This article is part of the DaanSpeak-series Why war?


Despite whitewashing operation
Truth about Iraq war slowly
becomes clear 1 2

 

25Feb2004 - Email this article.
The Dutch in the original article has been translated into English by Marienella Meulensteen.
While the whitewashing operation of the war in Iraq is in full swing (see the previous part in this series), a number of people are unearthing the truth. Three examples of lies and deceit in the run up to the war against Iraq.

1. In an article of The Guardian with the heading 'Bush 'wanted war in 2002'' the intro is as follows: 'George Bush set the U.S. on the path to war in Iraq with a formal order signed in February 2002, more than a year before the invasion, according to a book published yesterday. [...] The next month [...] the head of central command, General Tommy Franks, conducted a "major Iraq war exercise code-named "Prominent Hammer", and in April he briefed the joint chiefs of staff on the invasion plan.' The book Rumsfeld's War in which this is mentioned, is by the well-informed Rowan Scarborough. Barely five hours after Flight AA77 crashed into the Pentagon, Rumsfeld had already demanded plans of attack against Iraq from his subordinates. Read all about it in this DaanSpeak.

2. Investigative journalist Jim Loeb, writes about 'Ahmed Chalabi, the head of the Iraqi National Congress (INC)', who stated to the Daily Telegraph: '"As far as we're concerned, we've been entirely successful," he told the newspaper. "That tyrant Saddam is gone and the Americans are in Baghdad. What was said before is not important. The Bush administration is looking for a scapegoat. We're ready to fall on our swords if he wants." It was an amazing admission, and certain to fuel growing suspicions on Capitol Hill that Chalabi, whose INC received millions of dollars in taxpayer money over the past decade, effectively conspired with his supporters in and around the administration to take the United States to war on pretenses they knew, or had reason to know, were false.'

3. The third confession Loeb contributes to 'U.S. retired General Jay Garner, who was in charge of planning and administering post-war reconstruction from January through May 2002'. Garner says that one of the goals of the war against Iraq is to possess a base in the Middle-East. (Also think of the base the U.S. has now in the former Soviet republic Uzbekistan, even though Rumsfeld says not to need it permanently). Loeb: 'Asked how long U.S. troops might remain in Iraq, Garner replied, ''I hope they're there a long time," and then compared U.S. goals in Iraq to U.S. military bases in the Philippines between 1898 and 1992. [...] Garner added, ''Look back on the Philippines around the turn of the 20th century: they were a coaling station for the navy, and that allowed us to keep a great presence in the Pacific. That's what Iraq is for the next few decades: our coaling station that gives us great presence in the Middle East."' 

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