The editorial is labeled a Truthout Perspective for a reason.  It is based on the writer's opinion.   The writer used facts to build a basis for his opinion, and ultimate prediction of the US ending up like some Orwellian society under martial law.   The fact is that none of the people in this article have broken international law with the single exception of Saddam.

 

Here are a few more documented facts from Amnesty International regarding the torture, rape, and murder of Iraqi political prisoners under Saddam's regime and form your own opinion.  Keep in mind that these are Iraqi citizens.

 

http://web.amnesty.org/ai.nsf/Index/MDE140082001?OpenDocument&of=COUNTRIES%5CIRAQ

 

I really didn't know that Israel has been in violation of international law as many times as someone else mentioned.  It's definitely hypocritical in my point of view.

 

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Kevin Smith [mailto:kms7@sympatico.ca]
Sent: Tuesday, March 25, 2003 2:41 PM
To: What were the skies like when you were young?
Subject: Re: [Orb] off topic WAR

 

----- Original Message -----

From: Don Gagen

To: 'What were the skies like when you were young?'

Cc: 'hal8999_@hotmail.com'

Sent: Tuesday, March 25, 2003 2:50 PM

Subject: RE: [Orb] off topic WAR

 

What they fail to mention is that 12 years ago the UN determined that Saddam's regime broke international law by attacking Kuwait.  As a result, he and his government lost the rights that that other countries have with regard to military weapons by way of UN resolution 687.  So, much like any other criminal he was lucky to retain even partial rights in society.  It also states that if Iraq failed to comply with disarmament (which it did) military force can be used.

http://www.iaea.org/worldatom/Programmes/ActionTeam/resolutions/res687.pdf

Over the course of those 12 years Saddam has continued to break international law by failing to work with UN inspectors and disarm.  As a result he stacked up even more resolutions.  I found almost 20.  Maybe there are more.

http://www.iaea.org/worldatom/Programmes/ActionTeam/resolutions2.html

I don't totally agree that the US should have moved forward with the attack without a majority vote of the UN, but I definitely don't buy into any of the arguments in Saddam's favor.  He's had 12 years.  Who gets that many chances with regard to anything in life?  I really don't think there would be so many people protesting this war if they knew all the facts.

Don

"There is no greater joy than soaring high on the wings of your dreams, except maybe the joy of watching a dreamer who has nowhere to land but in the ocean of reality."

DONALD D GAGEN

MAILTO:DGAGEN@ENSEMBLESTUDIOS.COM

ENSEMBLE STUDIOS

http://www.ensemblestudios.com

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Ben May [mailto:hal8999_@hotmail.com]
Sent: Tuesday, March 25, 2003 1:00 PM
To: orb@mailman.xmission.com
Subject: RE: [Orb] off topic WAR

 

Just for a little international perspective:

 

http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/mar/25inter.htm

 

And a viewer comment posted on the Al Jazeera website (kudos to my
girlfriend for finding and translating this for me):

Sometimes, late at night, I wonder if the USA has set themselves upon a path
that will lead, in 20, 30, or 50 years to a 'coalition of the willing'
advancing through New Orleans on the way to Washington, to arrest the leader
of another 'rogue state', where he sits in a place called the oval office.

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