They lied their way into Iraq. Now they are trying to lie their way out

[Briar]

They lied their way into Iraq. Now they are trying to lie their way out


Bush and Blair will blame anyone but themselves for the consequences of their disastrous war - even its victims

Gary Younge
http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,,1957695,00.html


... those who lied their way into this war are now trying to lie their way out of it. Franco-German diplomatic obstruction, Arab indifference, media bias, UN weakness, Syrian and Iranian meddling, women in niqabs and old men with placards - all have been or surely will be blamed for the coalition's defeat. As one American columnist pointed out last week, we wait for Bush and Blair to conduct an interview with Fox News entitled If We Did It, in which they spell out how they would have bungled this war if, indeed, they had done so.

So, just as Britain allegedly invaded for the good of the Iraqis, the timing of their departure will be conducted with them in mind. The fact that - according to the foreign secretary, Margaret Beckett - it will coincide with Blair leaving office in spring is entirely fortuitous.

More insidious is the manner in which the Democrats, who are about to take over the US Congress, have framed their arguments for withdrawal. Last Saturday the newly elected House majority leader, Steny Hoyer, suggested that the Americans would pull out because the Iraqis were too disorganised and self-obsessed. "In the days ahead, the Iraqis must make the tough decisions and accept responsibility for their future," he said. "And the Iraqis must know: our commitment, while great, is not unending."

It is absurd to suggest that the Iraqis - who have been invaded, whose country is currently occupied, who have had their police and army disbanded and their entire civil service fired - could possibly be in a position to take responsibility for their future and are simply not doing so.

...

I was disgusted to see Michael Moore had joined in with the "blame the savage and barbaric Iraqis" chorus as well. They weren't ready for freedom and democracy seems to be the excuse. This attempt to shift the blame to the victims has got to be resisted wherever it raises its head.

[Stand and Fight]

1. Recommended for the Greatest Page... Off to Bed. n/t

[Skittles]

2. Mr. Younge NAILS it

OMG Democrats are STILL not holding these repukes accountable for their actions

[PuraVidaDreamin]

3. They plan to label us cowards

Infact already have- Us citizens don't have the stomach
for it. No asshats! We are against your imperial wars!
Don't let them label us peoples!

[WritersBlock]

4. Exactly.

That's the point I was trying to make here


It's a trend I've been seeing a lot of lately, and it disgusts me.

It's a blatant attempt to rewrite history. And it's yet another lie.

[Kat 333]

5. It is really upsetting me also ...

Now this has become a "lets cut and run" because the Iraqis aren't doing their share to pull their own weight. We attacked an innocent nation, killed thousands and thousands of men, woman, and children, destroyed their country, and are now trying to place the blame and responsibility for cleaning this mess up on them. Far more Americans are fretting over the 2000+ soldiers that have been killed than giving a second thought to the many thousands Iraqis that have and continue to die. Not because they wanted liberated but because they were attacked. Nothing shocks me anymore but it makes me so angry and ashamed. It's clearly a case of whatever we need to do to save our own ass and screw those we have placed in this hell on earth.

[tbyg52]

6. Yep.

I am sick and tired of listening to them get blamed when it was *us* (the collective, people-who-are-running-the-country "us") who a) invaded them and b) totally f***ed up (sorry, I don't usually talk like that, but I've been through the thesaurus and could not find another suitable word) the aftermath.

I hear 80% of the people want us out, now. Why don't we do that little thing? Seems like the least we could do is what they say they want.