Dianne Feinstein Claims Iraq A Threat To The US (2014)

 

Senator Dianne Feinstein (1933-2023) stated that Iraq was still a threat to the United States. She claimed that ISIS could attack the US, but did not provide evidence in a CNN interview. What was ignored is that she voted for the Iraq War and then later said she was lied to by President Bush. Her vote on October 11, 2002 contributed to the destabilization of Iraq. The removal of Saddam Hussein enabled terrorist organizations to enter the country. Then it has been revealed that some of these organizations were being aided by the US, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar to depose Bashar Al-Assad. As long as the US was attacking Syria Senator Feinstein's suggestion of reproachment with Iran was an empty gesture. As Chair of  the Intelligence Committee she had knowledge of US operations in the Middle East. When this was aired in 2014, the Syrian Civil War was being exacerbated as a result of attempts at regime change. ISIS was fighting between the borders of both Iraq and Syria. There is no serious discussion of why people would want to go fight in these countries. US foreign policy has generated much anger among these populations making terrorist organizations appear to be an alternative to US influence in West Asia. Senator Dianne Feinstein claimed there will be plots to kill American citizens. ISIS had not made an attack on the US so far. Inducing fear in the public is another way to justify neo-colonial projects in other countries. The fact Senator Feinstein remained in power so long represents a problem with the American political system. Refusal to change policy or usher in new leadership means more foreign policy failures and internal concerns. 

Julian Assange Discusses The Release of Iraq War Documents ( 2010)

 

Julian Assange is on his way to being extradited to the United States. Both political parties Democratic and Republican have animosity for Julian Assange. The reason relates to the release of documents regrading America's abuses in both Iraq and Afghanistan. A large body of evidence shows the United States engaged in war crimes. Whistle blowers have been persecuted  in the United States for exposing corruption and human  rights violations at the highest level of government. The documents that were released in 2010 show that 104,000 Iraqis died in a period of six years. The 400,000 documents reveal torture, abuse from the coalition installed government, and the murder of civilian populations. Wikileaks also exposed that between a six year period deaths in Afghanistan came to 20,000 people. Assange was accused of being a Russian asset and a national security risk for exposing the crimes of  both the Bush and Obama administration. Assange if he comes to the US will not be safe. As of 2022 there are legal efforts underway to prevent his extradition. It can be argued that he is being falsely imprisoned, because Assange did not commit a criminal offense. Press freedom and journalism are under threat from a political establishment that does not want their abuses known. 

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. 

Donald Rumsfeld on CNN (2002)

 

Donald Rumsfeld (1932- 2021) served as Secretary of Defense for both the Gerald R. Ford and George W. Bush administrations. During the early 2000s he was making the case for the invasion of Iraq. Rumsfeld made an appearance on CNN September 12, 2002. He was one of the major architects of the Iraq War. Here in the interview Rumsfeld denies that the US provided Saddam Hussein chemical weapons in the 1980s. He was not prepared when archival footage was shown of him visiting Iraq in 1983. At the time Donald Rumsfeld was part of a special envoy to bolster support for Iraq against Iran. Syria  was also discussed in  meetings with Saddam Hussein including the situation in Lebanon. The Bush administration pushed a false claim that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction and that Iraq had to be attacked for national security. Donald Rumsfeld also along with other officials made the accusation that Saddam was supporting terrorist organizations. There was no evidence of this and weapons of mass destruction were never found. Rumsfeld left behind a legacy of aggressive warfare, which still effects  the Middle East today.