[smokegenerator]

personally, I feel this is a propoganda testimony. This Dr is paid and affiliated with the Iraqi Opposition. Anything he writes, I would discount as a lie.

No, I am not anti-war nor Pro-Iraq. I am against attacking Iraq now, when we should be dealing with NKorea first as they are the direct and immediate threat. Though, I do understand the admin wnting to remove a thorn in their side for their full focus on the NKorea.

BTW- I also do believe this is all about oil contracts and business deals for the US, and not about "the evil Hussein". Just my opinion, just that the Admin has not sold me on their reasons.

[anniegetyourgun]

Yeah, let's let Saddam continue to murder, rape, and torture his people with one hand, while passing off WMD's to his Al-Q buddies. Because heaven knows, there's no one else near the Korean penninsula that has a vested interest or stake in what Kim is doing.

[nicmarlo]

I feel this is a propoganda testimony. This Dr is paid and affiliated with the Iraqi Opposition. Anything he writes, I would discount as a lie.

Then, maybe a picture is worth a thousand words to you; here's just a couple (more can be found at the website below):

Bloody Friday

Chemical massacre of the Kurds by the Iraqi regime
Halabja-March 1988

[Samurai_Jack]

Fortunately nobody elected you to office to make this critical decision.

[Solamente]

Your affliction stems from what you "feel," as opposed to what you should know. Your logic is convoluted to say the least. That the man is affiliated with the Iraqi Opposition makes you suspicious speaks to your agenda, not his.

[sausageseller]

The "admin" does not have to sell me on anything.

I am smart enough to understand who is EVIL!

You need to drop the "Its about oil" leftist line!

It is based on ignorance.

[ez]

Perhaps you'll believe international organizations.

UNSCR 688 (UN Security Council Resolution 688) “condemns” Saddam Hussein’s repression of the Iraqi civilian population -- “the consequences of which threaten international peace and security.” UNSCR 688 also requires Saddam Hussein to end his repression of the Iraqi people and to allow immediate access to international humanitarian organizations to help those in need of assistance.

Saddam Hussein has repeatedly violated these provisions and has: expanded his violence against women and children; continued his horrific torture and execution of innocent Iraqis; continued to violate the basic human rights of the Iraqi people and has continued to control all sources of information (including killing more than 500 journalists and other opinion leaders in the past decade).

Saddam Hussein has also harassed humanitarian aid workers; expanded his crimes against Muslims; he has withheld food from families that fail to offer their children to his regime; and he has continued to subject Iraqis to unfair imprisonment.10

REFUSAL TO ADMIT HUMAN RIGHTS MONITORS

§ The UN Commission on Human Rights and the UN General Assembly issued a report that noted "with dismay" the lack of improvement in the situation of human rights in Iraq. The report strongly criticized the "systematic, widespread, and extremely grave violations of human rights" and of international humanitarian law by the Iraqi Government, which it stated resulted in "all-pervasive repression and oppression sustained by broad-based discrimination and widespread terror." The report called on the Iraqi Government to fulfill its obligations under international human rights treaties. § Saddam Hussein has repeatedly refused visits by human rights monitors and the establishment of independent human rights organizations.

From 1992 until 2002, Saddam prevented the UN Special Rapporteur from visiting Iraq.11 § In September 2001 the Government expelled six UN humanitarian relief workers without providing any explanation.12

VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

§ Human rights organizations and opposition groups continued to receive reports of women who suffered from severe psychological trauma after being raped by Iraqi personnel while in custody.13 § Former Mukhabarat member Khalid Al-Janabi reported that a Mukhabarat unit, the Technical Operations Directorate, used rape and sexual assault in a systematic and institutionalized manner for political purposes. The unit reportedly also videotaped the rape of female relatives of suspected oppositionists and used the videotapes for blackmail purposes and to ensure their future cooperation.§ In June 2000, a former Iraqi general reportedly received a videotape of security forces raping a female family member. He subsequently received a telephone call from an intelligence agent who stated that another female relative was being held and warned him to stop speaking out against the Iraqi Government.15

§ Iraqi security forces allegedly raped women who were captured during the Anfal Campaign and during the occupation of Kuwait. 16

§ Amnesty International reported that, in October 2000, the Iraqi Government executed dozens of women accused of prostitution.17

§ In May, the Iraqi Government reportedly tortured to death the mother of three Iraqi defectors for her children’s opposition activities.18

§ Iraqi security agents reportedly decapitated numerous women and men in front of their family members. According to Amnesty International, the victims’ heads were displayed in front of their homes for several days.

19 TORTURE § Iraqi security services routinely and systematically torture detainees. According to former prisoners, torture techniques included branding, electric shocks administered to the genitals and other areas, beating, pulling out of fingernails, burning with hot irons and blowtorches, suspension from rotating ceiling fans, dripping acid on the skin, rape, breaking of limbs, denial of food and water, extended solitary confinement in dark and extremely small compartments, and threats to rape or otherwise harm family members and relatives. Evidence of such torture often was apparent when security forces returned the mutilated bodies of torture victims to their families.20

§ According to a report received by the UN Special Rapporteur in 1998, hundreds of Kurds and other detainees have been held without charge for close to two decades in extremely harsh conditions, and many of them have been used as subjects in Iraq’s illegal experimental chemical and biological weapons programs.21

§ In 2000, the authorities reportedly introduced tongue amputation as a punishment for persons who criticize Saddam Hussein or his family, and on July 17, government authorities reportedly amputated the tongue of a person who allegedly criticized Saddam Hussein. Authorities reportedly performed the amputation in front of a large crowd. Similar tongue amputations also reportedly occurred.22

[SJackson]

personally, I feel this is a propoganda testimony. This Dr is paid and affiliated with the Iraqi Opposition. Anything he writes, I would discount as a lie.
No, I am not anti-war nor Pro-Iraq. I am against attacking Iraq now, when we should be dealing with NKorea first as they are the direct and immediate threat. Though, I do understand the admin wnting to remove a thorn in their side for their full focus on the NKorea.

Yes, he is. As Sadaam and his ministers are affiliated with Iraq. And GWB is affiliated with America and the Republican party, Ted Kennedy with the dems. Tom Paine and Ben Franklin had their affiliations, and yes, those who are anti-war have their affiliations too. Guess there’s no one who isn’t a propagandist or liar, even me, I have affiliations too.

============================

I am against attacking Iraq now, when we should be dealing with NKorea first
I do understand the admin wnting to remove a thorn in their side for their full focus on the NKorea.

=======================

Simple, you answered you own question, just turn it around.

Start with I do understand the admin wnting to remove a thorn in their side for their full focus on the Nkorea.

in which case I’m sure you’ll agree

I am against attacking Iraq now, when we should be dealing with NKorea first

makes no sense.

If military action is necessary in Korea, and it may be without substantive support from China, it will be a significant action. A two front war is not only not desirable, but our last Chief Exec left us without that capability.

BTW- I also do believe this is all about oil contracts and business deals for the US, and not about "the evil Hussein".

You haven't even attempted to make that case. We'll see when it's over, but I should remind you that Kuwait's oil fields, along with Iraq's, the Saudi's, and the rest of the peninsula were essentially ours a decade ago. You need to show me the "business deals" we extracted for me to consider that possiblilty now.

[apackof2]

BTW- I also do believe this is all about oil contracts and business deals for the US, and not about "the evil Hussein

Are you related to Martin Sheen?

When we are in Baghdad, hell yes we have a right to oil as one of the spoils of war that we we forced to fight. It will help pay for a war that we didn't start and to help us rebuild Iraq for the Iraqi people as opposed to going to the "evil Hussein" to build 18 palaces, fund terrorist groups, keep mistresses etc. while his people who should benefit from the oil, live (if he decides they should) in fear and poverty

LIBERATE IRAQ

[ClancyJ]

Oil contracts and business deals? You are correct.

France, Russia and Germany have many of these and that is why they are against us. France and Russia - members of the Security Council - have broken the sanctions of their own Security Council to profit from the build-up of deadly weapons.

America? We don't need war to get oil contracts - we buy it. It is a lot, lot cheaper to do that.

Korea? This is just a diversion by the democrats to try and distract Bush. You must ask why the Democrats do not fear for the safety of Americans, why they want to allow Saddam more and more years to build his weapons.

Then - just what is the purpose of all those weapons Saddam is building? Could it even remotely be to exert power over the U.S. and all other countries? Would Saddam think to "sell" these to terrorists and assist them in taking down America?

If your answer is no - no problem. I thank you for your upmost concern for me, my family and the future of America.

[piasa]

Well, since the Serbs have been helping Iraq out, using your logic it's a given we shouldn't believe you.

Not that you have ever had any credibility around here.

[nicmarlo]

Here's some more "propaganda" for your perusal:

1. Iraqi Regime Crimes: Torture and Killing

from the State of Kuwait, website:

Samples of the tools used for torturing people in the Kuwiati and Iraqi prisons

Amnesty International issued a report on human rights violations in Kuwait from August 2, 1990 till December 1990. The report cited the following:

. . . In the period from August to November 1990, Amnesty International interviewed dozens of Kuwaiti prisoners of war captured by the Iraqi forces. Most of those Kuwaiti victims were males aged 16-35. Some of them had signs of torture still on their bodies. The organization also received statements from the families of the victims of torture, the physicians who examined them and from those who had buried the victims who died of torture. There were even stories about torture, rape and general mistreatment of women. This report ended with a detailed list of the methods of torture employed by the Iraqi troops against Kuwaitis since August 2nd. . . . [snip]

2. Iraqi Horrors the “Peace Movement” Ignores By John Perazzo

FrontPageMagazine.com | November 29, 2002

. . . Once prisoners are incarcerated for disloyalty to the regime, their suffering is so great it can scarcely be described. Many are placed in solitary confinement on starvation diets. Confessions are forced from them by the most gruesome methods imaginable: They are struck with brass knuckles and wooden bludgeons; they receive electric shocks to their genitalia; scorching metal rods are forced into their body orifices; their toes are crushed and their toenails pulled out; they have their limbs literally burned off; they are slowly lowered into large vats of acid until they confess or die. Many are poisoned with thallium, which causes its victims enormous agony before they die. When these prisons periodically get overcrowded, they are "cleaned out" by means of summary executions. . . . [snip]

3. Human Rights Watch: Iraq and Iraqi Kurdistan

. . . Iraqi intelligence agents targeted political opponents who had fled Iraq, threatening and intimidating them or arresting and torturing family members still in the country. On June 7, Staff Lieut. Gen. Najib al-Salihi, former chief of staff of the Iraqi army's Sixth Armoured Division who had fled to Jordan in 1995, received a videotape showing the rape of a female relative by intelligence personnel. The rape or threat of rape has long been used in Iraq as a punitive measure against opponents to extract confessions or information or to pressure them into desisting from anti-government activities. Shortly afterwards, Salihi received a telephone call from his brother in Baghdad, asking him to cease all opposition activity. Iraqi political exiles living in Europe and elsewhere consistently reported being threatened with the arrest or execution of their relatives if they did not return to Iraq or abandoned opposition activity, and asylum seekers in Jordan, Syria and other countries reported being under surveillance by Iraqi intelligence agents. . . . [snip]

4. Briefing On Iraqi Regime Human Rights Abuses (December 4, 2002): Edited Transcript of a briefing given by UK Foreign Office Officials and Dr Hussein Al-Shahristani, London, 2 December 2002 From the Iraq Foundation website:

I have been a witness to Saddam’s violations of human rights in Iraq. I was the Chief Scientist of the Iraqi Atomic Energy Organization until 1979, working on peaceful applications of atomic energy. I was arrested, tortured and kept in solitary confinement for over 11 years for refusing to work on the military nuclear program. However, I was more fortunate than many of my fellow political prisoners in the country. I did not have holes drilled into my bones, as happened in the next torture room. I did not have my limbs cut off by an electric saw. I did not have my eyes gauged out. My three children were brought in to the torture chamber but they were not tortured to death in front of me to force me to make confessions to things I had not done. Women of my family were not brought in and raped in front of me, as happened to many of my colleagues. Torturers did not dissolve my hands in acid. I was not among the hundreds of political prisoners who were taken from prison as guinea-pigs to be used for chemical and biological tests.

They only tortured me for 22 days and nights continuously by hanging me from my hands tied at the back and using a high voltage probe on the sensitive parts of my body and beating me mercilessly. They were very careful not to leave any permanent bodily marks on me because they hope they can break my will and I will agree to go back and work on their military nuclear program. . . . [snip]

5. Iraqi Dictator Saddam Hussein's Shop of Horrors by Jeff Jacoby (November 15, 2002)

. . . In June, the BBC interviewed "Kamal," a former Iraqi torturer now confined in a Kurdish prison in the north. "If someone didn't break, they'd bring in the family," Kamal explained. "They'd bring the son in front of his parents, who were handcuffed or tied and they'd start with simple tortures such as cigarette burns and then if his father didn't confess they'd start using more serious methods," such as slicing off one of the child's ears or amputating a limb. "They'd tell the father that they'd slaughter his son. They'd bring a bayonet out. And if he didn't confess, they'd kill the child." . . . [snip]

6. Scott Ritter in His Own Words, Saturday, Sep. 14, 2002

QUESTION: You've spoke about having seen the children's prisons in Iraq. Can you describe what you saw there?

SCOTT RITTER: The prison in question is at the General Security Services headquarters, which was inspected by my team in Jan. 1998. It appeared to be a prison for children — toddlers up to pre-adolescents — whose only crime was to be the offspring of those who have spoken out politically against the regime of Saddam Hussein. It was a horrific scene. Actually I'm not going to describe what I saw there because what I saw was so horrible that it can be used by those who would want to promote war with Iraq, and right now I'm waging peace. [snip]

7. If Antiwar Protesters Succeed

Christian Science Monitor, February 26, 2003

To publish an unsigned opinion piece is an exception to the Monitor's policy. But the views expressed here, if put with a name, could endanger the writer's extended family in Baghdad. The author - known to Monitor staff - was born and raised in Iraq. Now a US citizen with a business that requires extensive world travel, the author is in frequent touch with the Iraqi diaspora but is not connected with organized opposition to Saddam Hussein.

. . . What if you antiwar protesters and politicians succeed in stopping a US-led war to change the regime in Baghdad? What then will you do?

Will you also demonstrate and demand "peaceful" actions to cure the abysmal human rights violations of the Iraqi people under the rule of Saddam Hussein?

Or, will you simply forget about us Iraqis once you discredit George W. Bush?

Will you demand that the United Nations send human rights inspectors to Iraq? Or are you only interested in weapons of "mass destruction" inspections, not of "mass torture" practices?

Will you also insist that such human rights inspectors be given time to discover Hussein's secret prisons and coercion as you do for the weapons inspectors? Or will you simply accept a "clean bill of health" if you can't find the thousands of buried corpses?

* * *

Will you decry the hypocritical oil and arms commerce of France, Germany, Russia, and China with the butcher of Baghdad? Or are you only against US interests in Iraqi oil?

* * *

Will you hear the cries of Iraqis executed in acid tanks in Baghdad? the Iraqi women raped in front of their husbands and fathers to extract confessions? Or of children tortured in front of their parents? Or of families billed for the bullets used to execute military "deserters" in front of their own homes?

No. I suspect that most of you will simply retire to your cappucino cafes to brainstorm the next hot topic to protest, and that you will simply forget about us Iraqis, once you succeed in discrediting President Bush.

Please, prove me wrong.

[CaliforniaOkie]

#2 that is the Democrats talking points, verbatum.

[McGavin999]

There are TWO very strong memebers of the UN security council who are directly affected by the North Korea matter. China and Russia are both permanent members of the UNSC. THEY should be taking the lead in any negotiations. We already tried unilateral agreements with NK (the Carter/Clinton agreements) and they failed. Unless Russia and China step up to the plate we should continue to ignore the NK blackmail demands. If they get out of hand and China and Russia do nothing, it won't take more then an hour to eliminate NK from the map.

South Korea added to the recent danger by their anti-American rhetoric over the past few years. Japan could have nuclear weapons in a matter of days if this continues. I have no problem with that but China might. :o)

[WellsFargo94]

North Korea is only a "direct and immediate threat" because of the impending war with Iraq. Don't worry the U.S. is well equipped to handle North Korea even in the midst of dealing with Iraq.