Was Iraq a Just War? - Newsweek

Putting George W. Bush’s invasion and occupation to the test
WEB EXCLUSIVE
Newsweek
Updated: 6:12 p.m. ET May 27, 2004

May 27 - Right before the war in Iraq began last spring, a fellow journalist dismissed my qualms about what would be required. “There just aren’t that many bad guys,” he said. “It’s not going to be that hard” to take out Saddam. Then, presumably, on to Damascus … If the last century taught us anything, it is surely that the power of evil in the world can hardly be underestimated. A just war, as laid out by Augustine and Aquinas, has to have a reasonable chance of success. And even on that point, I had my doubts.

A just war must also confront a danger that is beyond question. Even when Dick Cheney said we knew exactly where the WMDs were, even when Tony Blair said Iraq could deploy them within 45 minutes, even when Colin Powell said the evidence was good enough for him, the danger was never beyond question. It is true that, as Bush said in his address on Monday evening, Iraq is now the central front in the war on terror. This was not the case, however, when we went in.

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/5078846/site/newsweek/site/newsweek/

:grr:

This is truly pitiful, spineless, after-the-fact-cover-your-ass kind of shit.

the folk in the coperate media had no interest in stopping the war; it's all about profit for them. They are going to scurry about a great deal in the next few years hiding their complicity and trying to look like journalists rather than propogandists.

"no way this is going to appear in real ink"?

They probably still wouldn't commit it to ink.

Cowards.

Let's forget for a moment (as if it's so simple to do) the whole Iraq mess. I think Melinda slipped in something a lot more disturbing.

The "Alison" story (with the final "I wasn't calling her Alison, I was calling you Alison" comment) is terribly reminiscent of stories about brain damage victims, who often display surreal perceptions and vocal 'rationalizations' that are as nonsensical as the behavior they're trying to rationalize, as their brain cells basically struggle to get their assigned jobs done without the tools they're supposed to be using.

THAT should have been news in 2000.

This president is seriously messed up. At the very least, his narcissistic personality disorder will not let him admit the tiniest mistake - that is a massive red flag.

Brain damage from stroke or any other event would be an awful reality. Here we have a president who does not have the mental ability to make sound decisions.

Either way - serious narcissistic personality disorder, or brain damage, we will continue to see this president lead us down a road of ruin.

(from my other post. And I've been saying this from 2001 on CNN's live chat. It sure was lonely back then being the only one holding the flag.)

In my opinion, deep in my bones, I feel Bush has some kind of psychotic panic disorder like this or simular. It just doesn't make any sense that he never flew overseas most of his life. According to mainstream reports he'd only flew overseas 2 times his entire life before the age of 49. Wouldn't you flew on Air Force One with your father, President, if you had the dozens of chances? What about growing up being in the wealthy elite American Jet Set class but never meeting your friends in their villas overseas! The report didn't mention the 2 foreign countries Bush had traveled to. Funny huh? I wonder if they were Canada and Mexico and he drove to them?

As you all know, I believe Bush never flew a jet solo. I wonder if some kind of psychotic disorder is in fact what grounded him? The most he'd did was briefly take controls from his Flight Instructor.

I know for sure never passed any flight schools tests. I've taken student pilot lessons and classes and it's not that easy. Especially for someone whose father had to bride his school with $20 Mil. just to get him a D- average.

If you look into panic and other psychotic orders they are amplified by alcohol and drug use. It is possible with 25 years of alcohol/drug abuse and a type of psychotic disorder he neared insanity and that's when he quit drinking cold turkey. From people I've spoken to and seen reports this is a typical pattern. The edge of insanity forces a dramatic life change and a turn to Fundimentalist Religion.

We had a co-worker who went through this exact path. None of us made fun of her. It was good to see her find some type of peace for her life. But in no way do I believe this type of person should be in a position to launch nuclear weapons. All leaders in the position to launch nuclear weapons should be forced to take drug, alcohol, and psychological testing the same as ALL Americans who hold a Top Secret clearance.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=115&topic_id=9155

It would help the campaign.

Disorder...

according to Catholic doctrine, a just war is OK. If the war is not just, Catholics shouldn't support it.

Suggesting that a war is "just" doesn't mean it's OK. Even if a conflict were to meet all of the churches standards, it would still be a horrible event which should be entered only because refusing to enter would be even worse. As for "catholic" support for the war in Iraq, one should note John Pauls recent comments. They are hardly supportive