The Iraq war was illegal, ex- Deputy British PM John Prescott admits 13 years later

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FILE PHOTO - Britain's Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott arrives for a weekly cabinet meeting at Downing Street in London May 4, 2006. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez/File Photo
FILE PHOTO – Britain’s Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott arrives for a weekly cabinet meeting at Downing Street in London May 4, 2006. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez/File Photo
Britain broke international law when it invaded Iraq in 2003, its deputy prime minister at the time, John Prescott, said on Sunday in the wake of a critical report on the decision.

A seven-year inquiry concluded on Wednesday that former British Prime Minister Tony Blair’s justification, planning and handling of the Iraq War involved a catalog of failures, but did not rule whether the war was legal.

Eight months before the 2003 invasion, Blair told U.S. President George W. Bush “I will be with you, whatever”, eventually sending 45,000 British troops into battle when peace options had not been exhausted, the long-awaited British public inquiry said.

Prescott, writing in the Sunday Mirror newspaper, said he had now changed his view on the legality of the war and criticized Blair for stopping his ministers from fully discussing in advance whether the war would be legal.

“In 2004, the U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan said that as regime change was the prime aim of the Iraq War, it was illegal. With great sadness and anger, I now believe him to be right,” Prescott wrote.

“I will live with the decision of going to war and its catastrophic consequences for the rest of my life,” he added.

Many Britons want Blair to face criminal action over his decision to take military action that led to the deaths of 179 British soldiers and more than 150,000 Iraqi civilians over the following six years.

“The Attorney General, Lord Goldsmith, came to the Cabinet, verbally announced it was legal, but provided no documentation,” Prescott said. “The timing of the decision was clearly designed to endorse an almost immediate action for us to go to war.”

Prescott added that he backed the decision by Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn – a veteran anti-war campaigner and critic of Blair – to apologize for the war on behalf of the party.

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124 responses to “The Iraq war was illegal, ex- Deputy British PM John Prescott admits 13 years later”

  1. This British fat sack of shit is even more pathetic than his Lebanese brother-in-obesity. At least the former doesn’t command an army of thugs to protect him.

    1. What does Lebanon have anything to do with the illegal/invasion of Iraq?

  2. Right, 13 years later … it’s early.

  3. As usual, the claimants that the invasion as illegal do not point to any controlling standards, nor any evidence that the controlling standards were violated. It is just pure sloganeering. And as “legal/illegal” have explicit and well defined meanings, the claim is therefore a lie.

    1. Are you dumb or plain stupid?

      The premise of the invasion of Iraq was that Hussein had WMDs when both the USA and the UK knew he had none.

      1. Omega, you clearly are both, plus dishonest. You cannot defend your claim, and know it, so try to cover up your lies with insults.

        1. What have I lied about? It’s Bush and Blair who lied to the world that Iraq had WMDs.

          Stick to Batman news.

          1. You lied about the illegality of the war. Then evaded by changing subject. Then you lied about Bush and Blair lying. As you condemn lying in post after post, then lie yourself over and over, your repeated dishonesty shows the value of your opinions.

          2. Do you fuel your deviant paraphilia from trolling or from supporting degenerate, lying warmongers?

            Iraq war ‘was illegal,’ Blair’s former deputy acknowledges

            https://www.rt.com/uk/350449-iraq-war-illegal-prescott/

            Iraq war was illegal and breached UN charter, says Annan

            https://www.theguardian.com/world/2004/sep/16/iraq.iraq

  4. Rudy1947 Avatar
    Rudy1947

    “……. when peace options had not been exhausted,”

    Really? 12 years of dealing with the moron Hussein and peace options were NOT exhausted. What total garbage.

    1. What “12 years of dealing? One cannot be this dumb or immoral and hypocritical.

      Why can’t you admit that the USA and UK lied to the world to invade Iraq?

      http://www.counterpunch.org/2016/07/08/how-the-iraq-war-was-sold/

      http://www.salon.com/2007/09/06/bush_wmd/

      Have you forgotten the USA’s decades-long love affair with Saddam – after grooming and putting him to power …

      http://la.indymedia.org/news/2003/04/50272_comment.php

      http://www.hartford-hwp.com/archives/51/217.html

      Letting Saddam gas people …

      http://foreignpolicy.com/2013/08/26/exclusive-cia-files-prove-america-helped-saddam-as-he-gassed-iran/

      The billions …

      http://www.counterpunch.org/2004/10/12/under-cheney-halliburton-helped-saddam-siphon-billions-from-un-s-oil-for-food-program/

      The list goes on and on and on.

      1. Dishonest people like Omega, when they are caught in a lie “peace options had not been exhausted”, will try to cover this up by changing the subject. A quick check of the first two links shows them to be mere opinion pieces, so the additional claims he holds that these links supposedly support are more lies as well. One lie after another from you Omega — what was it you were condemning Blair and Bush for again?

        1. You can twist it however you want, truth of the matter is that the invasion of Iraq was illegal. It’s now, officially, proven. Sure, anyone is innocent until proven guilty but let’s be frank, this won’t go to court and none of those lying, warmongering degenerates will see the wall of a prison cell.

          The same happened in 2003:

          Under Belgium’s Universal Competence Law, Belgian legislators charged US Centcom General Tommy Franks, President George W Bush, VP Dick Cheney and Secretary of State Colin Powell with war crimes in Iraq. In 2003, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld threatened to pull NATO headquarters out of Belgium if the prosecutions commenced. Shortly after, the Universal Competence Law was dropped.

          http://www.counterpunch.org/2007/02/08/the-salvador-option-in-beirut/

          This is a matter of morality: that over a million people died in Iraq, that thousands of body bags returned to the US/UK, that thousands of people are left with physical and mental scars for life, that the people of the warmongering countries inherit trillions in more debt — none of which seems to cross your rotten skull.

          Like I told you in a previous comment: stick to Batman news.

          1. a) I am talking about your changing the subject when caught in a lie. You cannot defend your claim, and as a dishonest person, rather than admit being wrong, you start throwing chaff.

            b) “Officially proven”? Simply repeating your falsehoods over and over does not change them from being false.

            c) While there are a very few facts in those articles, they were primarily opinion pieces. That you can cite an opinion piece asserting the same opinion as you have is not supporting evidence of anything. Your claim otherwise is more dishonesty.

            d) “This is a matter of morality: that over a million people died in Iraq,
            that thousands of body bags returned to the US/UK, that thousands of
            people are left with physical and mental scars for life” Your claim that war is always immoral is blatantly false. The United States was founded on a rejection of that principle — that under some circumstances accepting the downside risks of war are a moral necessity.

            e) “You can twist it however you want, truth of the matter is” I agree with this portion of your quote, as well as your claim about the relevance of morality. YOU repeatedly post lies, half truths, spin, and misrepresentations. As you condemn politicians for doing all of these things, you KNOW your actions to be morally reprehensible, yet continue with them anyway. Politicians have an excuse — politics basically cannot be done without repeated lies and shading of the truth. There is no excuse for your behavior.

          2. a) How have I changed the subject? Explain making up stuff.
            b) Correct, the Chilcot Report officialized what we already knew: that the USA/UK lied.
            c) Sure, CIA files is not proof either.
            d) Correct, millions died in Iraq. Moral necessity? (laughing)
            e) “Politicians have an excuse — politics basically cannot be done without repeated lies and shading of the truth. ” — BINGO. Why write in length to then contradict yourself?

            ps – I see a “DOUCHEBAG” sign in the sky. Gotham is calling you.

          3. a) LOL. 6 links, none showing that 12 years of negotiation had not exhausted the options. You changed the subject, and are now lying about it once more.

            b) More lies and evasions. Where is the controlling legal authority, and the evidence showing violation of legality?
            c) Spin and evasions. You made claims, they were lies.

            d) Lots of people died in the American Revolution as well. Following a discussion seemingly is as much of a challenge to you as both honesty and supporting claims are.

            e) I have not contradicted myself, but you do with every bit of moralizing followed by your lies and insults.

          4. Oh Yeah Avatar

            Insults are his only “defense weapon”, and it’s used as soon as he is cornered, and that is repeated when he reply to others comments as well.

          5. Don’t twist things filthy hasbara troll. In no way is this degenerate right about the legality of the invasion of Iraq.

            You and him must be sharing the same spoon to get high.

          6. a) 6 or 60,000 – seriously, would it change anything with a twisted psychopath like you? If the “12 years of negotiation” was the reason, why lie about WMDs? Give it a rest, the more you write, the dumber you look.

            b) How about the U.N.? The United Nations secretary general, Kofi Annan, declared explicitly for the first time last night that the US-led war on Iraq was illegal. Mr Annan said that the invasion was not sanctioned by the UN security council or in accordance with the UN’s founding charter.Sep 15, 2004

            c) How? I asked you to explain – still no answer.

            d) Read your reply on “c)”

            e) I’ve quoted events that took place (CIA’s grooming/throning of Saddam Hussein, the US arming him, turning a blind eye when he used chemical weapons, violating U.N.’s oil-for-food program, etc) – how did I lie? What insult? You’re a degenerate, delusional, scum who supports mass-killings and breaking the law. Usually, losers in real life admire those big-time thugs.

          7. a) 60,000 off topic opinion pieces would just demonstrate more thoroughly your deceptiveness when challenged about a false claim.
            b) Is RT in your mind a controlling legal authority??? ROFL! You made the claim. Unless you can show there is a controlling legal authority, and a authorized judgement that it was violated, then by definition, an act is not illegal. You cannot show either, and know it, and know your claim was a lie.
            c) You held that these links prove the truth of a supplementary set of accusations you made when your first accusations were shown to be lies. The links, as opinion pieces, cannot provide such proof. The claims that they do are yet more lies.
            d) You asserted that it is immoral to start a war in which lots of people died. I provided an example refuting your claim. This is not off topic. I repeat my prior post on this point — following a discussion, and reasoning skills, are both as foreign to you as honesty is.
            e) I have documented your repeated lies. You are also a documented hypocrite due to your aggressive condemnation of lying by others when you lie repeatedly. Your engaging in namecalling and personal smears in every dispute make you an anti-democratic totalitarian opponent of the free discussion of ideas. The only admiration of thugs here is by you, with your apologism for Saddam and Ghadafi, and quoting of Putin’s mouthpiece.

          8. Facts are fact: Bush and Blair lied. The invasion/war in Iraq was illegal. Period.

            If CNN, FOX and all the US media said the same, you would still find something to negate it. Government officials admit it was illegal. Give it up. You are not sane – seek psychiatric help; I am serious.

            I’ll laugh when 150,000 body bags return to ‘Murica next time – because let’s face itl, you cowards never fought anyone who can fight back.

          9. Omega,
            Declaring your lies to be “facts” does not make them any less false. Even when you do so over and over. Or say “period”.
            Your expressed joy over the deaths of Americans reveals very clearly the vileness of your character.

          10. Declaring your lies to be “facts” does not make them any less false. Even when you do so over and over. Or say “period”.

            Trolling some more.

            Your expressed joy over the deaths of Americans reveals very clearly the vileness of your character.

            Psychopaths like you is the very reason why American and non-American lives are lost continuously. Besides, is the life of an American worth more than the one of a non-American? Quit being such an immoral hypocrite.

          11. you really are a pervert.

          12. Rascal Avatar

            “Facts are fact: Bush and Blair lied. The invasion/war in Iraq was illegal. Period.”

            Do you think Bush and Blair have a monopoly on lies?
            All leaders lie and create war and cost lives. The ones you support are no different. Get over it.

          13. Do you think Bush and Blair have a monopoly on lies?

            No but they (USA, GB, West) are the Masters.

            All leaders lie and create war and cost lives.

            Quit lying. Who lied and killed like the West did/do?

            The ones you support are no different. Get over it.

            More lies and diversion. Prove it or shut up.

            You sick SOB.

            Said the hypocrite who just wrote “get over it” the millions the USA killed/destroyed/displaced in Iraq. Do you think your life is worth more than a non-American?

            For the record, it was a figure of speech to indicate that the American people will not get it (stop the wars) until 150,000 or 1,500,000 body bags return home – because let’s face it, if several thousands returned for fighting guys with AK47s, RPGs and IEDs, what do you think will happen when you fight an country of equal military power?

          14. Western democracies are far more moral than the kleptocracies of Asia and eastern Europe. They are not morally perfect, so I am sure you will now cite an impossible standard fallacy.
            The rate of civilian casualties in wars fought by western democracies is the smallest in the world.
            The wars the US intervenes in have generally already started. It is simply propagandistic lies to claim the US is the creator of wars, or that US isolationism would reduce warfare at all.
            Iraq was ruled by one of the most despicable leaders in history. The US replaced a genocidal/torturing regime with a democracy. Then left. The US intervention was wildly popular in Iraq, and Iraqis to this day are glad of it. You imply, falsely, that I do not care about Iraqis. What your post reveals instead is that YOU don’t care about Iraqis.
            You are correct, the US is not wiling to fight a major power for altruistic reasons. 150,000 body bags to free Tibet, or defend Ukraine’s sovereignty, is beyond our willingness to engage in altruism. Liberating Iraq, and defending A-stan against Jihadis, are each testing our willingness to help others. So far, we have stayed in A-stan, despite pretty significant internal dissention. But we pulled out of Iraq once already, and have not sent major combat troops back in despite ISIS’s war on the West.

          15. The rate of civilian casualties in wars fought by western democracies is the smallest in the world.

            Are you high on something? How many millions the USA alone has killed around the World since the ’40s?

            The wars the US intervenes in have generally already started. It is simply propagandistic lies to claim the US is the creator of wars, or that US isolationism would reduce warfare at all.

            Iraq was ruled by one of the most despicable leaders in history. The US replaced a genocidal/torturing regime with a democracy. Then left.

            Definitely high on something. Stick to Ghotam City and Batman you delusional idiot. The West (USA in particular) has throned, armed supported Saddam Hussein for decades. Iraq was invaded illegally on the premise of an orchestrated lie with the UK – which resulted in millions of death. The same happened in Libya and now Syria.

          16. The USA has defended multiple nations and people from oppression since the 1940s. All of western Europe, and the Asian pacific rim, are democracies today because the US shed our blood and spent our treasure to help other nations.
            I have repeatedly challenged you on the “illegal” claim about Iraq, and you have not cited a legal code or a controlling authority that would make the invasion “illegal”. And you know you cannot. Making this just a repeated lie. Since “lying” is something you accuse keep asserting the US has done, your repeatedly lying is entertaining.
            Your hostility to the people of Iraq is demonstrated in your belief they should still be under the thumb of one of the worst tyrants in history, and that they had no right to ask the US to assist them.
            And is repeated for both Syria and Libya.
            Racist much? Do brown people not have the right to democracy and self determination?
            namecalling — shows you know are in the wrong.

          17. – How did the USA defend anyone when millions of innocent died under their conflicts, invasions and wars. What Democracy are you talking about when the US itself is not a Democracy? Unless of course, your definition of Democracy is to have obedient puppets.

            – Can you prove it was not illegal? These guys are puppets to bankers, corporations and the MIC- nothing will ever happen to them – even if they are caught, filmed, right handed doing the crime. You need to get real and stop your bs. I remember Rumself throwing a tantrum when he and his degenerate buddies were called out for war crimes in Iraq.

            “Under Belgium’s Universal Competence Law, Belgian legislators charged US Centcom General Tommy Franks, President George W Bush, VP Dick Cheney and Secretary of State Colin Powell with war crimes in Iraq. In 2003, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld threatened to pull NATO headquarters out of Belgium if the prosecutions commenced. Shortly after, the Universal Competence Law was dropped.”

            -> http://www.counterpunch.ORG/2007/02/08/the-salvador-option-in-beirut/

            – The case of Libya and Syria is not any different: it was/is illegal. Your insinuation of racism is lamentable. Who is the US/West to tell others how to live? Does anyone tell you how to? Luckily, Russia is telling you degenerates that their oppresive time is over.

          18. Sometimes oppressors round up a lot of conscripts to fight for their tyranny. Defeating them involves a lot of collateral damage. The people of the liberated nations considered the sacrifice worth it.
            Impossible standard fallacy, why am I not surprised — no democracy will ever be “real” enough for an apologist for tyranny.
            Legal principles are different in the real world rather than a totalitarian state. One need not prove one’s actions are not illegal in the rest of the world. We live under rule of law.
            The people of Iraq, Syria, and Libya have sovereignty. Your assertion that outside support for their exercise of sovereignty is “illegal” will be uncomfortable for your Russian masters in Crimea and Donestsk.
            You pulled the racism card. Sorry it rebounded on you.
            The welfare of others is my moral responsibility. Who are YOU to assert that non-westerners have no human rights?

          19. The tyrants you talk about have been throned, armed and supported for decades by the West/USA. How hypocritical of you to say that they were not good people and that their people suffered when you were a major part of the problem. Did you forget then the US turned a blind eye when Saddam Hussein used chemicals weapons against Iranians? That’s your government’s modus operandi: fund, support, train, arm both sides, create a false-flag and let them kill each other. When time comes to be held accountable, pull the “they’re killing each other” card.

            Crimea/Donestsk – your government put degenerates in power so that Russia invade Ukraine – giving your psychopaths a reason to demonize Russia and to start another war. Putin played you cowards like a champ – all you can do is continue throwing a tantrum.

            Where did you see me pull anything racist and where did you see me write that non-Westerners have no human rights?

          20. Once more, impossible standard fallacy, plus the assumption of infinite power by the US. The US promotes democracy, but at most times governments are fairly durable — our desire for the welfare of a people has no viable potential to be realized. The US then working with the tyrants who run most of the world is not the US “enthroning” them.
            The degenerates are in the Kremlin. Russia is one of the kleptocracies. Your puppet in Kiev was as corrupt as they come.
            The Donbass region of the Ukraine, and Crimea, probably would have voted for union with Russia if they were allowed to hold honest referenda, and Ukraine would have been a more stable nation after their transfer. The shams staged by the FSB were transparent frauds though.
            Your blaming the US for Putin’s invasion, AND claiming Putin played us, are more than a little schizophrenic in combination. The US was not “played”, as the US does not much care. Putin did manage to reinvigorate NATO though. And kill a lot of slavs.

          21. Once more, twice more, make that endless more. You can sugar coat your delusional as thick as you want, the US has a long, proven history of illegal wars/invasions, crimes, destruction, mass-killing of millions, false-flags and economical coups around the World since the ’40s. The fact that you don’t see it (or prefer to ignore it) is odd. Calling out others as “kleptocracies” when the US is one of the biggest itself is hypocritical. Who do you think runs the US? I hope your answer is not either Democrats or Republicans. As for Donbass and Crimea, do you really think the thugs in the US and in the EU would have allows such union? Get real.

          22. Hind Abyad Avatar
            Hind Abyad

            The invasions are not for democracy and human rights, but pipelines.

          23. So the democracies that result are pure accidents? Whatever you want to tell yourself to maintain your delusions.

          24. Hind Abyad Avatar
            Hind Abyad

            As pure as WW1 British Standard Oil.

          25. Your assumption that arabs are all puppets of outsiders and the victims of grand conspiracies by wiser and smarter peoples is more racism on display.
            Jeffrey Goldberg is just an informed speculator. He advocated for the Iraq invasion, but did not foresee the consequences. And his speculative map above, authored in 2007, has not come to pass.

          26. Hind Abyad Avatar
            Hind Abyad

            I presume he must be a self-hating Jew.

          27. I bet you’ve been dying to insert this into a conversation for a long time. Too bad you’re not even smart enough to figure out the meaning of the term. 🙂

          28. Hind Abyad Avatar
            Hind Abyad

            I got notification from a month old thread..did you?
            Stop stalking me.

          29. Rudy1947 Avatar

            You got a notification from a 2 hour old comment. Stop whining.

          30. you are a pervert.

          31. Hind Abyad Avatar
            Hind Abyad

            You come here giving lectures?
            “Politicians have an excuse — politics basically cannot be done without repeated lies and shading of the truth. There is no excuse for your behavior.”

            Free Mason philosophy.
            “Plebeian are simple little people not supposed to think, you should be ashamed of your behaviour.

            We walk upfront not looking right or left etc…we are always right.. ”plebs” mean the ordinary citizens of Rome as distinguished from the elite, in English the word which is related to the Greek word for crowd, plethos came to mean the common people”.

            1American Eagle was copied from Palmyra.
            2Free Mason symbol on American dollar.
            Zionist use same the eternal cliché calling plebs as morons “imagining conspirations”..while they are the most ignorans.

          32. 5thDrawer Avatar
            5thDrawer

            They dislike any reference to ‘Social Thought-lines’.
            Saddy Hussein shouldn’t have tested ‘resolve’ on Kuwait, of course, but he was beaten back on that one. I guess setting fire to oil-wells was just too much to handle. The “heat” was on … whoever was fed to the guns … TOPS will have their day.

          33. Precisely; well said.

        2. “what was it you were condemning Blair and Bush for again?”
          He (and his ilk) are madly in love with whatever Arab tyrant who hates the West (and Israel) the most at any given time. Of course, the “Resistance” is Shia-led now, so it’s kinda embarrassing to openly admit that they are Saddam fans.

          1. This is about the USA and the UK lying their way to invade Iraq illegally.

            Who cares whether it was/is Shia, Sunni or Christian. Iraq, Libya, Egypt and Afghanistan were more stable before the West came in. It’s a fact.

            Quit trolling.

          2. Oh Yeah Avatar

            He (and his ilk) are madly in love with leftist sources and conspiracies – taking role models such as Venezuela, Cuba, Russia.

            As Rudy commented “Now, now. I’ll hit you with my “Depends”.”

            The “Arab road to socialism” is via the Ba’ath Party (Arab Socialist Ba’ath Party) remarkably identical with the Jordanian and the Palestinian flag, the Black, Red, White and Green (Pan-Arab colors) symbolizing the Ba’athism Ideology with the slogan: “Unity, liberty, socialism”….

            Ba’ath Party with its regional branches in Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya and Syria…..

            From its very beginning, the party was a manifestation of Arab nationalist thought, with the party itself referring to itself as “The Party of Arab Unity”.

            Currently we are indeed witnessing the Arab Unity at its best…..

          3. ” the Ba’athism Ideology with the slogan: “Unity, liberty, socialism”….”
            In light of both Ba’ath ideology and practice, a more brazenly, in-your-face lying slogan has yet to be invented.

          4. Let’s get real, it’s not any different than “Land of the Free, Home of the Brave”.

          5. If you – and your fellow dregs of humanity – ever “get real”, you’ll have to kill yourselves. So maybe you shouldn’t. On second thought, though… 🙂

          6. Piss, fart, crap, shit and now suicide. You sure don’t skip a beat.

          7. As Rudy commented “Now, now. I’ll hit you with my “Depends”.”

            (laughing)

            What a pathetic troll you are and a dumb one that is.

            Rudy1947‘s comment has nothing to do here and was a reply to something completely different.

            How about you go back to English As a Second Language class instead of trolling here?

          8. Rudy1947 Avatar
            Rudy1947

            That’s what you get for call me a senile fvck. Have you read the followup.

          9. I know why you replied that. Your dumb pal Oh Yeah” was/is out of context by 100 light year.

            And yes, you are a senile fvck. (Let me know if you need a smiley.)

            I read.

      2. Rudy1947 Avatar
        Rudy1947

        Doesn’t address my comment about 12 years of dealing with Hussein.

        1. What “12 years of dealing”?

          1. Rudy1947 Avatar
            Rudy1947

            Not referring to dealing a card game.

          2. Quit playing dumb; I know. What exactly are you talking about?

          3. Rudy1947 Avatar
            Rudy1947

            For 12 years the US, GB and France had to keep Saddam Hussein (SH) from killing the minorities in Iraq, comply with WMD removal and then throwing out inspectors. Toss in a possible assassination of ex President Bush and yeah, dealing with SH for 12 years and achieving almost nil. There wasn’t anything diplomatic left. Besides, SH should have been removed in 91, IMO.

          4. That “12 years of dealing” is nothing but Western propaganda. Think about it for a second …

            – the CIA grooming SH to put him in power
            – the USA arming SH
            – the US turning a blind eye when SH used chemical weapons
            – Cheney violating the oil-for-food program
            – the US/UK supporting SH for decades
            – not a single piece of evidence of the so-called “WMDs”; even a decade later
            – etc

          5. For 12 years

            It was Western propaganda. Think about it for a second …

            – the CIA grooming SH to put him in power
            – the USA arming SH
            – the US turning a blind eye when SH used chemical weapons
            – Cheney violating the oil-for-food program
            – the US/UK supporting SH for decades
            – not a single piece of evidence of the so-called “WMDs”; even a decade later
            – etc

            There wasn’t anything diplomatic left.

            So you make up a lie?

            Besides, SH should have been removed in 91, IMO.

            Why wasn’t he?

          6. Rudy1947 Avatar
            Rudy1947

            Before and after. I’m dealing with the 12 year period between 91 and 2003.

          7. ’91 to ’03: US/UK support for SH, WMDs lie, oil-for-food violation, etc.

          8. Rudy1947 Avatar
            Rudy1947

            From 91 to 03, the US and UK “supported SH??? That’s not even a stretch, that’s ridiculous. I’ll find some info on the oil-for-food so called violations.

          9. Stepping out, will get back to you on the US/UK support of SH between ’91 and ’03.

            What about WMDs? The illegal invasion began in 2003. The WMDs lie was told before ’03.

          10. Rudy1947 Avatar
            Rudy1947

            Trying to respond, but Disqus is slamming you.

          11. You wish. I deleted as I copy-pasted the wrong part.

            Here it is. Those cover the “12 year period” from ’91 to ’03 …

            July, 1991 The Financial Times of London reveals that a Florida chemical company had produced and shipped cyanide to Iraq during the 80’s using a special CIA courier. Cyanide was used extensively against the Iranians. [11]

            August, 1991. Christopher Droguol of Atlanta’s branch of Banca Nazionale del Lavoro is arrested for his role in supplying loans to Iraq for the purchase of military supplies. He is charged with 347 counts of felony. Droguol is found guilty, but US officials plead innocent of any knowledge of his crime. [14]

            June, 1992. Ted Kopple of ABC Nightline reports: “It is becoming increasingly clear that George Bush Sr., operating largely behind the scenes throughout the 1980’s, initiated and supported much of the financing, intelligence, and military help that built Saddam’s Iraq into [an aggressive power].” [5]

            July, 1992. “The Bush administration deliberately, not inadvertently, helped to arm Iraq by allowing U.S. technology to be shipped to Iraqi military and to Iraqi defense factories… Throughout the course of the Bush administration, U.S. and foreign firms were granted export licenses to ship U.S. technology directly to Iraqi weapons facilities despite ample evidence showing that these factories were producing weapons.” Representative Henry Gonzalez, Texas, testimony before the House. [18]

            February, 1994. Senator Riegle from Michigan, chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, testifies before the senate revealing large US shipments of dual-use biological and chemical agents to Iraq that may have been used against US troops in the Gulf War and probably was the cause of the illness known as Gulf War Syndrome. [7]

            August, 2002. “The use of gas [during the Iran-Iraq war] on the battle field by the Iraqis was not a matter of deep strategic concern… We were desperate to make sure that Iraq did not lose”. Colonel Walter Lang, former senior US Defense Intelligence officer tells the New York Times. [4]

            http://www.iranchamber.com/history/articles/arming_iraq.php

          12. Rudy1947 Avatar
            Rudy1947

            I guess that makes you the senile fvck.

          13. ???

            Not good enough?

            https://www.globalpolicy.org/iraq-conflict-the-historical-background-/us-and-british-support-for-huss-regime.html

            Before you play the “12 year period” thingy again, what about the WMDs lie ?

          14. Rudy1947 Avatar
            Rudy1947

            What lie, the WMD’s are in Syria.

          15. Ah yes, of course.

          16. Rudy1947 Avatar
            Rudy1947

            Glad you agree.

          17. No, I do not and you know it.

            You do not have an answer about the fallacious WMDs.

          18. Rudy1947 Avatar
            Rudy1947

            I gave you my answer and you agreed.

          19. I agreed to nothing.

            You simply cannot admit that the US lied about Iraq having WMDs to invade it illegally. Over a decade later, still not a single piece of evidence of them, and that, anywhere in or outside Iraq.

          20. Rudy1947 Avatar
            Rudy1947

            The US didn’t lie, SH just sent the WMDs to Syria. Besides, the major issue was removing SH from power.

          21. I asked you several times earlier today but you had nothing to say. Now, you’re saying that they’re in Syria? Where did you read that fallacy?

            SH was not a threat but the US/UK lied and invaded it illegally – that’s the bottom line.

          22. Rudy1947 Avatar
            Rudy1947

            Where, what and when I reply is my business so save your whining.

            The idea of Iraqi WMDs was postulated in 2003 and an easy theory and the NY Times has submitted that theory as well. In 91 The Iraqi Air Force found a safe haven in Iran.

          23. Yet, still not a trave of them.

          24. Rudy1947 Avatar
            Rudy1947

            Chemicals weapons have been used Syria AFTER Assad supposedly gave them away.

          25. The US lied, again…

            “The release of a United Nations chemical weapons inspectors’ report pointing to multiple sarin gas attacks carried out by so-called “rebel” forces further exposes the Obama administration’s lies about Syrian government responsibility for an August 21 chemical shelling of the Ghouta area outside of Damascus.”

            https://www.wsws.ORG/en/articles/2013/12/16/pers-d16.html?view=article_mobile

          26. Yes, because Washington Post, an American medium is better especially when it comes to an American lie – laughing.

            Here is the U.N. Report:

            http://www.globalresearch.CA/syria-un-mission-report-confirms-that-opposition-rebels-used-chemical-weapons-against-civilians-and-government-forces/5363139

            And some BBC (since you’re programed to believe news by only certain letters i.e. FOX, CNN etc):

            http://www.bbc.COM/news/world-middle-east-24130181

          27. Rudy1947 Avatar
            Rudy1947

            Thanx Nostradamus.

          28. And?

          29. Rudy1947 Avatar
            Rudy1947

            Or?
            But?
            Ergo?

          30. The US lied over and over again.

            Period.

            Keep diverting and playing dumb.

          31. Rudy1947 Avatar
            Rudy1947

            It appears that Assad did the lying about chemical weapons. DaNile is in Egypt.

          32. I let you talk to yourself.

          33. 5thDrawer Avatar
            5thDrawer

            Bottom line … Anything I’ve ever read on it says Hussein opened the doors to ‘inspectors’ – who were still working there at the onset. (Just like Iran has for the nuclear factors.)
            Nothing was ever found there, before OR during OR after the ‘wars’. What, indeed, was a weapon of ‘mass destruction’ at that time .. compared to what is used now?? Especially, considering what is used now by ‘Superpowers’? One missile taking down a passenger plane might even be considered ‘mass destruction’, after all. Bomblets disbursed to kill for years seems massive to me.
            I suppose, that like ‘Genocides’, there needs to be some number placed on the description of a weapon, to have it considered ‘massively’ destructive. Although, make and use more of the ones considered ‘non-massive’, and they produce the same numbers on the charts&graphs. Don’t they.

          34. I was being sarcastic. In no way, did I mean to agree with Rudy1947 or imply that there were any WMDs – there were none. As you said, Iraq did comply and nothing was ever found. Even if they were sent elsewhere, they (the West) would know by now – yet they still have not found them. Unless, they plan on telling us in the near future, in the form of another lie.

          35. 5thDrawer Avatar
            5thDrawer

            Watch; ‘Archeology Reports’ … those are proving them wrong on many things.
            Maybe in 3016 there will be one about a ‘dig’ in the sands of what used to be Iraq, that will prove us wrong. 🙂

          36. Where do I find ‘Archeology Reports’? Youtube?

          37. 5thDrawer Avatar
            5thDrawer

            Ohhh .. YES !! 🙂

          38. 5thDrawer Avatar
            5thDrawer

            No … forget the religious crap for a bit. See humans eating Mammoths in East USA, for example. Archeology is one of those very diverse sciences, given often to speculation in the past, but which has benefitted ‘For Human Records’, due to Cross-Referencing, AND the growing ‘techie-toys’ of ‘our age’ …. and it seems not really desired in many of it’s findings … especially where it rather conflicts with ‘Top-Theory’.
            Darwin wasn’t far off, actually .. just didn’t have a DNA machine at the time. :-)))

          39. I wasn’t interested in the religious crap but that is what Youtube returned for ‘Archeological Reports’. I guess you meant it generally and not as a specific title of a video. I must admit: I don’t follow – you passed from Iraq to Mammoths eating humans in East USA to cross-referencing, DNA to Darwin … If you have websites, please do share.

          40. 5thDrawer Avatar
            5thDrawer

            For example, an interesting ‘Link’.
            http://archaeology.about.com/od/anthropology/

          41. Hind Abyad Avatar
            Hind Abyad

            Very interesting..i also read Feasting inthe ancient world

          42. Thank you. A quick search for “Iraq” returned a lot of interesting articles on the beginning of civilization. Was/is there more than oil in Iraq for today’s warmongers and their masters?

          43. Rudy1947 Avatar
            Rudy1947

            Might be more expedient just to go to Syria and determine who’s chemical weapons are being use by Syria, Daesh, etc. No use waiting a thousand years.

          44. 5thDrawer Avatar
            5thDrawer

            Which is probably why Obama pulled the war-ships back, and just sent a floating chemical-destruction factory instead. Smarter than many, that guy.

          45. Rudy1947 Avatar
            Rudy1947

            More like Assad gave up “Syrian” chemical weapons but no mention of Iraqi chemical weapons.

          46. Unrelated but sure.

          47. Interesting for sure. I didn’t know.

          48. US support to HS from ’91 to ’03 …

            July, 1991 The Financial Times of London reveals that a Florida chemical company had produced and shipped cyanide to Iraq during the 80’s using a special CIA courier. Cyanide was used extensively against the Iranians. [11]

            August, 1991. Christopher Droguol of Atlanta’s branch of Banca Nazionale del Lavoro is arrested for his role in supplying loans to Iraq for the purchase of military supplies. He is charged with 347 counts of felony. Droguol is found guilty, but US officials plead innocent of any knowledge of his crime. [14]

            June, 1992. Ted Kopple of ABC Nightline reports: “It is becoming increasingly clear that George Bush Sr., operating largely behind the scenes throughout the 1980’s, initiated and supported much of the financing, intelligence, and military help that built Saddam’s Iraq into [an aggressive power].” [5]

            July, 1992. “The Bush administration deliberately, not inadvertently, helped to arm Iraq by allowing U.S. technology to be shipped to Iraqi military and to Iraqi defense factories… Throughout the course of the Bush administration, U.S. and foreign firms were granted export licenses to ship U.S. technology directly to Iraqi weapons facilities despite ample evidence showing that these factories were producing weapons.” Representative Henry Gonzalez, Texas, testimony before the House. [18]

            February, 1994. Senator Riegle from Michigan, chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, testifies before the senate revealing large US shipments of dual-use biological and chemical agents to Iraq that may have been used against US troops in the Gulf War and probably was the cause of the illness known as Gulf War Syndrome. [7]

            August, 2002. “The use of gas [during the Iran-Iraq war] on the battle field by the Iraqis was not a matter of deep strategic concern… We were desperate to make sure that Iraq did not lose”. Colonel Walter Lang, former senior US Defense Intelligence officer tells the New York Times. [4]

            History of Iran

            Arming Iraq: A Chronology of U.S. Involvement

            By: John King, March 2003

            What follows is an accurate chronology of United States involvement in the arming of Iraq during the Iraq-Iran war 1980-88. It is a powerful indictment of the president Bush administration attempt to sell war as a component of his war on terrorism. It reveals US ambitions in Iraq to be just another chapter in the attempt to regain a foothold in the Mideast following the fall of the Shah of Iran.

            Arming Iraq and the Path to War

            A crisis always has a history, and the current crisis with Iraq is no exception. Below are some relevant dates.

            September, 1980. Iraq invades Iran. The beginning of the Iraq-Iran war. [8]

            February, 1982. Despite objections from congress, President Reagan removes Iraq from its list of known terrorist countries. [1]

            December, 1982. Hughes Aircraft ships 60 Defender helicopters to Iraq. [9]

            1982-1988. Defense Intelligence Agency provides detailed information for Iraq on Iranian deployments, tactical planning for battles, plans for air strikes and bomb damage assessments. [4]

            November, 1983. A National Security Directive states that the U.S would do “whatever was necessary and legal” to prevent Iraq from losing its war with Iran. [1] & [15]

            Donald Rumsfeld -Reagan’s Envoy- provided Iraq with

            chemical & biological weapons November, 1983. Banca Nazionale del Lavoro of Italy and its Branch in Atlanta begin to funnel $5 billion in unreported loans to Iraq. Iraq, with the blessing and official approval of the US government, purchased computer controlled machine tools, computers, scientific instruments, special alloy steel and aluminum, chemicals, and other industrial goods for Iraq’s missile, chemical, biological and nuclear weapons programs. [14]

            October, 1983. The Reagan Administration begins secretly allowing Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Egypt to transfer United States weapons, including Howitzers, Huey helicopters, and bombs to Iraq. These shipments violated the Arms Export Control Act. [16]

            November 1983. George Schultz, the Secretary of State, is given intelligence reports showing that Iraqi troops are daily using chemical weapons against the Iranians. [1]

            December 20, 1983. Donald Rumsfeld , then a civilian and now Defense Secretary, meets with Saddam Hussein to assure him of US friendship and materials support. [1] & [15]

            July, 1984. CIA begins giving Iraq intelligence necessary to calibrate its mustard gas attacks on Iranian troops. [19]

            January 14, 1984. State Department memo acknowledges United States shipment of “dual-use” export hardware and technology. Dual use items are civilian items such as heavy trucks, armored ambulances and communications gear as well as industrial technology that can have a military application. [2]

            March, 1986. The United States with Great Britain block all Security Council resolutions condemning Iraq’s use of chemical weapons, and on March 21 the US becomes the only country refusing to sign a Security Council statement condemning Iraq’s use of these weapons. [10]

            May, 1986. The US Department of Commerce licenses 70 biological exports to Iraq between May of 1985 and 1989, including at least 21 batches of lethal strains of anthrax. [3]

            May, 1986. US Department of Commerce approves shipment of weapons grade botulin poison to Iraq. [7]

            March, 1987. President Reagan bows to the findings of the Tower Commission admitting the sale of arms to Iran in exchange for hostages. Oliver North uses the profits from the sale to fund an illegal war in Nicaragua. [17]

            Late 1987. The Iraqi Air Force begins using chemical agents against Kurdish resistance forces in northern Iraq. [1]

            February, 1988. Saddam Hussein begins the “Anfal” campaign against the Kurds of northern Iraq. The Iraq regime used chemical weapons against the Kurds killing over 100,000 civilians and destroying over 1,200 Kurdish villages. [8]

            April, 1988. US Department of Commerce approves shipment of chemicals used in manufacture of mustard gas. [7]

            August, 1988. Four major battles were fought from April to August 1988, in which the Iraqis massively and effectively used chemical weapons to defeat the Iranians. Nerve gas and blister agents such as mustard gas are used. By this time the US Defense Intelligence Agency is heavily involved with Saddam Hussein in battle plan assistance, intelligence gathering and post battle debriefing. In the last major battle with of the war, 65,000 Iranians are killed, many with poison gas. Use of chemical weapons in war is in violation of the Geneva accords of 1925. [6] & [13]

            August, 1988. Iraq and Iran declare a cease fire. [8]

            August, 1988. Five days after the cease fire Saddam Hussein sends his planes and helicopters to northern Iraq to begin massive chemical attacks against the Kurds. [8]

            September, 1988. US Department of Commerce approves shipment of weapons grade anthrax and botulinum to Iraq. [7]

            September, 1988. Richard Murphy, Assistant Secretary of State: “The US-Iraqi relationship is… important to our long-term political and economic objectives.” [15]

            December, 1988. Dow chemical sells $1.5 million in pesticides to Iraq despite knowledge that these would be used in chemical weapons. [1]

            July 25, 1990. US Ambassador to Baghdad meets with Hussein to assure him that President Bush “wanted better and deeper relations”. Many believe this visit was a trap set for Hussein. A month later Hussein invaded Kuwait thinking the US would not respond. [12]

            August, 1990 Iraq invades Kuwait. The precursor to the Gulf War. [8]

            July, 1991 The Financial Times of London reveals that a Florida chemical company had produced and shipped cyanide to Iraq during the 80’s using a special CIA courier. Cyanide was used extensively against the Iranians. [11]

            August, 1991. Christopher Droguol of Atlanta’s branch of Banca Nazionale del Lavoro is arrested for his role in supplying loans to Iraq for the purchase of military supplies. He is charged with 347 counts of felony. Droguol is found guilty, but US officials plead innocent of any knowledge of his crime. [14]

            June, 1992. Ted Kopple of ABC Nightline reports: “It is becoming increasingly clear that George Bush Sr., operating largely behind the scenes throughout the 1980’s, initiated and supported much of the financing, intelligence, and military help that built Saddam’s Iraq into [an aggressive power].” [5]

            July, 1992. “The Bush administration deliberately, not inadvertently, helped to arm Iraq by allowing U.S. technology to be shipped to Iraqi military and to Iraqi defense factories… Throughout the course of the Bush administration, U.S. and foreign firms were granted export licenses to ship U.S. technology directly to Iraqi weapons facilities despite ample evidence showing that these factories were producing weapons.” Representative Henry Gonzalez, Texas, testimony before the House. [18]

            February, 1994. Senator Riegle from Michigan, chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, testifies before the senate revealing large US shipments of dual-use biological and chemical agents to Iraq that may have been used against US troops in the Gulf War and probably was the cause of the illness known as Gulf War Syndrome. [7]

            August, 2002. “The use of gas [during the Iran-Iraq war] on the battle field by the Iraqis was not a matter of deep strategic concern… We were desperate to make sure that Iraq did not lose”. Colonel Walter Lang, former senior US Defense Intelligence officer tells the New York Times. [4]

            This chronology of the United States’ sordid involvement in the arming of Iraq can be summarized in this way: The United States used methods both legal and illegal to help build Saddam’s army into the most powerful army in the Mideast outside of Israel. The US supplied chemical and biological agents and technology to Iraq when it knew Iraq was using chemical weapons against the Iranians. The US supplied the materials and technology for these weapons of mass destruction to Iraq at a time when it was know that Saddam was using this technology to kill his Kurdish citizens. The United States supplied intelligence and battle planning information to Iraq when those battle plans included the use of cyanide, mustard gas and nerve agents. The United States blocked UN censure of Iraq’s use of chemical weapons. The United States did not act alone in this effort. The Soviet Union was the largest weapons supplier, but England, France and Germany were also involved in the shipment of arms and technology.

            References:

            1. Washingtonpost.com. December 30, 2002
            2. Jonathan Broder. Nuclear times, Winter 1990-91
            3. Kurt Nimno. AlterNet. September 23, 2002
            4. Newyorktimes.com. August 29, 2002
            5. ABC Nightline. June9, 1992
            6. Counter Punch, October 10, 2002
            7. Riegle Report: Dual Use Exports. Senate Committee on Banking. May 25, 1994
            8. Timeline: A walk Through Iraq’s History. U.S. Department of State
            9. Doing Business: The Arming of Iraq. Daniel Robichear
            10. Glen Rangwala. Labor Left Briefing, 16 September, 2002
            11. Financial Times of London. July 3, 1991
            12. Elson E. Boles. Counter Punch. October 10, 2002
            13. Iran-Iraq War, 1980-1988. Iranchamber.com
            14. Columbia Journalism Review. March/April 1993. Irrigate
            15. Times Online. December 31, 2002. How U.S. Helped Iraq Build Deadly Arsenal
            16. Bush’s Secret Mission. The New Yorker Magazine. November 2, 1992
            17. Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia: Iran-Contra Affair
            18. Congressional Record. July 27, 1992. Representative Henry B. Gonzalez
            19. Bob Woodward. CIA Aiding Iraq in Persian Gulf War. Washington Post. 15 December, 1986
            20. Case Study: The Anfal Campaign. http://www.gendercide.com

    2. Hind Abyad Avatar
      Hind Abyad

      Really? 12 years of what dealing can you be a bit more zbezivik?

  5. The American cowards illegally invaded Iraq and attacked a country who could not fight them back. The death toll, aside from the millions in Iraq, was thousands of (Made in China) body bags sent back to the “Land of the Free, Home of the Brave”.

    Begs the question: how many (Made in China) body bags will be sent back to ‘Murica if they make the mistake to fight someone of equal (if not greater strength) and who will fight back?

  6. Rascal Avatar

    I fully disagree with the removal of Saddam. George senior had it right in ’91. Jr would have been OK if he had stuck to Afghanistan and whacking Wahabis. Saddam was a buffer zone between Iran and the Saudis.
    Removing Saddam created a power vacuum that Iran’s mullah forces and spies quickly exploited and created a ripe sectarian killing field. Iraq will never heal from this until Iran stops interfering and undermining governments in the entire region.

    1. Hind Abyad Avatar
      Hind Abyad

      Women were not veiled, Christians owned liquor stores, people went to open air concerts, in weekends families picnicked on the shores of the Euphrates.

      1. Rascal Avatar

        Even as cruel as Saddam was, I believe the people in general were happier then. Now there is sect and tribal hate and relentless killing.
        It is hard to fix when it is incurably broken. The only real fix is a secular, non-religious government that is fair to all.
        Sounds reasonable and impossible at the same time.

        1. Hind Abyad Avatar
          Hind Abyad

          West removed secular dictators, different tribes, Islam sects, Christians needed to live protected by secular dictators.

        2. Even as cruel as Saddam was, I believe the people in general were happier then. Now

          Not a shadow of doubt about that.

          Now there is sect and tribal hate and relentless killing. It is hard to fix when it is incurably broken. The only real fix is a secular, non-religious government that is fair to all.
          Sounds reasonable and impossible at the same time.

          The breaking of Iraq was wanted and planned. Don’t forget the West’s decades-long arming, support and involvement with Saddam Hussein.

          1. Hind Abyad Avatar
            Hind Abyad

            For the invasion of Iran US gave Saddam nerve gas.

    2. The simple (and sad) truth is that the Iraqis (with the exception of the Kurds) fully deserved Saddam. It’s being freed of him (at the American taxpayers’ expense to boot) that they did not deserve.

      1. Rascal Avatar

        You know, removing a tyrant should be a good thing, but….. The US did not expect to be playing into the sneaky Iranians hands. I fully place a big part of the Iraq disaster on Iran. There is no way they were going to let Iraq have a chance to proper and develop a real working and fair democracy right next door to their religious dictatorship. That just wouldn’t fly. The next thing to happen would be Iranian seeing all the freedom and stability in Iraq might want some of that for themselves. Iraq never stood a chance, and Iran made sure of that.

        1. 5thDrawer Avatar
          5thDrawer

          Sadr works on it still ..

        2. Hind Abyad Avatar
          Hind Abyad

          Why? US-Saudi- Kuwait, asked Saddam to invade Iraq

  7. Oh Yeah Avatar

    Ex- Deputy British PM John Prescott admits 13 years later that the Iraq war was illegal.
    It is after all better than if they didn’t at all admitted that it was illegal.

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