Thinking of joining the military need some help please?

[skife]

9/11/01 = every reason in the world to be in iraq, afganastan, iran, or whatever other country that supports terrorist.

Simple as that.
Black and white.

/know bush is there to steal the oil
//dont care we need it

Vote Jeb Bush 2008. (I think thats his name)

in 08 my vote goes to John McCain even if he doesn't win the primary.
he's hardcore enough.

[AirAssault]

9/11/01 = every reason in the world to be in iraq, afganastan, iran, or whatever other country that supports terrorist.

Simple as that.
Black and white.

/know bush is there to steal the oil
//dont care we need it

Vote Jeb Bush 2008. (I think thats his name)

Sorry but that is the stupidest thing I have ever heard. Saudi terrorists attack us on 9/11 so we invade Iraq? A religion didn't attack us, Saudi Arabian terrorists did.

[Eagle]

A religion didn't attack us, Saudi Arabian terrorists did.

No one mentioned religion.

But I saw for 08 we re-animate Both Reagan and John Stockdale and but them in office, hell yeah!

[skife]

No one mentioned religion.

But I saw for 08 we re-animate Both Reagan and John Stockdale and but them in office, hell yeah!

how about Theodore Roosevelt?


he was hardcore.

[AirAssault]

No one mentioned religion.

Ummm, yeah they did.......

Islam wants you dead. That's all there is to it.

[devildog]

first off, dont ever ever ever take advice from someone who hasnt actually been in. they NEVER know what theyre talking about.

second, if you are looking for direction, dont join the marines unless you dont want to promote and want to get crapped on everyday.

anyway, did my 5 years, just landed a 65k a year job, food for thought. and i loved iraq, all 2.5 years of it

[MANN]

Sorry but that is the stupidest thing I have ever heard. Saudi terrorists attack us on 9/11 so we invade Iraq? A religion didn't attack us, Saudi Arabian terrorists did.

They live in iraq/afganastan/middle east in general. Sadam was helping fund them. sounds like a good enough reason to me.

My only regret is that we didnt lay the hammer down harder from the get go. I think we underestimated them. That is the reason that we are still there today.

[FactsOfLife]

Sorry man, same scare tactics put forth by those that take us to war. It just doesn't pass the smell test. What proof does anyone have that they will be "in our shopping malls" as liar tony snow said today. Just in case you didn't notice, terror attacks have actually risen BIG time sence the war to "liberate" Iraq started.

apparently you're willing to take the chance.


it never fails to amaze me, that there are people like you that don't learn.

[SCpoloRicker]

Howdy FoL, TP, Army et all.

I suggest we use the hurricane/tsunami machine. I've been itching to break that bad boy out of the closet for a while; you know, get some good old fashioned Evil Conspiracy type actions.

Zombie Nixon is down to come hang out, should be a good time by all Evil Conservative Conspiracy standards.

I'll bring the cold-fushion reactor and the Global Warming unit, so we can stay warm by the baby fire.

/You guys are bringing the babies right?

[AirAssault]

They live in iraq/afganastan/middle east in general. Sadam was helping fund them. sounds like a good enough reason to me.

My only regret is that we didnt lay the hammer down harder from the get go. I think we underestimated them. That is the reason that we are still there today.

Yeah they also live here in the US. How about we lock all the Muslims up like we did the Japanese in WWII. Who cares if they are American citizens born in this country, they practice Islam so they must want to kill us. Why didn't we attack Saudi Arabia? 9 of the 11 hijackers came from there.
Let us go back to 1983: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUPb-3zkh0c Hmmm, you mean that evil man was our friend that we gave money and weapons to? Where do you think he got the material to make the WMD's he did have in the 80's? Yeah, you betcha, his good ol Uncle Sam. Saddam was the same killer from the day he took control of Iraq until the day he died. Yet, during the Iran/Iraq war, he was our friend. It was well known that Saddam used chemical weapons with his war against Iran in the early 80's, why didn't we care then? Why was rumsfeld shaking Saddam's hand in 83 while he was using chemical weapons agains others? Oh yeah, because he was BUYING them from us. Hmmmm...... Nice timeline you may be interested in: http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/200...9/17182041.php
So, if we gave the materials to Saddam to make the chemical weapons, and we knew he was using them against Iran, what does that say about us?

apparently you're willing to take the chance.
it never fails to amaze me, that there are people like you that don't learn.

Learn what, that if you attack a soverign nation that has not attacked you (breaking the Geneva Convention) terrorism will rise in that country? Of course if you asked most of the people killing us in Iraq if they are terrorists they would probably call themselves freedom fighters. The british called us terrorists back in the 1700's, yet when we look back on that time, do we call the heros of our revolutionary war terrorists?

So you think its ok to go ahead and kill every one that practices Islam? You think it's ok to simply attack any country just because we are America and what we say goes? The SAUDI ARABIAN terrorists that attacked us on 9/11 killed 2000+, how many civilians have died in Iraq by our hands? What is the difference between the people that died in the WTC and the families, that died when we dropped a couple 500lb bombs early in the so called war in Iraq because we thought Saddam was in a house. We level a city block to kill one man killing how many? Yet because we are the US, its ok. Those innocent lives mean nothing because we are the mighty US and we are "liberating" them. Yeah some liberation. You, and others like you are missing the point. Some Americans think it's ok that we kill others to "protect" ourselves, that's total bs. Some Americans think it's ok that we have people in jail, for 3+ years without being charged with a crime. Some Americans think its ok to torture, to send people to other countries to be tortured, I don't. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extraordinary_rendition

We need to hold our actions above all others, after all we are the mighty United States of America, built on freedom and equality.

Just because we are the US, doesn't mean we are right. Killed by a hi-jackers plane on 9/11 or by a US bomb, innocent people are still innocent.

[AmyM]

Please, no more...

Well, since you directed your negativity squarely at me, my brothers do not need your kind of "support".

How about this:
1. Your kids want and choose to play football, so you take the lil' buckaroos to play.
2. Give them a helmet and pads.
3. After they've played a few minutes, tell them they are going to lose, and make them feel bad about trying to win and beat the other team. Hey kids you wanted to play, go out there and lose for dad!
4. Tell them they can come get gatorade from you between plays, a towel as well, and any other "support" they may need, then send them back on the field to lose.
5. Beat them down with as much verbal negativety as possible from the sidelines.
6. Make sure the other team knows your calling your own kids losers, and that they have no chance to win. We all know this will be a big psychological boost for the other team.
7. Allow no roughing, or other penalties for the opposing team, and force your kids to play "by the rules".
8. After the game go take out an ad in the paper to state how horribly your kids played, and detail every mistake and penalty they made. Don't mention anything good they did during the game. If by some miracle they scored a few touchdowns make sure not to mention it. Also, don't mention that the opposition beheaded three of your team's players at halftime. That might be thought of as bad sportsmanship, and we all know only your kids are the losers. No one on the other side can do any wrong.

Who would want to win with your kind of support?


Air Assault "You think it's ok to simply attack any country just because we are America and what we say goes?"

Oh yeah, I can go pull anything off the net too, I guess Iraq breaking almost every single U.N. Resolution without consequence is no big deal

Saddam Hussein's Defiance of United Nations Resolutions
Saddam Hussein has repeatedly violated sixteen United Nations Security Council Resolutions (UNSCRs) designed to ensure that Iraq does not pose a threat to international peace and security. In addition to these repeated violations, he has tried, over the past decade, to circumvent UN economic sanctions against Iraq, which are reflected in a number of other resolutions. As noted in the resolutions, Saddam Hussein was required to fulfill many obligations beyond the withdrawal of Iraqi forces from Kuwait. Specifically, Saddam Hussein was required to, among other things: allow international weapons inspectors to oversee the destruction of his weapons of mass destruction; not develop new weapons of mass destruction; destroy all of his ballistic missiles with a range greater than 150 kilometers; stop support for terrorism and prevent terrorist organizations from operating within Iraq; help account for missing Kuwaitis and other individuals; return stolen Kuwaiti property and bear financial liability for damage from the Gulf War; and he was required to end his repression of the Iraqi people. Saddam Hussein has repeatedly violated each of the following resolutions:

UNSCR 678 - November 29, 1990

Iraq must comply fully with UNSCR 660 (regarding Iraq's illegal invasion of Kuwait) "and all subsequent relevant resolutions."


Authorizes UN Member States "to use all necessary means to uphold and implement resolution 660 and all subsequent relevant resolutions and to restore international peace and security in the area."

UNSCR 686 - March 2, 1991

Iraq must release prisoners detained during the Gulf War.


Iraq must return Kuwaiti property seized during the Gulf War.


Iraq must accept liability under international law for damages from its illegal invasion of Kuwait.

UNSCR 687 - April 3, 1991

Iraq must "unconditionally accept" the destruction, removal or rendering harmless "under international supervision" of all "chemical and biological weapons and all stocks of agents and all related subsystems and components and all research, development, support and manufacturing facilities."


Iraq must "unconditionally agree not to acquire or develop nuclear weapons or nuclear-weapons-usable material" or any research, development or manufacturing facilities.


Iraq must "unconditionally accept" the destruction, removal or rendering harmless "under international supervision" of all "ballistic missiles with a range greater than 150 KM and related major parts and repair and production facilities."


Iraq must not "use, develop, construct or acquire" any weapons of mass destruction.


Iraq must reaffirm its obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.


Creates the United Nations Special Commission (UNSCOM) to verify the elimination of Iraq's chemical and biological weapons programs and mandated that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) verify elimination of Iraq's nuclear weapons program.


Iraq must declare fully its weapons of mass destruction programs.


Iraq must not commit or support terrorism, or allow terrorist organizations to operate in Iraq.


Iraq must cooperate in accounting for the missing and dead Kuwaitis and others.


Iraq must return Kuwaiti property seized during the Gulf War.

UNSCR 688 - April 5, 1991

"Condemns" repression of Iraqi civilian population, "the consequences of which threaten international peace and security."


Iraq must immediately end repression of its civilian population.


Iraq must allow immediate access to international humanitarian organizations to those in need of assistance.

UNSCR 707 - August 15, 1991

"Condemns" Iraq's "serious violation" of UNSCR 687.


"Further condemns" Iraq's noncompliance with IAEA and its obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.


Iraq must halt nuclear activities of all kinds until the Security Council deems Iraq in full compliance.


Iraq must make a full, final and complete disclosure of all aspects of its weapons of mass destruction and missile programs.


Iraq must allow UN and IAEA inspectors immediate, unconditional and unrestricted access.


Iraq must cease attempts to conceal or move weapons of mass destruction, and related materials and facilities.


Iraq must allow UN and IAEA inspectors to conduct inspection flights throughout Iraq.


Iraq must provide transportation, medical and logistical support for UN and IAEA inspectors.

UNSCR 715 - October 11, 1991

Iraq must cooperate fully with UN and IAEA inspectors.

UNSCR 949 - October 15, 1994

"Condemns" Iraq's recent military deployments toward Kuwait.


Iraq must not utilize its military or other forces in a hostile manner to threaten its neighbors or UN operations in Iraq.


Iraq must cooperate fully with UN weapons inspectors.


Iraq must not enhance its military capability in southern Iraq.

UNSCR 1051 - March 27, 1996

Iraq must report shipments of dual-use items related to weapons of mass destruction to the UN and IAEA.


Iraq must cooperate fully with UN and IAEA inspectors and allow immediate, unconditional and unrestricted access.

UNSCR 1060 - June 12, 1996

"Deplores" Iraq's refusal to allow access to UN inspectors and Iraq's "clear violations" of previous UN resolutions.


Iraq must cooperate fully with UN weapons inspectors and allow immediate, unconditional and unrestricted access.

UNSCR 1115 - June 21, 1997

"Condemns repeated refusal of Iraqi authorities to allow access" to UN inspectors, which constitutes a "clear and flagrant violation" of UNSCR 687, 707, 715, and 1060.


Iraq must cooperate fully with UN weapons inspectors and allow immediate, unconditional and unrestricted access.


Iraq must give immediate, unconditional and unrestricted access to Iraqi officials whom UN inspectors want to interview.

UNSCR 1134 - October 23, 1997

"Condemns repeated refusal of Iraqi authorities to allow access" to UN inspectors, which constitutes a "flagrant violation" of UNSCR 687, 707, 715, and 1060.


Iraq must cooperate fully with UN weapons inspectors and allow immediate, unconditional and unrestricted access.


Iraq must give immediate, unconditional and unrestricted access to Iraqi officials whom UN inspectors want to interview.

UNSCR 1137 - November 12, 1997

"Condemns the continued violations by Iraq" of previous UN resolutions, including its "implicit threat to the safety of" aircraft operated by UN inspectors and its tampering with UN inspector monitoring equipment.


Reaffirms Iraq's responsibility to ensure the safety of UN inspectors.


Iraq must cooperate fully with UN weapons inspectors and allow immediate, unconditional and unrestricted access.

UNSCR 1154 - March 2, 1998

Iraq must cooperate fully with UN and IAEA weapons inspectors and allow immediate, unconditional and unrestricted access, and notes that any violation would have the "severest consequences for Iraq."

UNSCR 1194 - September 9, 1998

"Condemns the decision by Iraq of 5 August 1998 to suspend cooperation with" UN and IAEA inspectors, which constitutes "a totally unacceptable contravention" of its obligations under UNSCR 687, 707, 715, 1060, 1115, and 1154.


Iraq must cooperate fully with UN and IAEA weapons inspectors, and allow immediate, unconditional and unrestricted access.

UNSCR 1205 - November 5, 1998

"Condemns the decision by Iraq of 31 October 1998 to cease cooperation" with UN inspectors as "a flagrant violation" of UNSCR 687 and other resolutions.


Iraq must provide "immediate, complete and unconditional cooperation" with UN and IAEA inspectors.

UNSCR 1284 - December 17, 1999

Created the United Nations Monitoring, Verification and Inspections Commission (UNMOVIC) to replace previous weapon inspection team (UNSCOM).


Iraq must allow UNMOVIC "immediate, unconditional and unrestricted access" to Iraqi officials and facilities.


Iraq must fulfill its commitment to return Gulf War prisoners.


Calls on Iraq to distribute humanitarian goods and medical supplies to its people and address the needs of vulnerable Iraqis without discrimination.

Additional UN Security Council Statements
In addition to the legally binding UNSCRs, the UN Security Council has also issued at least 30 statements from the President of the UN Security Council regarding Saddam Hussein's continued violations of UNSCRs. The list of statements includes:

UN Security Council Presidential Statement, June 28, 1991
UN Security Council Presidential Statement, February 5, 1992
UN Security Council Presidential Statement, February 19, 1992
UN Security Council Presidential Statement, February 28, 1992
UN Security Council Presidential Statement, March 6, 1992
UN Security Council Presidential Statement, March 11, 1992
UN Security Council Presidential Statement, March 12, 1992
UN Security Council Presidential Statement, April 10, 1992
UN Security Council Presidential Statement, June 17, 1992
UN Security Council Presidential Statement, July 6, 1992
UN Security Council Presidential Statement, September 2, 1992
UN Security Council Presidential Statement, November 23, 1992
UN Security Council Presidential Statement, November 24, 1992
UN Security Council Presidential Statement, January 8, 1993
UN Security Council Presidential Statement, January 11, 1993
UN Security Council Presidential Statement, June 18, 1993
UN Security Council Presidential Statement, June 28, 1993
UN Security Council Presidential Statement, November 23, 1993
UN Security Council Presidential Statement, October 8, 1994
UN Security Council Presidential Statement, March 19, 1996
UN Security Council Presidential Statement, June 14, 1996
UN Security Council Presidential Statement, August 23, 1996
UN Security Council Presidential Statement, December 30, 1996
UN Security Council Presidential Statement, June 13, 1997
UN Security Council Presidential Statement, October 29, 1997
UN Security Council Presidential Statement, November 13, 1997
UN Security Council Presidential Statement, December 3, 1997
UN Security Council Presidential Statement, December 22, 1997
UN Security Council Presidential Statement, January 14, 1998
Saddam Hussein's Development of Weapons of Mass Destruction



In 2001, an Iraqi defector, Adnan Ihsan Saeed al-Haideri, said he had visited twenty secret facilities for chemical, biological and nuclear weapons. Mr. Saeed, a civil engineer, supported his claims with stacks of Iraqi government contracts, complete with technical specifications. Mr. Saeed said Iraq used companies to purchase equipment with the blessing of the United Nations - and then secretly used the equipment for their weapons programs.


Iraq admitted to producing biological agents, and after the 1995 defection of a senior Iraqi official, Iraq admitted to the weaponization of thousands of liters of anthrax, botulinim toxin, and aflatoxin for use with Scud warheads, aerial bombs and aircraft.


United Nations Special Commission (UNSCOM) experts concluded that Iraq's declarations on biological agents vastly understated the extent of its program, and that Iraq actually produced two to four times the amount of most agents, including anthrax and botulinim toxin, than it had declared.


UNSCOM reported to the UN Security Council in April 1995 that Iraq had concealed its biological weapons program and had failed to account for 3 tons of growth material for biological agents.


The Department of Defense reported in January 2001 that Iraq has continued to work on its weapons programs, including converting L-29 jet trainer aircraft for potential vehicles for the delivery of chemical or biological weapons.


The al-Dawrah Foot and Mouth Disease Vaccine Facility is one of two known biocontainment level-three facilities in Iraq that have an extensive air handling and filtering system. Iraq has admitted that this was a biological weapons facility. In 2001, Iraq announced that it would begin renovating the plant without UN approval, ostensibly to produce vaccines that it could more easily and more quickly import through the UN.


Saddam Hussein continues its attempts to procure mobile biological weapons laboratories that could be used for further research and development.

Chemical Weapons
Saddam Hussein launched a large-scale chemical weapons attack against Iraq's Kurdish population in the late 1980s, killing thousands. On at least 10 occasions, Saddam Hussein's military forces have attacked Iranian and Kurdish targets with combinations of mustard gas and nerve agents through the use of aerial bombs, 122-millimeter rockets, and conventional artillery shells. Saddam Hussein continues his efforts to develop chemical weapons:

Gaps identified by UNSCOM in Iraqi accounting and current production capabilities strongly suggest that Iraq maintains stockpiles of chemical agents, probably VX, sarin, cyclosarin and mustard.


Iraq has not accounted for hundreds of tons of chemical precursors and tens of thousands of unfilled munitions, including Scud variant missile warheads.


Iraq has not accounted for at least 15,000 artillery rockets that in the past were its preferred vehicle for delivering nerve agents, nor has it accounted for about 550 artillery shells filled with mustard agent.


Iraq continues to rebuild and expand dual-use infrastructure that it could quickly divert to chemical weapons production, such as chlorine and phenol plants.


Iraq is seeking to purchase chemical weapons agent precursors and applicable production equipment, and is making an effort to hide activities at the Fallujah plant, which was one of Iraq's chemical weapons production facilities before the Gulf War.


At Fallujah and three other plants, Iraq now has chlorine production capacity far higher than any civilian need for water treatment, and the evidence indicates that some of its chlorine imports are being diverted for military purposes.

Nuclear Weapons
Saddam Hussein had an advanced nuclear weapons development program before the Gulf War and continues his work to develop a nuclear weapon:

A new report released on September 9, 2002 from the International Institute for Strategic Studies - an independent research organization - concludes that Saddam Hussein could build a nuclear bomb within months if he were able to obtain fissile material.


Iraq has stepped up its quest for nuclear weapons and has embarked on a worldwide hunt for materials to make an atomic bomb. In the last 14 months, Iraq has sought to buy thousands of specially designed aluminum tubes which officials believe were intended as components of centrifuges to enrich uranium.


Iraq has withheld documentation relevant to its past nuclear program, including data about enrichment techniques, foreign procurement, weapons design, experimental data, and technical documents.


Iraq still has the technical expertise and some of the infrastructure needed to pursue its goal of building a nuclear weapon.


Saddam Hussein has repeatedly met with his nuclear scientists over the past two years, signaling his continued interest in developing his nuclear program.

Ballistic Missiles

Iraq is believed to be developing ballistic missiles with a range greater than 150 kilometers - as prohibited by the UN Security Council Resolution 687.


Discrepancies identified by UNSCOM in Saddam Hussein's declarations suggest that Iraq retains a small force of Scud-type missiles and an undetermined number of launchers and warheads.


Iraq continues work on the al-Samoud liquid propellant short-range missile (which can fly beyond the allowed 150 kilometers). The al-Samoud and the solid propellant Ababil-100 appeared in a military parade in Baghdad on December 31, 2000, suggesting that both systems are nearing operational deployment.


The al-Rafah-North facility is Iraq's principal site for testing liquid propellant missile engines. Iraq has been building a new, larger test stand there that is clearly intended for testing prohibited longer-range missile engines.


At their al-Mamoun facility, the Iraqis have rebuilt structures that had been dismantled by UNSCOM that were originally designed to manufacture solid propellant motors for the Badr-2000 missile program.

Saddam Hussein's Repression of the Iraqi People
UNSCR 688 (April 5, 1991) "condemns" Saddam Hussein's repression of the Iraqi civilian population -- "the consequences of which threaten international peace and security." UNSCR 688 also requires Saddam Hussein to end his repression of the Iraqi people and to allow immediate access to international humanitarian organizations to help those in need of assistance. Saddam Hussein has repeatedly violated these provisions and has: expanded his violence against women and children; continued his horrific torture and execution of innocent Iraqis; continued to violate the basic human rights of the Iraqi people and has continued to control all sources of information (including killing more than 500 journalists and other opinion leaders in the past decade). Saddam Hussein has also harassed humanitarian aid workers; expanded his crimes against Muslims; he has withheld food from families that fail to offer their children to his regime; and he has continued to subject Iraqis to unfair imprisonment.

Refusal to Admit Human Rights Monitors

The UN Commission on Human Rights and the UN General Assembly issued a report that noted "with dismay" the lack of improvement in the situation of human rights in Iraq. The report strongly criticized the "systematic, widespread, and extremely grave violations of human rights" and of international humanitarian law by the Iraqi Government, which it stated resulted in "all-pervasive repression and oppression sustained by broad-based discrimination and widespread terror." The report called on the Iraqi Government to fulfill its obligations under international human rights treaties.
Saddam Hussein has repeatedly refused visits by human rights monitors and the establishment of independent human rights organizations. From 1992 until 2002, Saddam prevented the UN Special Rapporteur from visiting Iraq.
In September 2001 the Government expelled six UN humanitarian relief workers without providing any explanation.
Violence Against Women

Human rights organizations and opposition groups continued to receive reports of women who suffered from severe psychological trauma after being raped by Iraqi personnel while in custody.
Former Mukhabarat member Khalid Al-Janabi reported that a Mukhabarat unit, the Technical Operations Directorate, used rape and sexual assault in a systematic and institutionalized manner for political purposes. The unit reportedly also videotaped the rape of female relatives of suspected oppositionists and used the videotapes for blackmail purposes and to ensure their future cooperation.
In June 2000, a former Iraqi general reportedly received a videotape of security forces raping a female family member. He subsequently received a telephone call from an intelligence agent who stated that another female relative was being held and warned him to stop speaking out against the Iraqi Government.
Iraqi security forces allegedly raped women who were captured during the Anfal Campaign and during the occupation of Kuwait.
Amnesty International reported that, in October 2000, the Iraqi Government executed dozens of women accused of prostitution.
In May, the Iraqi Government reportedly tortured to death the mother of three Iraqi defectors for her children's opposition activities.
Iraqi security agents reportedly decapitated numerous women and men in front of their family members. According to Amnesty International, the victims' heads were displayed in front of their homes for several days.
Torture

Iraqi security services routinely and systematically torture detainees. According to former prisoners, torture techniques included branding, electric shocks administered to the genitals and other areas, beating, pulling out of fingernails, burning with hot irons and blowtorches, suspension from rotating ceiling fans, dripping acid on the skin, rape, breaking of limbs, denial of food and water, extended solitary confinement in dark and extremely small compartments, and threats to rape or otherwise harm family members and relatives. Evidence of such torture often was apparent when security forces returned the mutilated bodies of torture victims to their families.
According to a report received by the UN Special Rapporteur in 1998, hundreds of Kurds and other detainees have been held without charge for close to two decades in extremely harsh conditions, and many of them have been used as subjects in Iraq's illegal experimental chemical and biological weapons programs.
In 2000, the authorities reportedly introduced tongue amputation as a punishment for persons who criticize Saddam Hussein or his family, and on July 17, government authorities reportedly amputated the tongue of a person who allegedly criticized Saddam Hussein. Authorities reportedly performed the amputation in front of a large crowd. Similar tongue amputations also reportedly occurred.
Refugees fleeing to Europe often reported instances of torture to receiving governments, and displayed scars and mutilations to substantiate their claims.
In August 2001 Amnesty International released a report entitled Iraq -- Systematic Torture of Political Prisoners, which detailed the systematic and routine use of torture against suspected political opponents and, occasionally, other prisoners. Amnesty International also reports "Detainees have also been threatened with bringing in a female relative, especially the wife or the mother, and raping her in front of the detainee. Some of these threats have been carried out."
Saad Keis Naoman, an Iraqi soccer player who defected to Europe, reported that he and his teammates were beaten and humiliated at the order of Uday Saddam Hussein for poor performances. He was flogged until his back was bloody, forcing him to sleep on his stomach in the tiny cell in Al-Radwaniya prison.
Executions and Repression of Political Opposition

Former UN Human Rights Special Rapporteur Max Van der Stoel's report in April 1998 stated that Iraq had executed at least 1,500 people during the previous year for political reasons.
The government continues to execute summarily alleged political opponents and leaders in the Shi'a religious community. Reports suggest that persons were executed merely because of their association with an opposition group or as part of a continuing effort to reduce prison populations.
In February 2001, the Government reportedly executed 37 political detainees for opposition activity.
In June 2001, security forces killed a Shi'a cleric, Hussein Bahar al-Uloom, for refusing to appear on television to congratulate Qusay Saddam Hussein for his election to a Ba'th Party position. Such killings continue an apparent government policy of eliminating prominent Shi'a clerics who are suspected of disloyalty to the government. In 1998 and 1999, the Government killed a number of leading Shi'a clerics, prompting the former Special Rapporteur in 1999 to express his concern to the government that the killings might be part of a systematic attack by government officials on the independent leadership of the Shi'a Muslim community. The government did not respond to the Special Rapporteur's letter.
There are persistent reports that families are made to pay for the cost of executions.
Saddam Hussein destroyed the southern Iraqi town of Albu 'Aysh sometime between September 1998 and December 1999.
Iraq has conducted a systematic "Arabization" campaign of ethnic cleansing designed to harass and expel ethnic Kurds and Turkmen from government-controlled areas. Non-Arab citizens are forced to change their ethnicity or their identity documents and adopt Arab names, or they are deprived of their homes, property and food-ration cards, and expelled.
Saddam Hussein's Abuse of Children

Saddam Hussein has held 3-week training courses in weapons use, hand-to-hand fighting, rappelling from helicopters, and infantry tactics for children between 10 and 15 years of age. Camps for these "Saddam Cubs" operated throughout the country. Senior military officers who supervised the courses noted that the children held up under the "physical and psychological strain" of training that lasted for as long as 14 hours each day. Sources in the opposition report that the army found it difficult to recruit enough children to fill all of the vacancies in the program. Families reportedly were threatened with the loss of their food ration cards if they refused to enroll their children in the course. The Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq reported in October 1999 that authorities were denying food ration cards to families that failed to send their young sons to Saddam Cubs compulsory weapons-training camps. Similarly, authorities reportedly withheld school examination results to students unless they registered in the Fedayeen Saddam organization.
Iraq often announces food ration cuts for the general population, blaming US or UK actions. Among the most controversial have been cuts in baby milk rations. Iraq has blamed the shortages on US and UK contract rejections, although the UN has approved all baby milk contracts submitted.
Child labor persists and there are instances of forced labor.
There are widespread reports that food and medicine that could have been made available to the general public, including children, have been stockpiled in warehouses or diverted for the personal use of some government officials.
Disappearances

Amnesty International reported that Iraq has the world's worst record for numbers of persons who have disappeared or remain unaccounted for.
In 1999, the UN Special Rapporteur stated that Iraq remains the country with the highest number of disappearances known to the UN: over 16,000.
Basic Freedoms: Freedom of Speech, Freedom of the Press, Freedom of Information

In practice, Saddam Hussein does not permit freedom of speech or of the press, and does not tolerate political dissent in areas under its control. In November 2000, the UN General Assembly criticized Saddam Hussein's "suppression of freedom of thought, expression, information, association, and assembly." The Special Rapporteur stated in October 1999 that citizens lived "in a climate of fear," in which whatever they said or did, particularly in the area of politics, involved "the risk of arrest and interrogation by the police or military intelligence." He noted that "the mere suggestion that someone is not a supporter of the President carries the prospect of the death penalty."
In June 2001, the Human Rights Alliance reported that Saddam Hussein had killed more than 500 journalists and other intellectuals in the past decade.
Saddam Hussein frequently infringes on citizens' constitutional right to privacy. Saddam routinely ignores constitutional provisions designed to protect the confidentiality of mail, telegraphic correspondence, and telephone conversations. Iraq periodically jams news broadcasts from outside the country, including those of opposition groups. The security services and the Ba'th Party maintain pervasive networks of informers to deter dissident activity and instill fear in the public.
Foreign journalists must work from offices located within the Iraqi ministry building and are accompanied everywhere they go by ministry officers, who reportedly restrict their movements and make it impossible for them to interact freely with citizens.
The Iraqi Government, the Ba'th Party, or persons close to Saddam Hussein own all print and broadcast media, and operate them as propaganda outlets. They generally do not report opposing points of view that are expressed either domestically or abroad.
In September 1999, Hashem Hasan, a journalist and Baghdad University professor, was arrested after declining an appointment as editor of one of Uday Hussein's publications. The Paris-based Reporters Sans Frontieres (RSF) sent a letter of appeal to Uday Hussein; however, Hassan's fate and whereabouts remained unknown at year's end.
Saddam Hussein regularly jams foreign news broadcasts. Satellite dishes, modems, and fax machines are banned, although some restrictions reportedly were lifted in 1999.
In government-operated Internet cafes, users only are permitted to view web sites provided by the Ministry of Culture and Information.
In 1999, Uday Hussein reportedly dismissed hundreds of members of the Iraqi Union of Journalists for not praising Saddam Hussein and the Government sufficiently.
Withholding of Food

Relatives who do not report deserters may lose their ration cards for purchasing government-controlled food supplies, be evicted from their residences, or face the arrest of other family members. The Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq reported in October and December 1999 that authorities denied food ration cards to families that failed to send their young sons to the "Saddam's Cubs" compulsory weapons training camps.
Crimes Against Muslims

The Government consistently politicizes and interferes with religious pilgrimages, both of Iraqi Muslims who wish to make the Hajj to Mecca and Medina and of Iraqi and non-Iraqi Muslim pilgrims who travel to holy sites within the country. For example, in 1998 the UN Sanctions Committee offered to disburse vouchers for travel and expenses to pilgrims making the Hajj; however, the Government rejected this offer. In 1999 the Sanctions Committee offered to disburse funds to cover Hajj-related expenses via a neutral third party; the Government again rejected the offer. Following the December 1999 passage of UN Security Council Resolution 1284, the Sanctions Committee again sought to devise a protocol to facilitate the payment for individuals making the journey. The Sanctions Committee proposed to issue $250 in cash and $1,750 in travelers checks to each individual pilgrim to be distributed at the U.N. office in Baghdad in the presence of both U.N. and Iraqi officials. The Government again declined and, consequently, no Iraqi pilgrims were able to take advantage of the available funds or, in 2000, of the permitted flights. The Government continued to insist that these funds would be accepted only if they were paid in cash to the government-controlled central bank, not to the Hajj pilgrims.
More than 95 percent of the population of Iraq are Muslim. The (predominantly Arab) Shi'a Muslims constitute a 60 to 65 percent majority:

The Iraqi government has for decades conducted a brutal campaign of murder, summary execution, and protracted arbitrary arrest against the religious leaders and followers of the majority Shi'a Muslim population. Despite nominal legal protection of religious equality, the Government has repressed severely the Shi'a clergy and those who follow the Shi'a faith.
Forces from the Mukhabarat, General Security (Amn Al-Amm), the Military Bureau, Saddam's Commandos (Fedayeen Saddam), and the Ba'th Party have killed senior Shi'a clerics, desecrated Shi'a mosques and holy sites, and interfered with Shi'a religious education. Security agents reportedly are stationed at all the major Shi'a mosques and shrines, where they search, harass, and arbitrarily arrest worshipers.
The following government restrictions on religious rights remained in effect during 2001: restrictions and outright bans on communal Friday prayer by Shi'a Muslims; restrictions on the loaning of books by Shi'a mosque libraries; a ban on the broadcast of Shi'a programs on government-controlled radio or television; a ban on the publication of Shi'a books, including prayer books and guides; a ban on funeral processions other than those organized by the Government; a ban on other Shi'a funeral observances such as gatherings for Koran reading; and the prohibition of certain processions and public meetings that commemorate Shi'a holy days. Shi'a groups report that they captured documents from the security services during the 1991 uprising that listed thousands of forbidden Shi'a religious writings.
In June 1999, several Shi'a opposition groups reported that the Government instituted a program in the predominantly Shi'a districts of Baghdad that used food ration cards to restrict where individuals could pray. The ration cards, part of the UN oil-for-food program, reportedly are checked when the bearer enters a mosque and are printed with a notice of severe penalties for those who attempt to pray at an unauthorized location.
Saddam Hussein's Support for International Terrorism
Iraq is one of seven countries that have been designated by the Secretary of State as state sponsors of international terrorism. UNSCR 687 prohibits Saddam Hussein from committing or supporting terrorism, or allowing terrorist organizations to operate in Iraq. Saddam continues to violate these UNSCR provisions.

In 1993, the Iraqi Intelligence Service (IIS) directed and pursued an attempt to assassinate, through the use of a powerful car bomb, former U.S. President George Bush and the Emir of Kuwait. Kuwaiti authorities thwarted the terrorist plot and arrested 16 suspects, led by two Iraqi nationals.


Iraq shelters terrorist groups including the Mujahedin-e-Khalq Organization (MKO), which has used terrorist violence against Iran and in the 1970s was responsible for killing several U.S. military personnel and U.S. civilians.


Iraq shelters several prominent Palestinian terrorist organizations in Baghdad, including the Palestine Liberation Front (PLF), which is known for aerial attacks against Israel and is headed by Abu Abbas, who carried out the 1985 hijacking of the cruise ship Achille Lauro and murdered U.S. citizen Leon Klinghoffer.


Iraq shelters the Abu Nidal Organization, an international terrorist organization that has carried out terrorist attacks in twenty countries, killing or injuring almost 900 people. Targets have included the United States and several other Western nations. Each of these groups have offices in Baghdad and receive training, logistical assistance, and financial aid from the government of Iraq.


In April 2002, Saddam Hussein increased from $10,000 to $25,000 the money offered to families of Palestinian suicide/homicide bombers. The rules for rewarding suicide/homicide bombers are strict and insist that only someone who blows himself up with a belt of explosives gets the full payment. Payments are made on a strict scale, with different amounts for wounds, disablement, death as a "martyr" and $25,000 for a suicide bomber. Mahmoud Besharat, a representative on the West Bank who is handing out to families the money from Saddam, said, "You would have to ask President Saddam why he is being so generous. But he is a revolutionary and he wants this distinguished struggle, the intifada, to continue."


Former Iraqi military officers have described a highly secret terrorist training facility in Iraq known as Salman Pak, where both Iraqis and non-Iraqi Arabs receive training on hijacking planes and trains, planting explosives in cities, sabotage, and assassinations.

Saddam Hussein's Refusal to Account for Gulf War Prisoners
UNSCRs 686, 687 and others require Saddam Hussein to release immediately any Gulf War prisoners and to cooperate in accounting for missing and dead Kuwaitis and others from the Gulf War. Saddam has continued to violate these resolutions.

Saddam Hussein has failed to return, or account for, a large number of Kuwaiti citizens and citizens of other countries who were detained during the Iraqi occupation of Kuwait and continues to refuse to cooperate with the Tripartite Commission to resolve the cases.


Of 609 cases of missing Gulf War POWs/MIAs representing 14 nationalities - including one American pilot - under review by the Tripartite Commission on Gulf War Missing, only 4 have been resolved. Because of continued Iraqi obfuscation and concealment, very few cases have been resolved since the Gulf War. Saddam Hussein denies having any knowledge of the others and claims that any relevant records were lost in the aftermath of the Gulf War.


In a December 2001 report to the UN Security Council, the UN Secretary-General criticized the Iraqi Government's refusal to cooperate with the U.N. on the issue of the missing POWs/MIAs citizens. Iran reports that the Iraqi Government still has not accounted for 5,000 Iranian POW's missing since the Iran-Iraq War.


"Secretary General reiterates little progress on the issue of repatriation or return of all Kuwaiti and third country nationals or their remains, as Iraq refused to cooperate with the Tripartite Commission."


In August 2001, Amnesty International reported that Saddam Hussein has the world's worst record for numbers of persons who have disappeared and remain unaccounted for.


The Iraqi Government continued to ignore the more than 16,000 cases conveyed to it in 1994 and 1995 by the UN, as well as requests from the Governments of Kuwait and Saudi Arabia to account for the whereabouts of those who had disappeared during Iraq's 1990-91 occupation of Kuwait, and from Iran regarding the whereabouts of prisoners of war that Iraq captured in the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq War.


"Security Council regrets that no progress made on return of Kuwaiti national archives, reiterate need for Iraq to immediately fulfill all requirements under the relevant resolutions, including repatriation or return of all Kuwaiti and third country nationals or their remains."

Saddam Hussein's Refusal to Return Stolen Property
Iraq destroyed much stolen property before it could be returned, and Kuwait claims that large quantities of equipment remain unaccounted for:

The UN and Kuwait say Iraq has not returned extensive Kuwaiti state archives and museum pieces, as well as military equipment, including eight Mirage F-1 aircraft, 245 Russian-made fighting vehicles, 90 M113 armored personnel carriers, one Hawk battery, 3,750 Tow and anti-tank missiles, and 675 Russian-made surface-to-air missile batteries.


Saddam Hussein's Efforts to Circumvent Economic Sanctions

Saddam Hussein has illegally imported hundreds of millions of dollars in goods in violation of economic sanctions and outside of the UN's Oil-for-Food program. For example, Iraq has imported fiber optic communications systems that support the Iraqi military.


Iraq has diverted dual-use items obtained under the Oil for Food program for military purposes. For example, Iraq diverted UN approved trucks from humanitarian relief purposes to military purposes, and has used construction equipment to help rebuild WMD-affiliated facilities.


The Iraqi regime illicitly exports hundreds of thousands of barrels of oil each day in flagrant violation of UNSCRs and blatant disregard for the humanitarian well-being of the Iraqi people. In so doing, it has deprived the Iraqi people of billions of dollars in food, medicine, and other humanitarian assistance that would have been provided if the regime had exported the oil under the UN Oil-for-Food program. Instead, Saddam Hussein has used these billions to fund his WMD programs, pay off his security apparatus, and supply himself and his supporters with luxury items and other goods.

[AirAssault]

Well, since you directed your negativity squarely at me, my brothers do not need your kind of "support".

How about this:
1. Your kids want and choose to play football, so you take the lil' buckaroos to play.
2. Give them a helmet and pads.
3. After they've played a few minutes, tell them they are going to lose, and make them feel bad about trying to win and beat the other team. Hey kids you wanted to play, go out there and lose for dad!
4. Tell them they can come get gatorade from you between plays, a towel as well, and any other "support" they may need, then send them back on the field to lose.
5. Beat them down with as much verbal negativety as possible from the sidelines.
6. Make sure the other team knows your calling your own kids losers, and that they have no chance to win. We all know this will be a big psychological boost for the other team.
7. Allow no roughing, or other penalties for the opposing team, and force your kids to play "by the rules".
8. After the game go take out an ad in the paper to state how horribly your kids played, and detail every mistake and penalty they made. Don't mention anything good they did during the game. If by some miracle they scored a few touchdowns make sure not to mention it. Also, don't mention that the opposition beheaded three of your team's players at halftime. That might be thought of as bad sportsmanship, and we all know only your kids are the losers. No one on the other side can do any wrong.
Who would want to win with your kind of support?

Pretty typical of folks like you. I am making a statement about the administration that put our soldiers in Iraq, and you turn it into a "bashing" the soldiers statment. That used to work, but sorry, the American people just don't buy it anymore. Nice try though.

So according to you, me not wanting to see another of our soldiers die, is not support? So, by that argument, those that "support" the troops the way you say we should, want our souldiers to die. Yeah, can't argue with that logic

Oh and how about the 66 UN resolutions Israel is not following, and continues to disregard? Should we attack them next?

Of course you did nothing to answer any of the questions put forth, you simply beat your chest and went on a rant about the UN.

If you REALLY want to go down this road, I can..... The US's hands are not clean my friend. Re-read what I wrote, do you dispute any of it. Am I making it up. So how can we give someone the material to make WMD's, know he used them in a war with Iran, and still give him more? Then attack him for the weapons we say he still had (that we gave him).

As far a you not needing my support, no problem. The military personell I help at the USO seem pretty happy Im there. The E-mails and letters I get every day from folks happy to have an item that was collected and sent by my family and friends sure lets me know THEY want my support.

My issue is with this administration that put our soldiers in Iraq, not the soldiers. I am a nurse, and served as such at LRMC in Germany. I have "supported" soldiers in ways I hope you never have to. So please don't attempt to even think about lecturing me about support.

So rally the troops, Israel is next, we must attack all UN resolution breakers.

LOL, I just saw one of your issues with Iraq, that the "tortured" people. The bush admin has made it clear that it's ok to torture, so shall we rally the troops to attack the US? Obsurd, sure it is, but so was your response. Yes Saddam was a bad man. Is Iraq better off now than before, some Iraq's say no, some say yes. Are we safer now that he is dead Have terror attacks gone up in the world sence we invaded? Is each month the bloodiest month for our troops? Is it time for the Iraqi people to stand up and defend themselves? Did I just hear tony the liar snow say the iraqi parliment is taking a month off because its hot outside? (yes I did)

Well I'm done. It's pointless to argue about it. I will never change your mind, and you certainly will never change mine. Im just thankfull the American people are FINALLY getting tired of this, and some idiot congressional members (well they all are IMHO. However, that is a totally different conversation) are finally saying enough. Here's to getting ALL of our Service men and women home safe and sound

Amry, thank-you for your service, and please come home safe. When you do, don't forget the rest of em.
Formerly: Spc. Wathen 91W-M6 Airassault "Rondezvous"
Now: Honorably discharged Veteran Rick "AirAssault" Wathen.

[skife]

Why didn't we attack Saudi Arabia? 9 of the 11 hijackers came from there.
Let us go back to 1983: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUPb-3zkh0c Hmmm, you mean that evil man was our friend that we gave money and weapons to? Where do you think he got the material to make the WMD's he did have in the 80's? Yeah, you betcha, his good ol Uncle Sam. Saddam was the same killer from the day he took control of Iraq until the day he died. Yet, during the Iran/Iraq war, he was our friend. It was well known that Saddam used chemical weapons with his war against Iran in the early 80's, why didn't we care then? Why was rumsfeld shaking Saddam's hand in 83 while he was using chemical weapons agains others? Oh yeah, because he was BUYING them from us. Hmmmm...... Nice timeline you may be interested in: http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/200...9/17182041.php
So, if we gave the materials to Saddam to make the chemical weapons, and we knew he was using them against Iran, what does that say about us?

"I *do* rub shoulders with some of the most vile, sadistic men calling themselves leaders today. But some of these men are the enemies of *your* enemies"

i can see it.

[FactsOfLife]

Howdy FoL, TP, Army et all.

I suggest we use the hurricane/tsunami machine. I've been itching to break that bad boy out of the closet for a while; you know, get some good old fashioned Evil Conspiracy type actions.

Zombie Nixon is down to come hang out, should be a good time by all Evil Conservative Conspiracy standards.

I'll bring the cold-fushion reactor and the Global Warming unit, so we can stay warm by the baby fire.

/You guys are bringing the babies right?

of course I'm bringing the babies, what the hell else would I have my streets paved with?

[lather]

Im constantly surprised about the reasoning of many people who correlate with our being stuck in the middle of Iraqi sectarian violence somehow guarentees the prevention of any terrorist attack against the United States at home.

Exactly who are the naive ones here?