-------Original Message-------

From: SCUBA or ELSE!Diver's forum
Date: Friday, July 18, 2003 9:31:01 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [SCUBA-SE] HyperAqualand vs ReefNet's Sensus Pro (was: Re: ...- MV Star Dancer

Brad wrote:

> Agreed. The US government is not completely stupid, although we seem to be
> sometimes. :-) ...If we did that Sadam's followers (the empowered
minority)
> would have taken over immediatly.

You guys can say what you like, but long ago, say a couple of months, when
the U.S. was being accused of imperialism and of imposing our way of life on
others, the message was very different and very specific. The U.S. had no
intention of imposing our way of life on others. It wasn't real credible
then and it's not now, but it was the message being sold at the time.

.
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You are quite right. The case made by the US administration to the american public was that Irak presented a clear and present danger to the US and its citizens (WMD and terrorism). It was not about regime change (this came very late in the process). IMO, your administration was as much interested in bringing democracy as Cortes was interested in spreading christianity.
As you will recall, the world at large didn't buy this case hence the amount of resentment in both camps : 

- We are in immediate danger and you so called allies do not stand by us after all we did for you

- There is no credible threat to your country. You are making things up to suit your own agenda. Your administration is the biggest threat to worldpeace right now (as far as I'm concerned, I haven't bulged from that position)

I would suggest that you read a little about the notions of "crime against peace" and "conspiring to wage a war of aggression". There are precedents.

Jean-Marc