Why Some Believe Saddam Was Involved In 9/11

[Justice]

People on DU live in a different world than most Americans. I like to think it is a more informed world - but different nonetheless.

My close relative this week told me she believes Saddam was involved in 9/11. This is a private college educated person, who works in Manhattan and is an intelligent person. She is busy, has children, etc etc. Her living room window had a view of the WTC towers. She watched the smoke for days, weeks.

Her belief is not factual, frankly it is just gutted based. She believes that Muslims want to get Americans. Iraq has Muslims living there. Thus, she believes that Saddam was involved in some way.

I know and you know all the many reasons why this is not even an accurate analysis - never mind factually based. When I started telling her about Saddam and Iraq being secular and enemies of other Muslim faith based countries, about Saudi Arabia - she did not disagree, she did not argue back, she had no idea what I was talking about - that Iraq was secular, how Iran and Saudi Arabia were religious, etc etc. She listened quietly, and that was it.

I came away thinking she heard me, but that I didn't shake her gut belief.

I post this to share with people why 55% of Americans still believe Saddam had something to do with 9/11. Until our government and our media takes more time to explain that all muslims and all middle east countries aren't the same - we will never have an honest discussion.

[Racenut20]

1. This is a sad fact that is going to make it tough to beat them.

[Scott Lee]

2. I might add that Dick Cheney's lying ass doesn't help

This guy is psychotically driven to find or CREATE any connection between Saddam and 9/11 that he can. Who knows why. Maybe it's because he has such a personal hatred for the guy that he wants to justify it. Maybe its because he just cannot be wrong. Maybe it's because he thinks it will vindicate his boss and seal the election. Maybe its for a combination of all the reasons above.

All I know is that we have to stop writing a pass for Americans to be ignorant and lazy. We have brains, we need to use them. Learn. Analyze. Deduce from facts and logic. Gut feelings are great in their place, but every chakra has its limits.

The last guy I heard make a case for making decisions about your world "by the blood" (a German colloquialism for 'gut instinct') was an angry little Bavarian Corporal who damn near burned the world down.

[specimenfred1984]

3. You're 100% Right, And

Brainwashing and propaganda are much more widespread than just within the GOPukes. They are pervasive in every aspect of our lives.

Check out a few books on propaganda, a good one being "Taking the Risk Out Of Democracy, Corporate Propaganda versus Freedom and
Liberty". Our country's last 100 years is so full of propaganda that one of it's major successes is that a lot of us don't even realize it!

A sad reality is that we as a nation "sell" lies for plenty of reasons, not just politics. And, as dumbed-down, brainwashed consumers, we don't even believe the truth anymore unless it's "sold to us". This isn't true for everyone but, until a person realizes how widespread consumer jingoism is in their lives, they are highly susceptible to anything they are "sold".

[gulliver]

4. A good president would not take advantage of that ignorance.

Bush takes advantage of it because it helps him cover his mess in Iraq. The truth would hurt Bush, so he conceals it. That is par for the course for the lowest, most dishonest, most divisive president (technically) our poor country has ever had.

[Blayde Starrfyre]

5. Not gonna happen

"Until our government and our media takes more time to explain that all muslims and all middle east countries aren't the same - we will never have an honest discussion."

Neither the media nor the administration will do this, because it doesn't serve there interests. Sure, Bush makes a few half-hearted attempts to say that this is not a war against Islam, that this is not a crusade. But the truth is, this IS a war against Muslims, partially based on the Christian fanaticism of many members of the administration but more for the simple fact that is it the Muslims who are sitting on the oil. Thus it is in the interests of the Bush regime (and FOX News, their propoganda wing) that Americans be unable to distinguish between secular Muslims, fundamentalist Muslims, Iraqi Muslims, Afghani Muslims, etc. They may not come out and SAY that the Iraqis are the same people that flew the planes on 9/11, but they certainly do nothing to dispell that notion. Think of it this way: if Bush says "we're going to attack North Korea because of link to terrorism," everyone says "huh?" If he tries to pull the same lie with Iraq, subconsciously the ignorant will link the Muslims of Iraq with the alleged Muslim terrorists, making support of the Iraq invasion that much easier to drum up.

It is not in the interest of the government or the subservient media that Americans have any understanding of Islam except as the "other" and the threat. Thus, ignorant Americans will continue to operate under the same misconceptions you describe in your post.

[Dr Fate]

6. The DEM candidate need only repeat Bush's own words:

One question for you both. Do you believe that there is a link between Saddam Hussein, a direct link, and the men who attacked on September the 11th?

THE PRESIDENT: I can't make that claim.

more:

http://www.thememoryhole.org/war/no-saddam-qaeda.htm

Clark should repeat, repeat, repeat Bush's own words. Whenever someone tries to present "evidence"- Clark can say- "well in that case, I'll be waiting for Bush to retract his statement that Saddam was not involved. I need to hear Bush tell us that Saddam was involved, not some media outlet..."

This Bush admission will be a good thing to focus on in the debates as well...

[mikehiggins]

7. I'm shocked its only 55% considering how many lies BushCo has

spoken in regard to this issue.

The only answer to this is to smile sadly and say something like, "I guess they got you again, huh?" That raises the question without raising it. The common reply is "Huh? Whaddya mean?"

"Well, you know, its like how they can't find the guy that sold out that CIA agent."

"Huh? What CIA agent?"

"Oh, you remember. When that guy proved all that stuff about Saddam building A-bombs was bull***? Yeah, and then they outed his wife as a CIA spy to punish him?"

"What the f**k are you talking about?"

"Wow. You got a couple of minutes? You didn't hear about that one?"

And away we go.

You have to get them to ask, then you can talk to them. It's just basic salesmanship.

[adadem]

8. How many US citizens actually

know a Muslim person well? Well enough to understand their religion? what is important to the Muslim people, etc?

I am fortunate to have a Muslim neighbor...I never knew a Muslim before nor was I particularly interested in understanding Islam. My neighbor asked help in getting some in their community registered to vote and for info on why the Muslim community should vote Dem...our county party provided speakers and info....on that day I met some of the most gentle, respectful people I have ever met.

My point is that I think this "ignorance" of what the Muslim community truly is...that a few make the majority....helps fuel
those beliefs.

[LibertyorDeath]

9. Where to begin ? Well lets start with college educated

and intelligent.

Well if there's one thing my college prof's tried to drill into us it's learn to think for yourself be critical of what your media & government wants you to accept as fact and above all question everything.

Pretty sure she did not attend the same college.

Intelligent. Does she believe that all Governments lie and most politicians are liars.


"Until our government and our media takes more time to explain that all muslims and all middle east countries aren't the same - we will never have an honest discussion "

Well instead of waiting to be provided with the "Facts" from a self interested government and a self serving media maybe this intelligent college educated person might pick up a book on the History of the middle east and read it and come to some of her own conclusions instead of parroting the insipid spoon fed shit that passes for journalism in the current USA.

"Her belief is not factual"

Then it's based on shit it may as well be a superstition she has about Iraq.

If this is what passes for private college educated and intelligent in the US then we are in very deep shit.