Little Wolf's World

When asked if the use of force was an alternative to faltering diplomatic efforts, Bush said: "All options are on the table."

"The use of force is the last option for any president. You know we have
used force in the recent past to secure our country," he said in a clear reference to Iraq.

"I have been willing to do so as a last resort in order to secure the country and provide the opportunity for people to live in free societies," he added.

Okay, I will post the complete article in just a moment but I had a couple of problems with the above statements.

1. The use of force in Iraq was not a 'last option.' I was, and to a high degree still am, in agreement with the invasion of Iraq, my primary problem with the situation is that I feel this administration has very badly mismanaged the entire endeavor, but I don't believe the planned invasion was the last option in anyway, shape, or form.
2. The implication in the second statement is that the invasion of Iraq was for the purposes of securing the US, but that was clearly not true. The initial purposes were covered with those types of purposes, but in my opinion the invasion was for only a couple of reasons. 1st was to clean-up daddies mess, 2nd to secure the oil production in a way that would help the US in the long-term, and 3rd to establish permenant basis in the middle east that were not in Saudi Arabia because the Royal Family wanted us to clear out of our bases. (yeay allies.) Final thought, I also think this was to appear to help Israel by removing a potential threat, and also to take some of the pressure off Israel.
3. These statements were made to Israeli television, and I have a feeling this was to prompt the IDF to begin making plans for bombing Iranian facilities without the US engaging Iran directly. (Like the situation with Iraq and Nuclear facilities) After all we didn't sell Israel Daisy-cutters and deep earth penetrating bunker-buster bombs for the fun of taking our money back from them.
4. We don't have the military forces to do anything about Iran right now. The only way a new front of this size could possibly be opened would be by re-instituting the draft.

Bush on Iran

// posted by Little Wolf @ Friday, August 12, 2005