Saddam Hussein as "Moderate" by the New York Times in the 80's

Discussion in 'Media & Commentators' started by Horhey, May 12, 2012.

  1. Horhey

    Horhey Well-Known Member

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    At a time when Saddam was a Washington favorite because of:

    So 'if he wants to develop weapons of mass destruction it's our duty to support it.'

     
  2. Horhey

    Horhey Well-Known Member

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    Washington supported Saddam right up untill the invasion of Kuwait. Strongly supported him in fact. They provided him with the means for developing weapons of mass destruction- nuclear, chemical, biological. Saddam interprited the US ambassedor's assurances to him that Washington was nuetral on his decision to invade Kuwait as a green light. Kuwait had been slant drilling and stealing Iraq's oil.
     
  3. Horhey

    Horhey Well-Known Member

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    So someone is going to say that Saddam was a moderate now?
     
  4. Margot

    Margot Account closed, not banned

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    Its true the US supported Saddam.. He was pivotal to the US policy called "containment" of Iran.

    But moderate? NO.. He was a ruthless Baathist who controlled factions in Iraq that hate each other.
     
  5. Horhey

    Horhey Well-Known Member

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    No, the US continued to support Saddam long after the war with Iran was over, right up untill the invasion of Kuwait. The Bush administration gave the reasons publicly and the reasons were:

    -as John Kelly, Assistant Secretary of State explained.

    And then they returned to support for Saddam after the Gulf War in 1991, when they authorised him to crush the shi'ite uprising which probobly would've overthrown him.

    Administration reasoning was outlined by New York Times chief diplomatic correspondent Thomas Friedman:

    In 1993, The New York Times added that:

    The New York Times reported:

    In other words, 'we dont want Iraqis to rule Iraq and if we cant do it we rather have Saddam'.
     
  6. Margot

    Margot Account closed, not banned

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    Our foreign policy in the region has been horrible for 50 years.. Look at Israel, Lebanon, Iran, Iraq....

    Read British history on Iraq circa 1920.. Churchill thought it was a great idea to drop poisonous gas bombs and kill thousands of Arabs and Kurds.
     

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