Little Red Blog

The notion is far too common in our nation today. First, it was does President Bush’s reelection vindicate his efforts in the war on terror, specifically with regard to Iraq. And now, does this past weekends election in Iraq vindicate the war effort. Neither does. In response to this weeks Homespun Symposium question:

Do you think that the elections in Iraq vindicated President Bush's decision to invade Iraq?

The war was a just war. It needs no further vindication. While reporters and commentators are more than willing to question the decisions that led to the war, to point to the lack of having found WMD’s in Iraq after the war, and to the violent actions of the terrorist following the President’s announcement that major military action had ceased, few are availed to report on the truths behind the conflict or the positives that may arise from it (including the many that have thus far, such as the election this past weekend).

The case for the war was based on several points, and the lack of an existing surplus of WMD’s, or active manufacturing of them, does not invalidate any of those points.

From the President’s case for the war, as delivered in his State of the Union address in January of 2003 and elsewhere (HT: OTB):

The threat of a rogue nation with WMD’s for their own use or transference to terrorists is the gravest threat to the U.S. [Something both the President and Senator Kerry generally agreed with during last year’s debates. – ed.]

Saddam Hussein agreed, as a component of the cease-fire to end the 1991 Gulf War, where I served as a Marine, admitted possession of and agreed to destroy his WMD’s. Further, the UNSC endorsed the cease-fire in Resolution 687, requiring Hussein to disclose the locations and manner in which his WMD’s were destroyed, and to verification by the U.N.’s weapons inspectors, which was supposed to last four months.

Saddam Hussein failed to account for his WMD’s, and through intimidation, coercion and various forms of manipulation he attempted to prevent U.N. inspectors from determining the nature and capabilities of his weapons programs and the existing (or destroyed) weapons caches, despite 12 years of U.N. resolutions and the threat of war.

As late as 1998, inspectors found evidence of vast amounts of various WMD’s or the capabilities to produce them, and after Saddam's eviction of UN inspectors in 1998, the U.S. launched Operation Desert Fox against Hussein. If Saddam destroyed the weapons and programs, he did so in continuing violation of international law and the cease-fire agreement, which did not allow for unilateral disarmament but required verification of the destruction of the stockpiles, programs and research associated with WMD’s.

As evidenced by the attacks of September 11th, 2001, we cannot wait until the threat is “imminent” and must ensure that it does not become so. The previous year’s State of the Union address noted that Iraq, along with other Axis of Evil nations, was a “grave and growing danger.” Hence the effort to have U.N. support for the war, as no one would expect or require U.N. support to repel an imminent threat.

Saddam Hussein has murdered, tortured, and oppressed the people of Iraq and started two wars.

No connection between 9/11 and Saddam is evident or suggested, however, it is clear that Saddam Hussein has hosted, supported and protected terrorist and al-Qaeda members prior to 9/11 and afterwards.

Our liberation of Iraq, and by extension relieving the threat of further aggression from Saddam Hussein and the potential for terrorists to partner with Hussein, should be hailed on its on merits. That afterwards, we have remained an active participant in the reconstruction of the nation, aligned against terrorist who seek to destroy Iraq’s fledgling government and prevent its further development, should also be praised. The voting of Iraqi’s doesn’t vindicate our actions. It is yet another sign of the truth of our objective, we did not go to conquer, but to free. In defense of our freedom, we have lain the foundation to another’s, and while their future remains untold, it is most certainly one of their own, rather than the one of Saddam Hussein.

Other Homespun Responses:
Nixon's Memoirs
Secure Liberty
Ruah
The Redhunter
Ogre's Politics and Views
Major Dad 1984
Dagney's Rant