quote posted by Chaim
Quote “We did not start the war.
War has ups and downs. You cannot win all the time. You need to support the people that are in charge and hope for long term win.
If somebody hides in a cave in the mountains, its hard to find him. It is as simple as that. Do you blam Bush for this?
Since we are at war, it cost money! What can we do?
Democrats have more money than republicans? Clinton started the downturn...let not forget!
We need to understand the strategy, long term goals, etc. and Bush has a vision. Its hard and takes time. Years.
Should we sit and do nothing? Hide? Negotiate with terorists? Criminals?
and about the UN...do you realy think the UN can do enything at was times? They can hardly police regions during peace times.
The the UN is not currupt?”
end quote
It is my recollection that the USA invaded Iraq on 17th March 2003.
The invasion of Iraq was premised, by the Bush government, on the basis that Hussein had biological weapons (anthrax, smallpox - quantities of which have never been found), WMD’s (none of which have been found) and that Hussein supported
and help instigate 11th Sept 2001 (no evidence of which has ever been found).
America invaded Iraq and thus started the current war.
You also intertwine two separate issues in to your post above.
You include Osama Bin Laden and Hussein in your post.
Let me re-iterate it again : Hussein Ba’ath regime was a secular regime and had no interest or connection to Bin Ladens.
BinLaden, in return, viewed Hussein’s regime as he does the Bush regime : Godless and anti-Islamic.
BinLaden accused Hussein of being “a bad muslim” - which to our ears may seem to be mild criticism but in the muslim world would be considered to be the worst possible criticism from one muslim to another muslim.
As I have stated before, I have no difficulty with the USA pursuing the Al Quaeda.
However, by starting the illegal war in Iraq, it is my belief that the USA have diverted valuable attention and resources away from what was a legitimate manhunt - in to an illegal war.
The Bush government, instead of avenging those poor peoples death in the Trade Center, instead fixated upon an Iraqi regime which, although terrible, had nothing whatsoever got to do with Sept 11th.
You blame Clinton for the economic downturn in your country.
The statistics show that the downturn took effect under the Bush government.
Under the Democrat government of Bill Clinton, the USA enjoyed great economic
performances.
Take the Dow Jones average for the period 1996-2000.
The Dow Jones average increased substantially, year on year, during the Democrat
period in government.
Taking the entire Dow Jones, the overall value of the price index was as follows :
1996 up 26.01%
1997 up 22.64%
1998 up 16.10%
1999 up 25.22%
2000 down 6.81%
Thus, the values for pensions, invested in stocks and shares increased dramatically in the first three years of the second Clinton terms.
Compare and contrast this to the Dow Jones performance during this Bush government.
2001 down 7.10%
2002 down 16.76%
2003 down 7.31%
The gains in terms of real wealth made during the Clinton era, were completely wiped out under the stewardship of George W.Bush’s government.
Statistics from Econstats show just how poorly the Bush Government has performed in creating jobs in the US economy since assuming office.
In 1992 when Bill Clinton became president, he inherited an unemployment rate of 8.1% from the previous Bush government and he also inherited a substantial current budget deficit of $275 billion.
By 1996, this rate of unemployment had dropped to 5.5%, and the Clinton government had managed to clear the budget deficit $275 billion.
The average unemployment rate between 1996-2000 dropped to 3.5%.(full employment in the USA is regarded as 3% !!!!!!!!!!!).
And the Clinton government created a budget surplus $250 billion, on leaving office.
Bush enters office.
By the end of 2000, unemployment had jumped to 4.2% - by the end of 2001 unemployment was up to 5.4%, by the end of 2002 unemployment was up to 6%.
In 2003, unemployment averaged 6.1%.
To March 2004, unemployment was at 6.1%.
Employment and jobs created under the Clinton administration has been steadily eroded by the Bush goverment and it has also created the largest budget deficit in history - $500 billion.
Finally, one salient point - you state in a reply to Beels, that Hussein invaded Kuwait.
Hussein did indeed invade Kuwait in 1991.
It is worth considering that up to 1948, the territory known now as Kuwait, was the 14th Province of Iraq !
In 1948, the British and US governments annexed this part of Iraq, installed a royal family and created a country called Kuwait.
British Petroleum and Exxon were given a preferential deal and oil rights and receive
(to this day) a commission payment for every gallon of oil sourced from Kuwait.
Hussein justified his invasion of Iraq on the basis that he wished to reclaim that sovereign territory.
His claim has some justification - although invading a country is not the way to go about things - a lesson that the USA has failed to heed in the last 15 months.
