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Operation Iraqi Freedom: Our goals

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scottcsmith Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-31-03 02:45 PM
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Operation Iraqi Freedom: Our goals
I found this briefing at the United States Central Command's web page. USCENTCOM is responsible for the military operation in Iraq.

The briefing, held on March 22 by Gen. Tommy Franks, outlined our goals in Iraq.
http://www.centcom.mil/CENTCOMNews/Transcripts/20030322.htm

Gen. Tommy Franks:

"First, end the regime of Saddam Hussein.

Second, to identify, isolate and eliminate Iraq's weapons of mass destruction.

Third, to search for, to capture and to drive out terrorists from that country.

Fourth, to collect such intelligence as we can related to terrorist networks.

Fifth, to collect such intelligence as we can related to the global network of illicit weapons of mass destruction

Sixth, to end sanctions and to immediately deliver humanitarian support to the displaced and to many needy Iraqi citizens.

Seventh, to secure Iraq's oil fields and resources, which belong to the Iraqi people.

And last, to help the Iraqi people create conditions for a transition to a representative self-government."


What is fascinating about the goals is that the seventh goal actually ended up being the first goal.

Notice nowhere in the briefing is any mention of "liberating" the Iraqi people from a "brutal dictator." I guess it's assumed by goal #1. Yet now that's the reason the Bush administration and the legion of right-wing mouthpieces give for going to war: to liberate the Iraqis from the brutal dictator. "Look at all of those mass graves!" they'll bray. "The world is better off without Saddam!" Of course that's debatable. Although why we didn't more aggressively pursue the man that actually was responsible for the 9/11 attacks is a mystery.

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