I got into it today at work with the office wingnut. I was happily working away in my office when I heard him start in on Kerry "calling people stupid" due to the botched joke bust up.
I've long since ceased being deferential in these matters but I always try to stay civil...so I merely popped my head around the corner and said "read the transcript; you have to be stupid to think he was doing anything but making a joke about B*sh".
This led a gaggle of folks into my office where the usual left-right arguments came out. When I borrowed Olbermann and Buzzflash and mentioned Boehner, asking if my coworker was going to demand and apology for that insult to the troops, I landed a point. Pressing home, I asked if B*sh had ever apologized for his National Press Club skit mocking the non-existent WMDs.
"Oh, there you go with the WMDs, again", my coworker cried, "that's what you liberals ALWAYS want to say. WMDs wasn't why we went to war!"
We had a back and forth where I reminded the gathered listeners of Colin Powell's speech ("that was the only thing the UN would listen to" my wingnut coworker opined), UAVs spraying chemical weapons, mushroom clouds, etc. He closed the argument by defiantly declaring "go back and do the reading! The CORRECT reading, not the NY Times". "I don't read that fascist rag anymore," I enjoyed this dig, "because it's the paper they used to spread their WMD lies. Judith Miller channelling Ahmed Chalabi for Dick Cheney".
Long set-up for the meat of this post, I know. But as soon as I got home, I decided to do the reading, the "correct" reading. I simply logged on to whitehouse.gov and started reading "Why We Fight", in B*sh's own words. What exactly our casus belli were and what, exactly, did our roll over Congress authorize. I just sent my coworkers the email. I hope you find it useful as well:
Subj: Do the Reading
Dear Sxxx:
I decided to take up your challenge from this afternoon. If you know anything about me it's that I love research. In order to keep it valid in your eyes, I only accessed the official statements as recorded on the White House's webpage. If you doubt my notes, check the links yourself.
Joint Resolution to Authorize the Use of United States Armed Forces Against Iraq:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/...
Quick notes:
-in the "whereas" section of the Resolution, which established "casus belli", there were 8 paragraphs on WMDs, 5 on Al Qaida/terrorist organizations/9-11, 1 on regime change/the desire for democracy, 1 on civilian oppression, 1 on Iraq's threat to its neighbors, 1 hodge-podge combining WMDs, civilian oppression and threat to neighbors, 4 on previous legal justifications and 1 on Kuwait, 1991. Clearly, the casus belli were WMD and 9-11.
-Congress specifically authorized the president to: "strictly enforce through the UN Security Council all relevent S.C. resolutions..." and "obtain prompt and decisive action by the S.C. to ensure that Iraq...complies with all S.C. resolutions"
-Congress only specifically authorized force to: "defend the national security of the United States against the continuing threat posed by Iraq; and enforce all relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions regarding Iraq."
B*sh addresses the nation (March 17, 2003)
http://www.whitehouse.gov/...
Quick notes:
-Almost the entire speech is about WMDs. Bush makes 2 references to Al Qaida and terrorists, one about Iraq being a threat in the region and none about civilian oppression. Clearly, the casus belli that "forced" US action is WMDs.
B*sh's legally required letter to Congress under the Authorization of Force
http://www.whitehouse.gov/...
Quick notes:
-B*sh specifically says he's attacking Iraq to "protect the United States" from the "continuing threat posed by Iraq" and...
-Because he is taking "necessary actions against international terrorists and terrorist organizations, including those nations, organizations, or persons who planned, authorized, committed, or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001"
-B*sh formally informed Congress that WMDs and 9/11 were the basis for war. Democracy, regime change, human rights, a blessed tomorrow are not mentioned. It is WMDs and, believe it or not, Iraq's ties to 9/11.
When B*sh claimed no one ever said Saddam Hussein ordered 9/11 he lied. In his own letter to Congress he claimed Hussein "planned, authorized, committed or aided the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001".
All the rest is revisionist dross to exonerate a calculated lie.
Sincerely,
John
With the elections just 5 days away we need to keep hammering these truths...truths that should be self-evident...to our friends, family and coworkers. If I swayed one vote today (most of my coworkers are not very committed and just like "winners") then it's worth it. If this email causes any one of them to hesitate on Tuesday, or punch a name with a (D) beside it...or hell, a "Libertarian", "Green", or any other non-Republican name...it was a worthy 2 hours.