just what IS the plan in Iraq, I mean, really?

[mopaul]

i know it isn't just one thing, it's many, but besides oil, and hussein, what the fuck are they up to? it's all they live and breath, war war war, it seems to be the only goal or agenda and all other governmental business besides piracy is on the back burner.

they aren't looking for osama, the supposed mastermind of 9/11. they haven't defeated the mighty al qaeda, we are not safer, iraq is a hell hole and there is no end in sight, so...

...i still haven't quite got it figured out in my head, WHAT is the plan over there?

[GreenPartyVoter]

1. Just permanent war. The only thing is they thought they'd have moved on

to Iran by now. They're behind schedule.

[BlueEyedSon]

2. political capital, oil, profiteering, perpetual chaos, permanent bases

mission accomplished!

[DaisyPetals]

3. Money

That's my theory...just keep it going forever so they can keep cashing in since most of the administration has their fingers in the securities and defense industries pie and all this conflict is making them maddingly righ. As far as plan they tell the public, I don't remember, something like spreading freedom or fighting terrorists or something along those lines.

[mopaul]

4. laws against war profiteering are so antiquated and quaint

like the geneva convention

[DemBones DemBones]

5. So glad you asked! Thom Hartmann has the answer,

he thinks, and I'm inclined to agree. Here's the link to my thread on his latest essay, which has quotes and a link to his entire essay:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x1871397

Sample:

"It wasn't a war for oil - cheap oil was just a useful secondary benefit.

It wasn't a war against terrorism - that was just a convenient excuse.

It wasn't a war to enrich Bush's and Cheney's cronies - those were just pleasant by-products.

It wasn't a war to show Poppy Bush that Junior was more of a man than him - that was just a personal bonus for Dubya.

It was, pure and simple, well planned years in advance, a war to solidify Bush and the Republican Party's political capital.

It was a war for political power. That had to be first. Everything else - oil, profits, ongoing PATRIOT Act powers, easy manipulation of the media - all could only come if political power was seized and held through at least two decisive election cycles."


Let me know what you think about Hartmann's ideas, mopaul. (You could kick my thread, too, it's been ignored, poor thing.)

[BlueEyedSon]

7. agree with above post, the TH piece is great

[DemBones DemBones]

16. TH is one of my favorite political writers but this piece

is especially good.

[mopaul]

9. it makes more sense, but even then it's so senseless

bush is on record saying that it was to kick the 'we didn't finish the job' syndrome from bushwar one. and he's on record saying that we'd go kick saddam's ass FIRST thing, and show the world who's boss.

it boils down to power mania and regular mania. and revenge for the 8 horrible clinton years that daddybush caused by losing to the hillbilly from a failed state. (there quote, not mine)

[babylonsister]

6. No plan, as the DSM indicates. They had NO idea

how protracted this would become because they were so anxious to get over there and bomb the hell out of Iraq, consequences be damned. Now they've dug a hole for themselves and have no clue how to get themselves out. What a bunch of putzes, except that it's costing lives of Americans and Iraqis daily. :grr:

[madrchsod]

8. let`s see what riverbend has to say about this

http://riverbendblog.blogspot.com/
Baghdad Burning...."the republic of the green zone"

[anarch]

10. No plan -- just general goals

- gain control over Iraqi oil

- establish a permanent military presence, to be used as a base for future aggressive operations

- show the world that the U.S. isn't afraid to kill a few hundred thousand innocent people to get what it wants

- breed future terrorists, maybe, so as to keep the whole War on Terra going forever and ever

...that kind of thing.

[ComerPerro]

11. That's the most infuriating part

Bush has no plan, and he started a war without an exit strategy. You would think that after two years since "Mission Accomplished" that he would be able to have come up with something by now.

But all he has is the same bullshit rhetoric about "Staying the Course".

Yet, at the same time, he attacks us for not having a plan (that he wouldn't follow anyway) to get him out of a war he started!

[pie]

14. I think things are going EXACTLY as planned

[mopaul]

15. chaos may just be the plan

just plain upheavel and chaos, and the profits forthcoming from it all.

[pie]

21. They just LOOOVE countin' them profits!

[ComerPerro]

17. Well, yeah, me too.

[jaxx]

12. Imperialism

Start in Iraq and spread out. Read the PNAC bible........

<snip> We aim to change this. We aim to make the case and rally support for American global leadership.

http://www.newamericancentury.org/statementofprinciples.htm

[pie]

13. Seven points come to mind:

1. Cow towing to Israel
2. Establishing permanent bases in Iraq
3. Privatization (theft) of Iraqi infrastructure
by bush's buddies
4. Gouging the treasury (running up the deficit/funneling money
to bush's buddies)
5. Using war deficit as an excuse to kill all social programs
and benefits
6. Tighten the grip of fear on Americans while eliminating
personal freedom
7. Oil

[DemBones DemBones]

18. How sensible were the bad guys in the superhero cartoons?

The villains were always running around saying "I want to dominate the WORLD" and laughing their evil laughs.

It's senseless and it's about power, first, and that takes care of everything else.

[pie]

22. They do have evil laughs, don't they?

[G_j]

19. this might tell you something..

http://www.guardian.co.uk/print/0,3858,5199524-103681,00.html

US military to build four giant new bases in Iraq

Michael Howard in Baghdad
Monday May 23, 2005

Guardian

US military commanders are planning to pull back their troops from Iraq's towns and cities and redeploy them in four giant bases in a strategy they say is a prelude to eventual withdrawal.

The plan, details of which emerged at the weekend, also foresees a transfer to Iraqi command of more than 100 bases that have been occupied by US-led multinational forces since the invasion of Iraq in March 2003.

However, the decision to in vest in the bases, which will require the construction of more permanent structures such as blast-proof barracks and offices, is seen by some as a sign that the US expects to keep a permanent presence in Iraq.

Politicians opposed to a long-term US presence on Iraqi soil questioned the plan.

"They appear to settling in a for the long run, and that will only give fuel for the terrorists," said a spokesman for the mainstream Sunni Iraqi Islamic party.

A senior US official in Baghdad said yesterday: "It has always been a main plank of our exit strategy to withdraw from the urban areas as and when Iraqi forces are trained up and able to take the strain. It is much better for all concerned that Iraqis police themselves."
..more..

[Kraklen]

20. Take the oil...

Take tax payer dollars and give it to friends and family in the defense contract industry.

Bush is rewarding contracts to his father's employers. Therefore Bush is increasing his own inheritance. Direct conflict of interest.