Last week the testimony of Scoter Libby focused more light on the way Bush and Cheney lead our country into war in Iraq. The most important decision ANY president can make is to take our country into conflict with another nation.
The Iraq War was a selective and preemptive conflict. It was not like WWII for example. The rational used by Bush and Cheney to justify invading Iraq was that our country was in danger from Iraq and Saddam Hussein. The arguments for our preemptive attach were NOT:
Saddam was an evil dictator.
Saddam had violated U N Resolutions we had to enforce.
The Iraqi people should be able to choose a new government.
The argument Bush and Cheney used to justify attacking Iraq in March 2003 was that Iraq was such a danger that we could not risk waiting for a smoking gun which could be mushroom clouds over American Cities.
When No WMD was found after we had deposed Saddam and occupied Iraq, the reason was that the intelligence used to justify the invasion was faulty - Not only our Intelligence but the intelligence of our allies as well. Now we are learning that only the intelligence that appeared to support the Bush/Cheney push to invade Iraq was made available. Bush released sensitive and formerly classified intelligence that bolstered his position while keeping other classified intelligence that showed Saddam was not a threat was kept secret. Bush released some sections of a document while keeping other sections classified depending on weather the intelligence supported his position or not.
Look at some of what is becoming known about the intelligence that was used to justify this preemptive war:
"Bush cherry picked the intelligence"
"Official intelligence on Iraq weapons programs was flawed, but even with its flaws, it was not what lead to war."
Paul R. Piller
Chief Iraq Intelligence officer at the CIA
Gen Zinni, former CENCOM commander and security consultant up to the time of our invasion had this to say in his new book, The Battle For Peace:
He watched ALL the intelligence about Iraq pass over his desk during the period before our invasion. He said there was a wealth of intelligence that was buried and totally ignored. Anything that indicated Saddam was not a threat was not released. Information that said he has NO nuclear program. Intelligence that discounted other forms of WMD available to Saddam. Intelligence that the only WMD that was likely in the Saddam arsenal were OLD gas filled artillery shells left over from the first Gulf War. The intelligence said even these weapons were most likely no longer dangerous because the gas had most likely become inert. Intelligence that said Saddam had no viable military force to attack ANY country.
The action that is unforgivable is to take America into a preemptive War by manipulating the intelligence and justification for that war. 2,300 dead military, 35,000 injured military and as much as a trillion dollars spent on a war using manipulated information designed to present a false danger to justify invading Iraq. This deception mandates the removal of both Bush and Cheney from office. What they did is worse then the Clinton lies or even the Nixon obstruction of justice.
IMPEACH BUSH AND CHENEY NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!