Iraqis stage mock Abu Ghraib; "topple" Bush/Blair/Saddam

Why did I have to go to the Canadian media to see this?

Caption: Iraqi demonstrators stage a mock reenactment of Abu Ghraib Prison abuses during a rally in Baghdad, Saturday.

And how about this for a tragic indictment of our US image abroad:

Waving Iraqi flags and chanting slogans against the occupation, they placed three effigies representing Saddam, U.S. President George W. Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair on a pedestal, then knocked them down.

Headline: Huge crowds rally in Iraq against occupation.

The more I read, and the more I see crude prices skyrocket, the more I'm a fan of Occam's razor: we quite simply did it for the oil.

(If you want to read more about oil, read Jerome a Paris' outstanding diaries.)

•  Not quite that simple.

  But close.

  The oil was just the primary motive in a plan that had at least 3 goals: get the oil, get a foothold of control of a country in the Middle East and spread freedom and democracy throughout the earth.

  Okay, TWO motives.

  by Maryscott OConnor on Sat Apr 09, 2005 at 05:12:30 PM PDT

  •  But why spread democracy?

    So we get access to more oil! :)

    by Winger on Sat Apr 09, 2005 at 05:13:51 PM PDT

  •  I still wonder

    How much of the "you wanted to kill my daddy" crap entered into Bush's mind about Iraq. I suspect that was one of the bigger reasons Bush himself wanted to go to war, but those around him had their own reasons.

    by ECH on Sat Apr 09, 2005 at 05:17:40 PM PDT

    •  Are you serious?

      It is the biggest bullshit ever.

      That was designed for people too stupid to understand what WMDs and democracy are.

      Who says Saddam tried to kill his daddy? Why it was the CIA Surprise, Surprise.

      Interesting piece on it
       here at Antiwar.com

      In October, 1993, however, New Yorker investigative journalist Seymour Hersh assailed the government's case as "seriously flawed," noting among other problems that seven bomb experts had told him that the devices were mass-produced and probably not even manufactured in Iraq.

      Ambassador Joseph Wilson, who met with Saddam when he served as U.S. charge d'affaires in Baghdad during the Gulf War, said he found the plot "odd."

      "[Saddam] had to have had some idea that his ability to run operations outside Iraq was not very good, because we had foiled so many things before the war. So you have to ask why someone who was a risk-taker but clearly not suicidal would undertake to assassinate a former president of the United States," pointed out Wilson.

      
      

      by AnonymousArmy on Sat Apr 09, 2005 at 06:19:29 PM PDT

      •  I am talking about what motivated Bush

        It doesn't matter if it is true or not it is what Bush felt.

        He said himself years ago that this was the man that tried to kill my father and I do believe that he believed that.

        by ECH on Sat Apr 09, 2005 at 06:31:21 PM PDT

        •  Bush isn't stupid

          He is evil.

          This dumb Bush is all an act.

          Do you think Saddam invaded Kuwait without Bush Sr. approval?

          Please don't help these people spread their mythology.

          Bush knew. Bush knows. And Bush doesn't care.

          I would however be interested to find out if the new Iraqi regime has removed the ceramic mosaic portrait of Bush Sr. adorning the floor at the entrance of one of Saddam's palaces.

          Circling the portrait are the words `Bush War Criminal'.

          by AnonymousArmy on Sat Apr 09, 2005 at 06:48:36 PM PDT

    •  I don't think Bush cares about his Daddy...

      he wants to show his Daddy that he's bigger and better and has more power.

      by Gabriele Droz on Sat Apr 09, 2005 at 06:26:38 PM PDT

      •  More mythology

        How do you supose he would do that with ALL of his daddy's friends doing all the heavy lifting?

        by AnonymousArmy on Sat Apr 09, 2005 at 06:50:18 PM PDT

  •  Two motives that boil down to one

    They wanted to get a foothold of control in the Middle East to keep access to oil.  Spreading freedom and democracy never entered their minds as anything more than a cover story.  If they believed in that, we'd have them in America instead of loyalty oaths.

    by beemer on Sat Apr 09, 2005 at 05:26:07 PM PDT

    •  nailed it

      by rrob1 on Sat Apr 09, 2005 at 05:56:25 PM PDT

  •  Revenge

    He wanted to kill my daddy

    by white blitz on Sat Apr 09, 2005 at 05:37:12 PM PDT

  •  Three

    3) Avenge Daddy.

    by kenlac on Sat Apr 09, 2005 at 05:42:17 PM PDT

  •  Operation Iraqi Liberation...

    um,

    Ottoman Infidel Liquidation

    ah,

    Oligarchy Impassioned Lunacy

    ok. now we need a big sign that says "Mission Accommodated..." or something

    Maybe "Accentuated"?

    How about "Absolved"?

    That's good, "Mission Absolved!"

    Yes!!

    by notcho on Sat Apr 09, 2005 at 06:15:51 PM PDT

  •  One more

    I think you have to recognize one more motive:

    To be able to call Bush "a popular war-time president."  That seems pretty clear in the timing.  To be completing a bloodless victory and get the photo opportunities of statues toppling and Bush landing on the aircraft carrier in order to run over the Democratic opponent in 2004, as well as paint Congressional opposition candidates into a corner in 2002 during the run-up.  It was important domestically, as well.

    by lennywick on Sat Apr 09, 2005 at 08:26:26 PM PDT

  •  forgot one

    4th goal: Apocolypse. ie "I'm just doing the biddings of God". Even if this one were true (who knows what Bush thinks.. no one ever asks him that question), no one higher up will admit to it. However, to a certain group of religious-right, this is the reason.

    by ppr on Sat Apr 09, 2005 at 10:45:49 PM PDT

  •  Third and most important.

    Protection of the US dollar by preventing oil from being priced in Euros.

    by Truckle on Sat Apr 09, 2005 at 11:17:44 PM PDT

•  Those are members of the Mahdi Army

  I wonder if Sadr is going to try to make another play for power?

  by ECH on Sat Apr 09, 2005 at 05:12:45 PM PDT

•  For really great pictures of the Iraqi demo

  See here. I got this tip from Riverbend from Bagdhad who, like us, is trying to figure out if these developments might really be a source of hope.

  Does the US ever intend to get out? Or is the US aim permanent divide and rule? At least today's rally points toward these questions which are the real ones to which that sadly damaged country needs answers.

  by janinsanfran on Sat Apr 09, 2005 at 05:32:51 PM PDT

•  Oil!!! Oil!!! Oil!!!...

  ...Oh, let me see, did I mention "OIL"!!! And did I forget OIL!!! And how about OIL!!!  No, on second thought it's a much better idea to drill in ANWR for OIL!!!

  by boran2 on Sat Apr 09, 2005 at 05:46:23 PM PDT

•  To

  me the war was not about getting the oil because our country still doesn't have the refineries to turn that into Gasoline (and the oil companies are in no rush of course to build more).

  This was about creating a panic situation all across the markets which led to high oil prices and now the corporations are making a killing.  All paid for by the blood of our troops.

  by EMKennedyLucio on Sat Apr 09, 2005 at 05:49:02 PM PDT

  •  You left out the perks...

    Massive war profiteering for bush cronies.

    by fly on Sat Apr 09, 2005 at 05:58:20 PM PDT

    •  Ah. I was waiting to see if someone

      would mention this obvious explanation.

      The Bush 43 administration is about asset-stripping the US Treasury -- thinly disguised embezzlement. That was the primary purpose of the war: war profiteering. Certain people have gotten very, very rich. Plus, they also got a tax cut! Bonus!

      The Social Security "plan" was supposed to let the administration cover their tracks by causing the US to default on all those Treasury Bonds... but, mmm... that part doesn't seem to be working out too well.

      by Canadian Reader on Sat Apr 09, 2005 at 08:34:03 PM PDT

•  why even argue what it was about?

  PNAC could've told you long ago. It's crazy to think it is something of bush's will. he is just a convenient character who can be played as someone who has " a vision".

  by Miss Devore on Sat Apr 09, 2005 at 06:25:32 PM PDT