Five Big Lies In War With Iraq

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Five Big Lies In War With Iraq
by Linda A. Prussen-Razzano, Dallas Bureau Chief

March 17, 2003

"Candidly Yours"

Linda A. Prussen-Razzano Lie Number One: The United States needs the United Nations Security Council’s permission to proceed with a war on Iraq.

Under our Constitution, the President of the United States needs only the approval of Congress to declare and wage war against another country. In certain circumstances, existing regulations grant the President authority to proceed with military ventures even without an official declaration of war.

The United Nations does not have the power or authority to prevent us from going to war. During the Clinton Administration alone, former President Clinton waged war against Serbia without the sanction of the United Nation’s Security Council, without pre-existing authority from Congress, and without a formal declaration of war from Congress. He also launched a military strike against Iraq in 1998 for violating United Nations resolution 1154, and strikes against Sudan and Afghanistan in 1998 for harboring Osama bin Laden.

When compared with former President Clinton, who did not have the impetus of September 11, 2001 behind him, President Bush has been exceedingly accommodating to the world’s interests and has exercised tremendous restraint in the face of extreme provocation.

Lie Number Two: We will be fighting unilaterally.

Only in the mainstream media does the support of several countries mean we are fighting alone. We have the support of England, Spain, Denmark, and others behind us. Then again, for pundits still using their Clintonspeak dictionary, any word can mean anything at any time, apparently.

Lie Number Three: We cannot afford this war.

We most certainly can. Under House Report #107-663, just one of 13 different appropriations bills before Congress, we are planning to gift away $14 billion to various and sundry nations, international programs, the United Nations, etc. Russia, who is currently opposing our efforts to defend ourselves against a growing national security threat, will receive yet another half billion in aid to secure their military. This is the fifth installment of this size. If America were to keep these funds, instead of scattering them abroad to ungrateful nations and unreliable associates, we could easily pay off any war debt, still get our tax cut, and have enough left over to teach Johnny how to read.

Lie Number Four: We’re in it for the oil.

Hogwash. America would be better served opening up domestic production, thereby limiting our reliance on foreign sources of oil and surreptitiously supporting regimes that encourage anti-American activities and sentiments. America’s workforce could use the boost in job opportunities, whether they came from the exploration, accumulation, production, or distribution of oil. Our future does not lie in the vast deserts and morbid wastelands of impoverished nations; it lies within the boundaries of our own soil.

Lie Number Five: Iraq has no link to terrorists.

Complete and utter hogwash. For many years, the Iraqi government has given shelter to the Palestinian Liberation Front of Abu Abbas, famous for the hijacking of the Achille Lauro, an Italian cruise ship, and the murder of Leon Klinghoffer, a wheel-chair bound, elderly passenger. Many of their terrorist activities were directed specifically at Israel, and most of their efforts failed, at best. In 1996, Abbas, in concert with Yassar Arafat, agreed to accept the Oslo Peace Accord; however, in November 2001, Israeli authorities arrested 15 members of a PLF cell. Several cell members admitted to receiving terrorist training in Iraq. The cell is reportedly responsible for the murder of Yuri Gushstein, an Israeli youth.

According to Israeli defense sources, the Palestinian Liberation Front is connected through Arafat to Hizballah, Hamas, Jihad Islami, and the Arab Liberation Front. Iraq also gives $25,000 rewards to terrorists and their families.

Now, which lie do you want me to believe again? ***

Photo of Linda Prussen-Razzano courtesy of staff files