Why do Americans seldom admit that the US backed and supported Saddam Hussein fo

[Attero Dominatus]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x2912072

Angry Mollusk  (36 posts) Click to send private message to this author  Click to view this author's profile  Click to add this author to your buddy list  Click to add this author to your Ignore list      Sat Feb-23-08 04:30 AM
Original message
Why do Americans seldom admit that the US backed and supported Saddam Hussein for years?
   
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The radical right wing Republicans always accuse the 'mainstream media' of being liberal. Liberal media? You could have fooled me. In the many changing reasons for the invasion and occupation of Iraq, the justification was given to depose Saddam Hussein. Republicans dwelled on how evil he was an his crimes of mass murder, and how we must rid the world of such a monster. They also blasted the russians and French for having sold weapons to Saddam Hussein in the past.

True, Saddam was a butcher- but didn't the US help to install him in power in the first place? Didn't we supply him with weapons, particulalry during the Iran/Iraq war? He seemed to be yet another on a long list of petty dictators that was a puppet of the US government- but once Saddam refused to obey his puppet masters, he was declared enemy number one. This little detail is never discussed in the so called 'liberal media'. I've had arguments with Republicans who assert the US never supported Saddam Hussein, and they accused me of 'hating freedom' because I asserted the US did back Saddam for years.

For some reason the American press rarely if ever admits the US backed saddam for years- I called a few right wing radio shows and was called a nut for asserting the US used to back Saddam and provided him with weapons, some of which he used on his own people.
Did we install him, or simply support him from the beginning? I believe the CIA helped him as far back as 1968....
Whenever I hear a warmonger rationalize the war on Iraq by saying 'what, you think Iraq would have been better with Saddam still in power?", I usually tell them 'It would have been even better if we hadn't put him in power in the first place'.
I have a debate with a coworker- he admits the US supported Saddam for years, but asserts the US NEVER provided saddam's regiem with any weapons.

What's the full story? Wasn't Saddam Hussein a monster we created?

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elleng  Donating Member  (695 posts) Click to send private message to this author  Click to add this author to your buddy list  Click to add this author to your Ignore list      Sat Feb-23-08 04:39 AM
Response to Original message
1. Among other problems,
   
the U.S. education system fails to provide decent/adequate/useful history/social studies education. An educated public is the keystone to democracy.
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blm  Donating Member  (1000+ posts) Click to send private message to this author  Click to add this author to your buddy list  Click to add this author to your Ignore list      Sat Feb-23-08 04:40 AM
Response to Original message
2. That was being revealed in the Iraqgate investigations and also part of BCCI....
   
BushInc was pretty much nailed on both of those investigations by Jan 1993, but he found a protector in Bill Clinton who swept those matters under the oval office rug throughout the 90s.


http://consortiumnews.com/2006/111106.html

Hard to believe that BushInc would get away with pinning the 5 billion dollars sent to Saddam on a 35yo bank manager in Atlanta, but they did - because when his defense called for Kissinger to take the stand, Bill's DOJ cut a deal with him QUICKLY.
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ackDragna  Donating Member  (1000+ posts) Click to send private message to this author  Click to view this author's profile  Click to add this author to your buddy list  Click to add this author to your Ignore list      Sat Feb-23-08 04:45 AM
Response to Original message
3. I'll second the first post.
   
Most individuals have no idea about not only our support of Hussein, but also any number of other tinpot dictators around the world. Salazar, the Duvaliers, Franco, Ul-Haqt, Pinochet, Doe, Taylor, Amin, Sse Seko, Marcos, Suharto..the list is long. Instead of learning about such people, and the reasons we support them, our population is instead fed huge helpings of pollyanna B.S. about how we can do no wrong and always support democracy.
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Vexatious Ape  (1000+ posts) Journal  Click to send private message to this author  Click to view this author's profile  Click to add this author to your buddy list  Click to add this author to your Ignore list      Sat Feb-23-08 05:24 AM
Response to Original message
6. With our satellites we provided him with intel
   
during his hideous war with Iran.
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dicksteele  Donating Member  (1000+ posts) Journal  Click to send private message to this author  Click to view this author's profile  Click to add this author to your buddy list  Click to add this author to your Ignore list      Sat Feb-23-08 05:33 AM
Response to Original message
7. Because most US citizens don't know it.
   
We are the most CLUELESS superpower in the history of the planet.
And that's no accident.
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DUmmies are the most CLUELESS people in the history of the planet.

Mabus  Donating Member  (1000+ posts) Journal  Click to send private message to this author  Click to view this author's profile  Click to add this author to your buddy list  Click to add this author to your Ignore list      Sat Feb-23-08 07:13 AM
Response to Original message
13. because the American people can't handle the truth
   
We've been lied to so much that a lot of American people wouldn't know the truth if it came up and bit them on the ass.

And, the truth about the "Liberal Media Bias" is real but it isn't what most people think. The liberal media bias is really a media bias against liberals. It's like Bush's "Clean Air Act", it's the opposite of what it sounds like. Which is another reason the American public is confused. They are told one thing and then they get another.

Here's another one for you: compassionate conservatives approve of torture. It doesn't make sense but that's the way it seems to work.
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Angry Mollusk  (36 posts) Click to send private message to this author  Click to view this author's profile  Click to add this author to your buddy list  Click to add this author to your Ignore list      Sat Feb-23-08 07:31 AM
Response to Reply #13
18. Republicans are bundles of contradictions and double standards
   
Edited on Sat Feb-23-08 07:33 AM by Angry Mollusk
(QUOTE" Here's another one for you: compassionate conservatives approve of torture. It doesn't make sense but that's the way it seems to work.")




Not a shock- The Republicans excell at contradiction. Another example- The right wing Republicans oppose programs that help the sick and poor - yet they worship Jesus Christ- a guy who spent his time helping the sick and poor. They insist everyone must worship Jesus, when in fact they despise everything he stood for.
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Liberals claim to be tolerant but prove to be the polar opposite.

turtlensue  Donating Member  (1000+ posts) Journal  Click to send private message to this author  Click to view this author's profile  Click to add this author to your buddy list  Click to add this author to your Ignore list      Sat Feb-23-08 07:24 AM
Response to Original message
16. Also forgotten
   
Is that the US basically helped create/fund/arm Osama Bin Laden and the Taliban in Afghanistan..cause you know, arming relgious fundies to stop the Soviets from taking over the world from Afghanistan was such a brilliant idea.... :eyes:
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malaise  Donating Member  (1000+ posts) Click to send private message to this author  Click to view this author's profile  Click to add this author to your buddy list  Click to add this author to your Ignore list      Sat Feb-23-08 07:41 AM
Response to Original message
19. Think about it
   
Edited on Sat Feb-23-08 07:45 AM by malaise
The US had no problem with Bhutto's father, Bhutto, Bhutto's husband and now Bhutto's nineteen year old son, but Fidel is the devil and how dare his brother take over leadership in Cuba.

The message is loud and clear - My dictators are OK until we are finished with them.

Add.
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Karenina  Donating Member  (1000+ posts) Click to send private message to this author  Click to view this author's profile  Click to add this author to your buddy list  Click to add this author to your Ignore list      Sat Feb-23-08 02:58 PM
Response to Original message
21. Americans rarely admit ANYTHING.
   
Their myths are still working and if it ain't broke don't fix it. ;-)
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[Carl]

Here is a revelation to you DUmmies.

We basically sided with Iraq in the Iran/Iraq war because at the time islamofacisim was taking root in Iran (thanks President Carter) so that was in our best interest.

What of it,the real world isn`t a game of jacks and we need to do what is in our best national interests at a given moment.
Same goes for everyday personal life but even that escapes DUmmies.

There is no point in trying to debate this stuff with the mental capacity that exists with the primitives.
Left to confront what the world is would leave them all slaughtered in no time.


Sort of like Europe,that exists under our umbrella of protection come to think of it.

[SSG Snuggle Bunny]

Too bad DUmmies refuse to support the removal of that injustice and the establishment of a fair and free society.

Hippy-crites

[TheSarge]

Once again let me point the DUmmies to the SIPRI report on who exactly armed the Iraqi's.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arms_sales_to_Iraq

http://www.sipri.org/contents/armstrad/output_examples.html

[Lord Undies]

Once again let me point the DUmmies to the SIPRI report on who exactly armed the Iraqi's.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arms_sales_to_Iraq

http://www.sipri.org/contents/armstrad/output_examples.html

Let me point out something too.  Saddam Hussein is worm food and nobody of any intelligence gives a sh*t.   

[Airwolf]

Saddam was a monster long before we supported him with intel during the Iran/Iraq war. If you want to talk about who supposedly supported some bad people during the time of war I suggest you assbandits look back to the 1960's/70s and your support for North Vietnam and the VC. You assholes actually went over there and openly visited,supported and had media coverage of your treason. What your side did hardly compares to what we did with Iraq during the 1980's.

[Chris_]

Saddam was a monster long before we supported him with intel during the Iran/Iraq war. If you want to talk about who supposedly supported some bad people during the time of war I suggest you assbandits look back to the 1960's/70s and your support for North Vietnam and the VC. You assholes actually went over there and openly visited,supported and had media coverage of your treason. What your side did hardly compares to what we did with Iraq during the 1980's.

And the French and Russians opposed us going in in 2003 out of the goodness of their hearts.  

Saddam was a paying customer.  They didn't want to stop that particular gravy train.

[Airwolf]

Saddam was a monster long before we supported him with intel during the Iran/Iraq war. If you want to talk about who supposedly supported some bad people during the time of war I suggest you assbandits look back to the 1960's/70s and your support for North Vietnam and the VC. You assholes actually went over there and openly visited,supported and had media coverage of your treason. What your side did hardly compares to what we did with Iraq during the 1980's.

And the French and Russians opposed us going in in 2003 out of the goodness of their hearts.  

Saddam was a paying customer.  They didn't want to stop that particular gravy train.

The Germans were in on that gravy train as well. Every News channel that could showed our troops pulling out gold plated weapons built by H&K, one of germanys largest gun makers and supplier to most of NATO.

http://cache.viewimages.com/xc/1929937.jpg?v=1&c=ViewImages&k=2&d=17A4AD9FDB9CF1939057D9939C83F1066ADEA481AED6959D5A5397277B4DC33E

[formerlurker]

Thank goodness for the DU to let us all know about history.....

What is pretty funny is that they don't think we are already aware of this.   This is my favorite:

cause you know, arming relgious fundies to stop the Soviets from taking over the world from Afghanistan was such a brilliant idea

It kind of was junior.  You see the Soviets were very very bad people, with very very bad intentions, who wanted a warm water port so Afghanistan was just a piece of that puzzle. 

So in short -- allowing the Soviets to expand to secure Afghanistan and Pakistan very bad.   The worst possible thing that could happen.

Sometimes when you are a grownup you have to make decisions that are tough and not very popular which would include picking the lessor or two very real evils.   We chose correctly, then and by assisting Saddam Hussein again Iran.

What chills me to the bone is that most of these asshats actually vote.

[mamacags]

I supported and backed abortion for years.  Doesn't mean that I stuck on stupid.

[Carl]

Thank goodness for the DU to let us all know about history.....

What is pretty funny is that they don't think we are already aware of this.   This is my favorite:

cause you know, arming relgious fundies to stop the Soviets from taking over the world from Afghanistan was such a brilliant idea

It kind of was junior.  You see the Soviets were very very bad people, with very very bad intentions, who wanted a warm water port so Afghanistan was just a piece of that puzzle. 

So in short -- allowing the Soviets to expand to secure Afghanistan and Pakistan very bad.   The worst possible thing that could happen.

Sometimes when you are a grownup you have to make decisions that are tough and not very popular which would include picking the lessor or two very real evils.   We chose correctly, then and by assisting Saddam Hussein again Iran.

What chills me to the bone is that most of these asshats actually vote.

A perfect illustration would be being allied with Stalin in WWII.
It was in our best interest for a short period of time but it was a DUmmy hero,FDR, that trusted uncle Joe.

In doing so he handed over eastern Europe to the Soviets and a monster that slaughterd them.

We may have to make choices sometimes between the lesser of two evils but unlike libs we know never to trust them.
Unfortunately it is having to make that choice usually because a world situation exists due to democrat policies.
They gut our defense and lay down before enemies for short term political gain and then we have to pick up the pieces and make the USA and world safe in their wake.

[SSG Snuggle Bunny]

Thank goodness for the DU to let us all know about history.....

What is pretty funny is that they don't think we are already aware of this.   This is my favorite:

cause you know, arming relgious fundies to stop the Soviets from taking over the world from Afghanistan was such a brilliant idea

It kind of was junior.  You see the Soviets were very very bad people, with very very bad intentions, who wanted a warm water port so Afghanistan was just a piece of that puzzle. 

So in short -- allowing the Soviets to expand to secure Afghanistan and Pakistan very bad.   The worst possible thing that could happen.

Sometimes when you are a grownup you have to make decisions that are tough and not very popular which would include picking the lessor or two very real evils.   We chose correctly, then and by assisting Saddam Hussein again Iran.

What chills me to the bone is that most of these asshats actually vote.

This is also why--despite liberal snivelling--we committed to Operation: Ajax, the overthrow of the elected Soviet client state in Iran.

Giving the USSR a foothold in the Persian Gulf where it could threaten European oil supplies, blockade the Gulf, economically fracture NATO and have a warm water port was a guaranteed recipe for World War III.

[SSG Snuggle Bunny]

Once again let me point the DUmmies to the SIPRI report on who exactly armed the Iraqi's.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arms_sales_to_Iraq

http://www.sipri.org/contents/armstrad/output_examples.html

I'm yanking this over to the ironically titled, Ammo Dump.

Good work, Sarge.