Rewriting history to justify terrorism

[Anita Garcia]

Saddam Hussein, Iraq’s Baathist party and Osama bin Laden were not involved in the September 11th attacks. On August 21, 2006 in response to a question about what Iraq had to do with the attack on the World Trade Center, Bush responds, “Nothing, except for it's part of -- and nobody's ever suggested in this administration that Saddam Hussein ordered the attack.” The US 2004 9/11 Commission Report states that Bush repeatedly linked Saddam Hussein and the Baathist party to the September 11th attacks, despite the fact that there was no convincing evidence of Saddam’s involvement in 9-11. Rex Tomb, Chief of Investigative Publicity for the FBI states: “The reason why 9/11 is not mentioned on Usama Bin Laden’s Most Wanted page is because the FBI has no hard evidence connecting Bin Laden to 9/11.”

In that same press conference on August 21, 2006 Bush further clarifies that Saddam Hussein did not have weapons of mass destruction, “Now, look, I -- part of the reason we went into Iraq: was -- the main reason we went into Iraq: at the time was we thought he had weapons of mass destruction. It turns out he didn't, but he had the capacity to make weapons of mass destruction…”

On April 10, 2006 Bush states "...today's war on terror is like the Cold War. It is an ideological struggle with an enemy that despises freedom and pursues totalitarian aims...". Bush justifies the invasion of Iraq by stating: “The decision by the United States and our coalition partners to remove Saddam Hussein was a really difficult decision -- it was the right decision. After September the 11th, America decided that we would fight the war on terror on the offense -- and that we would confront threats before they fully materialized. Saddam Hussein was a threat to the United States of America…”

But, back then, on October 7, 2001 when the US invasion of Afghanistan began, Bush stated that the purpose of the invasion of Afghanstan was to target al Qaeda members and punish Taliban government in Afghanistan in response to September 11th attacks. And, back then, on October 11, 2002, when Congress passed the “Authorization for the Use of Military Force Against Iraq”, the Resolution stated: “… the current Iraqi regime has demonstrated its capability and willingness to use weapons of mass destruction against other nations and its own people;… demonstrated capability and willingness to use weapons of mass destruction, the risk that the current Iraqi regime will either employ those weapons to launch a surprise attack against the United States or its Armed Forces or provide them to international terrorists who would do so, and the extreme magnitude of harm that would result to the United States and its citizens from such an attack, combine to justify action by the United States to defend itself;. . . .”

Bush is attempting to go back and rewrite history to justify future terrorist attacks on citizens of other countries and citizens of the United States. His verbal gymnastics and the talking points of the Republican Party are convincing the ignorant masses as just yesterday I was told that there have been two wars in Iraq. One, the “War in Iraq 2003” was completed April 9, 2003 and was instituted to overthrow Saddam and Baathists and two, the “War in Iraq 2006” which was instituted for the “Killing of Terrorists”.

Back to the future: Now Bush and his Republican party seek to change current laws prohibiting surveillance program searches without warrants (including phone conversations and homes) and secret prisons that violate the Geneva Convention. Both the wiretapping and the military tribunals have been found illegal by the Federal courts. Bush justifies illegal wiretapping of US citizens and illegal secret prisons in violation of the Geneva Convention as continuing the fight against terrorism. But who is actually the terrorist?

The US defines terrorism as “…activities that involve violent…or life-threatening acts…that are a violation of the criminal laws of the United States or of any State and…appear to be intended (i) to intimidate or coerce a civilian population; (ii) to influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion; or (iii) to affect the conduct of a government by mass destruction, assassination, or kidnapping; and …if domestic…( C ) occur primarily within the territorial jurisdiction of the United States…if international...( C ) occur primarily outside the territorial jurisdiction of the United States…” Federal Criminal Code, Title 18, Section 2331, Chapter 113b, Part 1.

Haven't we, the United States, been involved in activities that involve violent or life threatening acts against the people of Afghanistan and Iraq; violated the criminal laws of the United States; intimidated or coerced the civilian population of Afghanistan and Iraq; affected the conduct of another government by mass destruction; and, assassinated or kidnapped citizens of other countries?

The Constitution says that the president can be removed from office by the House of Representatives “for high crimes and misdemeanors.” Bush lied to the public about the need to go to war. Bush retaliated against individuals who disagreed with him. Bush misused presidential signing statements to state that he does not have to obey the law. Bush instituted electronic surveillance on Americans without any court approval.
Bush instituted secret prisons in violation of the Geneva Convention.

The Future: Regime Change at Home
The only way to stop the attacks of Bush on the US and citizens of other countries is to have a House of Representatives that will not march lock step with Bush.

“Nazi leader Hermann Goering, interviewed by Gustave Gilbert during the Easter recess of the Nuremberg trials, 1946 April 18, quoted in Gilbert's book 'Nuremberg Diary’-

Goering: Why, of course, the people don't want war. Why would some poor slob on a farm want to risk his life in a war when the best that he can get out of it is to come back to his farm in one piece. Naturally, the common people don't want war; neither in Russia, nor in England, nor in America, nor for that matter in Germany. That is understood. But, after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship.

Gilbert: There is one difference. In a democracy the people have some say in the matter through their elected representatives, and in the United States only Congress can declare wars.

Goering: Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country."


Bush, August 21, 2006 press conference -<http://www.rawstory.com/news/2006/Bush_calls_Lebanon_aid_troops_0821.html><http://www.9-11commission.gov/>;From the Muckraker Report- <http://www.teamliberty.net/id267.html>; <http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=viewArticle&code=20060610&articleId=2623>; <http://www.rawstory.com/news/2006/Bush_calls_Lebanon_aid_troops_0821.html > April 10, 2006, White House, “Remarks by President Bush on the Global War on Terror” <http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/wh/rem/64287.htm>; <http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/10/20021002-2.html>white house 2002 news release

[rodeodance]

1. i have to wonder if Rove carrries around Goering quotes in his hip pocket.

........Gilbert: There is one difference. In a democracy the people have some say in the matter through their elected representatives, and in the United States only Congress can declare wars.

Goering: Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country."