Thursday, February 27, 2003

I flip-flop about the whole Iraq thing more times than Lima Beanz farts in a given hour. So I brought in someone who is somewhat closer to the situation who was nice enough to give me his two cents. My former co-worker and fan of the crew Ed. Since things are heating up, I would like to get some emails from my readers perhaps post them so we can see where different people stand on the situation..maybe I can cut and paste them. Enjoy Ed's Comments, and dont forget to read my message to Avril! Im going to the fridge for a beer.

"Attack Iraq?"

Hello everybody, I am extremely happy to be writing to all of you in this, the most prestigious publication in the free world. I would like to thank the editor of Tucker’s World (who interestingly enough isn’t named Tucker) for allowing me to address his millions of devoted readers. I just hope that this humble rant is worthy of all of your time.

First an introduction, my name is Eddie Greene. I’m a 25 year old engineer wannabe who’s trying to finish his bachelors degree. Politically speaking I’m a middle road kinda voter (independent). That is that I have in both some liberal and conservative views. I voted for Clinton and the Dub. This puts me into the smallest of minorities, but I like to be different. Also I am a member of the armed forces. In the Pennsylvania Army National Guard my function is as a dismounted infantryman aka a foot soldier. I joined after the Sept. 11th massacre.

Today I am here to discuss my views on the possible impending war with Sears…uhh I mean Iraq. Why should or shouldn’t the United States go to war with Iraq?

War simply put is state sanctioned murder. Throughout history it has been over anything or over absolutely nothing. This county is a democracy. The government is a reflection of its people. Its citizens value life and therefore the lives of those employed to defend the country. Our society believes in the ideal that force of arms should be a last resort to defend ourselves and to maintain our way of life.

Before September 11th, during the Cold War America sought to contain our communist enemies. Containment limited open and secret warfare of one kind or another to nonaligned countries across the globe. We and they did everything in our power to gain their alleigence. Weather they were despotic or freedom loving, we were inclined to engage the communists in bitter and bloody fighting, just so long as it didn’t go to a level of global catastrophe. And both we and the communists were satisfied at the stalemate that was achieved. Although there were vast philosophical differences, nobody wanted to die from a nuclear holocaust. Everyone (who was important at the time) understood each other.

President Bush, along with others, no longer saw containment as effective after September 11th. The administration changed the country’s national security policy. From now on America would actively seek to pacify its enemies one way or another. No longer would the government seek to appease adversaries, or treat them with blind ignorance. A very hard line would be drawn in future confrontations with

Is Iraq an enemy? No, but Hussein is. He has been the dictator of Iraq for more than two decades and in that time he has accomplished much:

- Took control of Iraq in 1979, and immediately set the tone for his rule by murdering 21 of his cabinet members.

- Started an unprovoked war with his neighbor Iran. During the religious and military coup of the Shaw’s government in the 1980, Hussein invaded Iran in a sneak attack attempting to, in the confusion of the crisis, quickly gain territory (and oil) and the Shatt al Arab waterway to the Persian Gulf. The conflict lasted 8 years. 1.5 million were killed or injured. The region suffered severe economic dislocation.

- Developed the ability to produce, store, and use chemical weapons. These chemical weapons included H-series blister and G-series nerve agents. Iraq built these agents into various offensive munitions including rockets, artillery shells, aerial bombs, and warheads on the Al Hussein Scud missile variant. During the Iran-Iraq war, Iraqi fighter-attack aircraft dropped mustard-filled and tabun-filled 250 kilogram bombs and mustard-filled 500 kilogram bombs on Iranian targets.

- Used special weapons. To avoid defeat, Iraq sought out every possible weapon. This included developing a self-sustaining capability to produce militarily significant quantities of chemical warfare agents. In the defense, integrating chemical weapons offered a solution to the masses of lightly armed Basif and Posdoran. Chemical weapons were used on troop assembly areas and supporting artillery. When conducting offensive operations, Iraq routinely supported the attacks with deep fires and integrated chemical fires on forward defenses, command posts, artillery positions, and logistical facilities.

- Used ballistic missiles against civilian centers. In response to Iranian missile attacks against Baghdad, some 190 missiles were fired by the Iraqis over a six week period at Iranian cities in 1988, during the 'War of the Cities'. The Iraqi missile attacks caused little destruction, but each warhead had a psychological and political impact, causing almost 30 percent of Tehran's population to flee the city. The threat of rocketing the Iranian capital with missiles capable of carrying chemical warheads is cited as a significant reason why Iran accepted a disadvantageous peace agreement.

- Used poison gas on his own people. On Kurdish minority villages in northern Iraq. 50,000 Kurdish survivors flee their homes to go to Turkey.

- Started an unprovoked war with Kuwait and completely conquered it in four hours. Iraq claimed that Kuwait was conducting illegal slant drilling, and wouldn’t forgive a strangling war debt. Iraq needed to bolster its devastated economy, and wanted Kuwaiti oil.

- Defied the U.N. resolutions to withdraw from Kuwait peaceably, allowing the return of the rightful government to power. This triggered the Gulf War in which more than 60 coalition aircraft were lost and 246 American Armed Forces persons perished, and 19 are still MIA.

- Launched an unprovoked attack against Israel with ballistic missiles trying to fracture the coalition.

- Threatens U.S. and British aircraft conducting Operations Southern and Northern Watch on a daily basis in violation of a ceasefire that he stipulated to.

- Defied the U.N. on innumerable occasions in regards to resolutions and the ceasefire regarding the destruction of Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction.

- Moved 40,000 troops into northern Iraq, which threatened the Kurdish population. This triggered Operation Desert Strike.

- Attempted to assassinate former President George Bush in retaliation for Operation Desert Storm.

- Has constantly verbally threatened the U.S. and her allies with destruction over the last 13 years.

I believe that applying these points to the new national security policy defines Sadam Hussein as a threat to America. I also think that he should be removed from power one way or another to ensure our security. This doesn’t necessarily mean a war.

Some people have raised points in opposition to a possible war in Iraq. All Bush wants is oil. Not true. Bush comes from Texas, where there’s nothing but oil. Texans bathe in oil. Attacking Iraq will make our enemies angry at us. I’m pretty sure they’re already angry at us. They should be afraid of us. Attacking Iraq will cost us the friendship of our allies. Who needs France? We have their secret recipes for French toast, French fries, croissants, and truffles. France is useless to us now.

But will there be a war in Iraq? Probably not. The administration isn’t going to invalidate the U.N. as the organization to promote world peace. It’s too important a tool for the U.S. to promote its foreign policy. Tactically speaking summer is coming soon and the desert is very unforgiving. Also an army simply cannot exist out in the middle of nowhere for a long period of time without having serious morale problems.

Sadam isn’t a fool. Iran and Kuwait was a miscalculation on his part. He thought he could get away with it. However he has no illusions as to the current situation. He knows that Bush means business. He thinks he won the Gulf War. In his world he did win. He’s a person who has had to survive in his world and he views surviving the war as a victory. I believe that all of this is his façade and he will disarm because he knows it’s the only way to end U.N. sanctions and put him back on track economically. But I also think that he is simply too dangerous and unpredictable to let him to continue to rule Iraq.





“My Sweet Skater Girl”

I didn’t tune in but I know by now your story. I know that my Sweet Avril Lavigne that you didn’t win one Grammy. I know that Norah Jones basically kicked your adorable butt all over the red carpet.

I imagine you either got all watery eyed and bowed your head in disappointment or perhaps you through a punch into the wall back stage. Perhaps you thought it was a damn cold night that you didn’t get to make that acceptance speech that I’m your practiced over and over again.

I’d imagine you went out with your band and filled your brain with several mind altering substances. I hope that you didn’t over do it. I hope you realized that you will be there again next year.

People love you, and although the music industry is a fickle creature I know in my heart that people will still be buying your CDs (or downloading your music) years from now…so don’t worry and don’t measure yourself against others like that. Its not the end of the world. I bet many girls around the world imitated you when you performed earlier this week. Why just the other day I saw a young girl all dressed like you in the mall.

Don’t be discouraged you are really young and have your whole career ahead of you.


"Where's Tucker?"

Both my readers may have noted that I have possibly gone the longest time with out an update since the birth of the blog. Thats simply cause I have a crappy job, and work horrible hours. On top of that I have had a few interviews this week which combined with riding out to Liza's house has gobbled up most of my Blogging time. Look for tonight (thursday) and tomorrow (friday) for some good old fashion ranting. I'm going to touch on Avril's lack of a grammy, hopefully the war, and maybe even other stuff you just don't know Tucker's World being a whacky one and all.

Sears Alert: Yellow