For want of a nail...

[trof]

You know the old fable.
For want of a nail, the shoe was lost.
For want of a shoe the horse was lost.
For want of a horse, the rider was lost.
For want of a rider, the battle was lost.
And so on.

Getting just one little thing wrong can come to be very important.
Getting something really big wrong can come to have catastrophic results.

Here's a simple reverse chain of events:
Why was Mr. Berg executed? His executioners said because the occupying authorities would not negotiate to release prisoners from Abu Ghraib prison. They had attempted to use their hostage as a bargaining chip. You can take their statement at face value or not.

Why was Mr. Berg in Iraq? He said to help rebuild the infrastructure.

Why did the infrastructure need rebuilding? A large part of it had been destroyed by the invading occupiers.

Why did the United States invade and occupy Iraq? This is either very complicated or very simple.
What we were told (in more or less chronological order):
1. Iraq had Weapons of Mass Destruction and would absolutely, definitely use them against us. After all, Saddam had used them against his own people so it logically(?) followed that he would have no compunctions about using them against us. He was a direct and imminent threat to our safety and well being. The image of mushrooms clouds in the U.S. were conjured up.
2. When inspectors from some of the most technologically advanced nations in the world failed to find WMDs, we were told that even though the actually physical evidence wasn't there, that there were "programs" in existence for the development of same.
3. When evidence of these programs did not surface, we were told there were "plans" for these programs.
4. When that failed to convince many of us of a need to invade Iraq, we were told that Saddam was a monster and a tyrant and that we needed to liberate his people. Why "we" chose to topple Saddam, out of all the other tyrannical, monstrous dictators in the world was not explained.
5. The fact that Iraq has considerable quantities of oil, of which we are in dire need, was not talked about too much. Besides, Iraq's oil would go to pay for the war and the rebuilding of their infrastructure, which we destroyed. That was about 100 billion dollars ago.

On September 11, 2001, nineteen foreign terrorists attacked the United States.
There were 15 Saudis, 1 Egyptian, 1 Lebanese, and 2 from the Union of Arab Emirates.
There was not a single Iraqi on board. A direct connection between Al Quaida and Iraq has never been established. Nevertheless, off we went.

So...if we had not invaded Iraq, Mr. Berg would be alive, as would nearly 800 soldiers. Thousands of men and women would still have all of their body parts. And we would be a hundred billion dollars (and counting) to the good. This is not rocket science. You could explain it to the average five year old.
What have we gained? That's a very good question.

[TNOE]

1. Great analogy Trof

and it has been going through my head - so SUPPOSEDLY - one of the perpetrators of Spain's 9/11 was an American.... with the logic we are using - wouldn't Spain have the right to nuke America as revenge? Nah, we can never be the bad guys.

[trof]

2. Thanks. Just sent it to my local paper.

Made a few changes, but too late to edit here.

On September 11, 2001, nineteen foreign terrorists attacked the United States.
There were 15 Saudis, 1 Egyptian, 1 Lebanese, and 2 from the Union of Arab Emirates.
Even so, we did not see fit to invade Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Lebanon, or the UAE.
There was not a single Iraqi on board. A direct connection between Al Quaida and Iraq has never been established.
Nevertheless, off we went.

So...if we had not invaded Iraq, Mr. Berg would be alive, as would nearly 800 of our soldiers, and countless thousands of Iraqis. Thousands of men and women, American and Iraqi, would still have all of their body parts. And we would be a hundred billion dollars (and counting) to the good.
What have we gained? That's a very good question.

[trof]

3. kick because I really like this

if I do say so myself.
I am shameless.

[Jacobin]

4. I like it too

Hope you send it in to the paper. Lots of republican taxpayers are not happy about this little adventure.

[trof]

5. Thanks. Today's editorial cartoon:

The only letter to the editor was an excellent rant against the war.

And this, my friends, in the Foley, Alabama Onlooker.
In the heart of the reddest of red states.
I think the worm has turned.