Joseph Biden Expresses Support For The Iraq War (2003)

 

Senator Joseph Biden supported the Iraq War. As a ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, he pushed the false narrative that the US was enforcing UN resolutions. Senator Joseph Biden was asserting that this was not a war of aggression. The foundation of this argument was the Iraqi Liberation Act of 1998. That legislation was passed into law and was the basis for regime change in Iraq. Joseph Biden's positions explain why he was willing to aid the Russo-Ukraine War and interference in Somalia. As Vice President Joseph Biden was not an advocate for peace. Biden supported the attacks on Libya and arming rebel groups in Syria. When elected to the presidency, much of his positions in foreign policy did not change. Failure to revive the Iran nuclear agreement and the destabilization of Eastern Europe will have lasting consequences. Biden's support of neoconservative foreign policy enabled the rise of  a more vitriolic far-right conservatism. The Bush administration was the major culprit in developing this atmosphere, but it had political centrist Democratic allies. The war was a preemptive strike, yet Senator Biden attempts to frame this as enforcement of UN resolutions. The UN found no weapons of mass destruction and Saddam Hussein did not violate treaties.    

Why Maria Corina Machado Was Awarded The Nobel Prize

 

Maria Corina Machado was awarded the Nobel Prize. The choice comes at a period when Venezuela is under threat from foreign powers. Machado being given the Nobel Prize was related to her activism. This was not some humanitarian campaign, rather it was her effort to depose the legitimate government of Venezuela. Those not familiar with her political career would see her as an activist. For two decades Maria Corina Machado tried to depose the government by extralegal means. Sumate claims to be a civil volunteer organization, but it motivation when established was to have President Hugo Chavez removed from office. It was in 2004 Sumate launched a referendum to recall  President Hugo Chavez . When evidence surfaced that the National Endowment for Democracy was funding Sumate the government acted. When President Hugo Chavez died, Machado became an enemy of the Nicolas Maduro administration. Being a participant in the 2014 protests boosted her political profile . Machado is similar to Juan Guaido. A political opposition figure trying to obtain the presidency to rule on the behalf of foreign interests. Maria Corina Machado has expressed a desire to privatize state run sectors and dismantle socialist policies. Awarding Machado the Nobel Prize was method of undermining the legitimate government of Venezuela. There is speculation that Maria Corina Machado could be working in some capacity with foreign intelligence. No evidence of this claim as been uncovered. Machado's Nobel Prize was more of a public relations operation promoting military action.   

The Changes Coming To Eastern Europe

 

The Alaska Summit was held by President Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin. The meeting did not produce any peace settlements or an end to violence. The speculation was that it was a discussion of partition of Ukraine. President Zelensky is set to meet with President Trump after the Alaska Summit.  The Russia-Ukraine War has changed Eastern Europe. Belarus is viewed with more hostility due to its alliance with the Russian Federation. The country has not sent any forces, but is subject to sanctions by the European Union. The rest of Eastern Europe is becoming more militarized. Poland does host US air defense systems and military bases. Even if a peace settlement is reached, US military bases will not be removed. Ukraine will lose territory and the western section under a US- European Union sphere of influence. Hungary being closer to the Russian Federation is seeing a decline in relations with the UK and Germany. The war is also causing changes in the Balkans and the Baltic. Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia are going to be given more arms. Kosovo is going to be pushed to be recognized to undermine Serbia.  NATO members in Europe are expected to increase spending to 5% of their GDP. The economic consequences are going to be negative for the citizens of the UK, Germany, France, and Italy. As taxation increases and social services are cut, public discord will grow. The demographic shift in Ukraine is going to effect the rest of Europe. Since 2022, Ukrainians have fled to avoid military service, violence, and seek safety. As more people die, the country is feeling the consequences of population decline. The Ukrainians that are refugees, might not decide to return. More refugees are going to come when the war is over. Sudden increases of refugee traffic from inside Europe will generate resentment. The loss of the Russia-Ukraine War will halt efforts at European integration. Eastern Europe is becoming divided between EU-NATO supporting countries and those that want diplomatic relations with Russia. 

Representative Barbara Lee Votes Against The Afghanistan War (2001)

 

US Representative Barbara Lee was one of the few congress members to vote against the authorization of force against Afghanistan. The 9/11 attacks made the public and government vexed as well as frightened. An invasion Lee stated would not reduce international terrorism. If Al-Qaeda was a large network, it would not matter which country was invaded. The Taliban did not order the attacks and the culprits were not even from Afghanistan. Barbara Lee throughout here political career as opposed military intervention. The video of this vote is a warning about the military industrial complex and its influence over US foreign policy. The US-Afghan War was one of America's longest conflicts. The result was a defeat and the return of the Taliban to power. The question remains why does Lee continue to be part of a Democratic Party that does not value peace. This issue will continue to divide the Democratic Party.  

Colin Powell Makes The Case For The Iraq War At The UN (2003)

 

Colin Powell (1937-2021)  on February 5th 2003  made the case for war against Iraq at the UN. The speech he gave at the UN Security Council was designed to get a use of force authorization. Secretary of State Powell made the accusation that Saddam Hussein was producing weapons of mass destruction and aiding terrorist  organizations. The evidence provided were satellite images,  phone calls, and testimony from other sources. What was presented to the UN Security Council  was not true. Iraq was not amassing arms nor was it assisting  al-Qaeda. The US did not get the multilateral military alliance it desired. Instead there was a dramatic shift to unilateral military intervention. The US Report on Iraq was a declaration of aggressive war. Colin Powell contributed to this. His reputation was damaged for his involvement. As time passed Colin Powell abandoned the Republican Party.  His service as Secretary of State lasted from 2001 to 2005. The US became more active in warfare generating international condemnation.