Are there parallels in Iraq War build up of 2002-03 and today in the US?

[Armstead]

Although the specifics differ, I see distressing parallels between the current situation in the Middle East and the so-called "debate" that led up to the Iraq Invasion in 2002-2003.

And unfortunately, this may result in a future parallel to TODAY a few years hence, on a much larger scale. When the public sees the destructive ramifications of our current acquiescence to the neo-Cons in the current conflict in the Middle East, how will we express our regret as we are mired in a regiional war?..... "Yes I supported the US entry in the Middle East War against Syria and Iran back in 2006, but I was wrong. We were misled. But now that we are there, we have to stay the course until all of Islam has been defeated."

Back then, the choice was whether to create a crisis over Iraq, rather than dealing with it as a problem. Bush decided to create a crisis as a justification for an invasion that had already been planned beforehand.

Today we have a bona fide crisis. Like Iraq, the neo-cons in Israel (most likely with the backing of neo-cons in the US) took a pretext that was a problem (Hebollah's specific act of aggression), and escalated it into a larger war that was planned beforehand to accomplish larger aims.

In the US today, the issue has been whether we actually lead a movement to defuse the crisis, or whether we support Israel's version of the invasion of Iraq. As in 2002-03, there are widely varying views and perspectives on this -- while a majority of Americans had a "wait-amnd-see" mentality.

And as in 2002-03, the Beltway Establishment and the Media are marginalizing views that differ or dissent from the so-called "conventional wisdom" that is shared by George Bush and the Policy Elite of both parties. With a few worthy exceptions -- including Dennis Kucinich and Loretta Sanchez -- the Democratic leadership are currently merely pale echoes of the views of Bush and the Neo-Con hawks.

What the American people are fed, therefore, is a single overriding vision of the current crisis that is shaped by the Neo-Con agenda. "Support Israel's Hawks, come hell or high water. If you disagree you are anti-Semitic and anti-Israel. This war is necessary, and will result in a positive re-shaping of the Middle East. So Bush is absolutely right to keep the US from restraining Israel and snubbing real efforts to bring a cease fire and negotiations. Hezbollah are nothing but cray evil bastards -- a collective equivalent of Saddam Hussein."

This lack of a real debate -- or meaningful alternatives from the majority of the Democratic leadership -- creates a vacuum. Those who do not agree with the Neo-Con agenda are left without any real political voice. And so the US marches blithely towards active participation in the war, and a potentially larger debacle that could dwarf the Iraq War.

[Armstead]

1. Kick -- Anyone agree or disagree with this?

[Armstead]

2. One more try --

Maybe I'm the only one who feels caught in a sense of deja vu.

But I see this unquestioning stance by the establishment -- including the Democratic establishment -- to be a repeat of what got us into Iraq and may well result in the world blowing ourselves up...I hope that doesn't happen, but if we let ourselves get caught on one side of a major regional war because we failed to ask questions now, then we'll only have ourselves to blame.

[RoseMead]

3. I agree with you

And I'm so glad I don't have TV anymore, because watching the televised war cheerleading the first time around was excruciating, and if I had to watch it now my head would probably explode.

[Mandate My Ass]

4. Good post. Although the supporters say "apples and oranges"

In talking about Israel's aggression in Lebanon and our invasion of Iraq. But I see all the disturbing parallels you mention.

I don't understand how anybody can justify these acts and call it "self-defense."

Yes Hezbollah does attack Israel on a daily basis and must be disarmed, but this is overkill with the actual motive of pre-emptive self defense, IMHO. Hezbollah does not have the power to wipe Israel off the map or else they'd have done it already. And it sounds too much like Bush in 2003 "Saddam would like to see us all dead."

If somebody wants me dead, but can't kill me, it doesn't give me the right to kill them (and others) in order to prevent them from maybe eventually killing me one day. And it makes no sense to me logically, when I know that killing all those others was going to generate more people wanting to kill me.

I don't see the moral justification or the strategic justification. It's why I oppose the death penalty. It's not a deterrant and violence escalates in the aftermath of an execution.

[Armstead]

7. Nail on the head....

"And it makes no sense to me logically, when I know that killing all those others was going to generate more people wanting to kill me."

As Israel's recent history with the Palestinians shows, escalating the cycle of violence does nothing but escalate the cycle of violence.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

5. Another version of the "rejoicing Iraqis welcoming the liberators".

As stated by the "birth pangs of a New Middle-east" by Condi. '

I don't see some sort of Grand Conspiracy, just the self-defeating, brutal, sledgehammer, tactics of those with a vision of the Middle-East as a sort of Mayberry USA complete with WalMarts and, happy, smiling, shoppers naming their offspring "Dubya" and "Laura".

Unfortunately, the sledgehammers in Iraq and Lebanon are killing civilians, (which is "regrettable but necessary"), and also hitting detonators that are blowing up in the "planners" faces.

As usual, according to the murderers on all sides, it's all being done for a "good cause".

[Armstead]

6. It's wish fulfillment run amuk

That's what I hear when I hear the Nei-Cons talking about how if we just use bludgeon those pesky Arabs, they'll see the light and become just like us.

[kentuck]

8. We cannot expect the Democrats to have a meaningful debate on this ..

If they are afraid to speak out on the Iraqi invasion, they sure as hell won't speak up and criticize Israel. I'm sure this is a continuation of the neo-con agenda, or they will at least attempt to turn it into part of their agenda.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

9. Alas, most of the Dems are in thrall to their contributors and

consultants and spend too little time going out and talking to their contituents.