Why We Went In (Iraq): Version 10.0

[davsand]

Why We Went In: Version 10.0

by P.J. Crowley and Robert O. Boorstin
March 19, 2004

In the year since the invasion of Iraq, the Bush administration has repeatedly shifted its justification for going to war and constantly changed its story on intelligence, the United Nations, reconstruction, political transition and the cost to the American taxpayer. More than anything, the administration's war in Iraq resembles a software program that, at first, works brilliantly, but then catches the user in a cycle of "fatal error" messages.

Here then, in Silicon Valley terms, is a review of the Bush administration's year in Iraq:

Saddam Hussein poses an 'imminent threat' to the American people.

Version 1.0 - Saddam Hussein is an imminent threat
Version 1.01 - Saddam Hussein is a gathering threat
Version 1.02 - Saddam Hussein poses a real and dangerous threat
Version 1.1 - The smoking gun will be a mushroom cloud
Version 1.2 - We can't afford to wait
Version 1.3 - We never said imminent
Version 1.3.1 - OK, maybe we did say it once or twice
Version 1.4 - We should have been more precise

Entire article here:

http://www.americanprogress.org/site/pp.asp?c=biJRJ8OVF&b=38989&printmode=1

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It is amazing to see the changes in the story when it is laid out like this. This is well worth the time it takes to read it, and does a great job of pointing out how many reversals and contradictions there have been in this entire mess.

Makes me wonder, maybe we should just say screw it and put Bill Gates in charge of our foreign policy... :evilgrin:


Laura

[peacetalksforall]

1. MUST READ!

Hooray!!!!!

A great tool!

[leftofthedial]

2. hard to believe this bunch can accuse their critics

of inconsistency

and not have the media tear them to shreds for it.

[tom_paine]

3. Only a Free Press could do that.

Imperial Amerika doesn't have one.

[Bozita]

4. That belongs on the front page of every newspaper in America

Above the fold.

Thanks, Davsand.

on edit: This makes a humorous, yet scathing email, IMHO.

[klook]

5. Far better than "You might be a Republican if...."

I will definitely distribute this link.

[NuttyFluffers]

6. hilarious, e-mailing to friends now.

normally i hate e-mailing forwards, but this one was well made and quite funny.

[davsand]

7. Welcome to you, NuttyFluffers!

This is the first time I've run into you on here. Welcome to you!

Laura

[Bozita]

8. kick for the evening crowd

[davsand]

9. Thanks for kicking this up!

I appreciate it!

Laura

[mouse7]

10. This needs to be read on Air America on Day One

DUer's man the phones Weds. They'll love this!

[Bozita]

11. Bernie Ward's got it. Just emailed it

[Bozita]

12. Anybody get responses to emails of this?

none here

[davsand]

14. I've been surprised by the lack of response to this.

I sent it out to a few folks, and the ones who did respond were happy to have the list--but didn't seem to be as fired up about it as I was.

I was really rocked to see how many different versions they have floated on so many stories. Maybe the DUers are just so used to it we take it for granted? I dunno...

Laura

[NewJeffCT]

13. $1.7 billion

Don't forget, somebody in the administration said it would only cost $1.7 billion... that should be added to the cost piece. And, I could swear before the invasion, Cheney said the troops would only be in Iraq for "...weeks, not months"

Great list, though.