terrorists and terrorist organizations, including those nations, organizations or persons who planned, authorized, committed or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001, or harbored such persons or organizations;

Whereas the President has authority under the Constitution to take action in order to deter and prevent acts of international terrorism against the United States, as Congress recognized in the joint resolution on Authorization for Use of Military Force (Public Law 107-40); and

Whereas it is in the national security of the United States to restore international peace and security to the Persian Gulf region;

Now, therefore, be it resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SEC. 1. SHORT TITLE.

This joint resolution may be cited as the "Authorization for the Use of Military Force Against Iraq".

SEC. 2. SUPPORT FOR UNITED STATES DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS

The Congress of the United States supports the efforts by the President to--

(a) strictly enforce through the United Nations Security Council all relevant Security Council resolutions applicable to Iraq and encourages him in those efforts; and

(b) obtain prompt and decisive action by the Security Council to ensure that Iraq abandons its strategy of delay, evasion and noncompliance and promptly and strictly complies with all relevant Security Council resolutions.

SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION FOR USE OF UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES.

(a) AUTHORIZATION. The President is authorized to use the Armed Forces of the United States as he determines to be necessary and appropriate in order to

(1) defend the national security of the United States against the continuing threat posed by Iraq; and

(2) enforce all relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions regarding Iraq.

(b) PRESIDENTIAL DETERMINATION.

In connection with the exercise of the authority granted in subsection (a) to use force the President shall, prior to such exercise or as soon there after as may be feasible, but no later than 48 hours after exercising such authority, make available to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate his determination that

(1) reliance by the United States on further diplomatic or other peaceful means alone either (A) will not adequately protect the national security of the United States against the continuing threat posed by Iraq or (B) is not likely to lead to enforcement of all relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions regarding Iraq, and

(2) acting pursuant to this resolution is consistent with the United States and other countries continuing to take the necessary actions against international terrorists and terrorist organizations, including those nations, organizations or persons who planned, authorized, committed or aided the terrorists attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001.

(c) WAR POWERS RESOLUTION REQUIREMENTS. --

(1) SPECIFIC STATUTORY AUTHORIZATION. -- Consistent with section 8(a)(1) of the War Powers Resolution, the Congress declares that this section is intended to constitute specific statutory authorization within the meaning of section 5(b) of the War Powers Resolution.

(2) APPLICABILITY OF OTHER REQUIREMENTS. -- Nothing in this resolution supersedes any requirement of the War Powers Resolution.

SEC. 4. REPORTS TO CONGRESS

(a) The President shall, at least once every 60 days, submit to the Congress a report on matters relevant to this joint resolution, including actions taken pursuant to the exercise of authority granted in section 2 and the status of planning for efforts that are expected to be required after such actions are completed, including those actions described in section 7 of Public Law 105-338 (the Iraq Liberation Act of 1998).

(b) To the extent that the submission of any report described in subsection (a) coincides with the submission of any other report on matters relevant to this joint resolution otherwise required to be submitted to Congress pursuant to the reporting requirements of Public Law 93-148 (the War Powers Resolution), all such reports may be submitted as a single consolidated report to the Congress.

(c) To the extent that the information required by section 3 of Public Law 102-1 is included in the report required by this section, such report shall be considered as meeting the requirements of section 3 of Public Law 102-1.


31 posted on 08/21/2005 7:36:53 PM PDT by FreedomCalls (It's the "Statue of Liberty," not the "Statue of Security.")
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To: Old Sarge

God bless you SSG....some of us still care and still render a smart salute when we see the forces coming through the airport.


32 posted on 08/21/2005 7:39:44 PM PDT by trubluolyguy (Come on you apes! D'ya wanna live forever?!!?)
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To: SideoutFred

UN Resolutions, PERIOD! The rest were just "other reasons" that were also important, but not THE reason. Saddam didn't comply, Saddam must go bye-bye.


33 posted on 08/21/2005 7:41:55 PM PDT by Chena (I'm not young enough to know everything)
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To: SideoutFred
Don't forget too that liberals are so upset that we didn't hold hands with our "allies" (france, germany, etc) regarding the Iraq war, and yet they willfully snub our one true ALLY in the Middle East, Israel, and chose to ignore that it was attacked by sadam personally when he paid suicide bombers' families $20,000 each. Evidently, the leftists pick and chose which ally we should support depending upon that ally's leftist value.
34 posted on 08/21/2005 7:54:16 PM PDT by E=MC<sup>2</sup> (Are liberals born stupid, or do they have to work at it???)
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To: milighthous

Kinda new here...ain'tcha?


35 posted on 08/21/2005 7:54:43 PM PDT by Prime Choice (E=mc^3. Don't drink and derive.)
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To: SideoutFred
Terrorism. Thats the answer.

Iraq was involved in the 1993 WTC bombing, and harbored the guy who mixed the chemicals for that bombing and refused to extradite him to the U.S.

Iraq was on the list of countries that sponsored terror, even during the Clinton years.

We were still at war with Iraq because they continually violated the ceasefire.

saddam was openly our enemy and might have funded future attacks against the USA.

Plus, if someone tried to kill my father, they would be dead.
36 posted on 08/21/2005 7:55:21 PM PDT by TomasUSMC (FIGHT LIKE WW2, FINISH LIKE WW2. FIGHT LIKE NAM, FINISH LIKE NAM.)
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To: trubluolyguy
See Here
37 posted on 08/21/2005 8:02:40 PM PDT by MarkeyD (I really, really loathe liberals.)
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To: xcamel

Watch the 9/11 replay on National Geographic (Midight, I think)
Lots of new info. The answer is there. I picked up on it immediately.


38 posted on 08/21/2005 8:06:32 PM PDT by Protect the Bill of Rights
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To: milighthous

Iraq knowingly aided and abetted terrorists and terrorism." There is not a shred of evidence of that.



wtc 1993

Money for suicide bombers in Israel

evidence.


39 posted on 08/21/2005 8:16:46 PM PDT by TomasUSMC (FIGHT LIKE WW2, FINISH LIKE WW2. FIGHT LIKE NAM, FINISH LIKE NAM.)
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To: milighthous
Welcome to Free Republic, Troll. Are you playing ignorant or do you really not know the answers to your questions? 1. Iraq was not complying with U.N. resolutions it had agreed to comply with at the conclusion of Gulf War I" In what way? By not allowing full access for weapons inspectors for one.

" 2. Iraq knowingly aided and abetted terrorists and terrorism." There is not a shred of evidence of that. Saddam himself personally stated he would pay $20,000 to the families of suicide bombers.

"3. The U.N. was no longer fit to monitor Iraq due to the scandals in which it was embroiled; chiefly, the oil-for-food scandal." Get out of the UN and get the UN out of the US. Someone had to take on the role. If you have great power and don't find a way to use it, invariably someone will find a way for you to have to use it.

" 4. The U.S. built its own multi-national coalition to liberate Iraq and dismantle its war-making capabilities." There was a pathetic joinder of England which was a laughable "Coalition". Iraq was preparing for nothing against anyone. Iraq is a disaster. 4 out of 10 want to leave right now!!!! Bush will never live down "No WMD" which was the absolute stated reason for 1900 dead and 14,000 wounded Americans. Why the anti-military crowd wants to down play and put down countries like Poland and others is surprising to me. Pretty pathetic though.

40 posted on 08/21/2005 8:16:55 PM PDT by DuckFan4ever (Cindy who?)
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