Preemptive precedent

President Bush’s choice of a pre-emptive war against another country is the single greatest evil of his administration. Never before has the United States declared war on a sovereign nation in an effort to head off a war down the road.

It was wrong on several counts.

There was no certainty of a future war between Iraq and the United States, or between Iraq and its ally, Israel. Iraq was contained by sanctions imposed by the U.N. to a large degree and by the no fly zone imposed by the U.S. and Great Brittan.

There was no imminent threat. Despite the proclamations, exaggerations, lies from Bush, Cheney, Tenet, Rice about WMD, Iraq was estimated to be years from nuclear capability and was believed to have had limited capability of delivering biological and chemical weapons, because of the NFZ.

All other options were not exhausted. U.N. inspector David Kay, looking for weapons, asked for more time to make sure there were WMD. Yes, inspections were not without difficulty. Saddam was at times cooperative and uncooperative, but we are talking human lives here. Patience before death.

Diplomacy, diplomacy, diplomacy before war. We had not exhausted trying to get more worldwide cooperation on reaching our goals in Iraq and lowering regional tensions. Diplomacy requires some give and take, some patience, and most importantly mutual respect rather than arrogance.

It is shocking to me that the Congress approved and the American people largely acquiesced in the unprecedented decision to attack a nation of 25 million people without certainty about impending threat, clear danger, and without exhausting all other options.

When does an informed moral conscience play a role in U.S. foreign policy?

It's not possible that any of this is true, Jim. You failed to explain in a clear and concise manner how any of this is John Kerry's fault.

Jim,

I find it quite interesting that you have taken a blog that is about the election of 2006 and Minnesota politics and turned it into your own personal Bush Bash.

Jim, the two key words are INFORMED and MORAL- these concepts do not guide this administration.

Oh, Ken, you noticed.

We disagree again. This is not a not about a personal Bush bash.

It is about a personal Bush, Cheney, Tenet, Rice bash.

It is also about electing a senator and as many congressmen as possible in Minnesota who will hold Bush's administration’s feet to the fire. Or to the water-board as the case may be.

It is November 17th and elections have come and gone with distinct and resounding results. It signals that a regime change has begun in this country, and that the democratic process is alive and well.