Habib,
No, you did not write that Saddam should stay in power and I didn't mean to
convey that in my piece. Nor did you write that US forces should withdraw.
All I did was extend the logic of our argument. If one does not think the US
should launch a military campaign against Saddam, then the US forces will
have to be returned back to the US. Without war, it's just not feasible to
maintain such a huge standing force indefinitely in the Middle East.

You made a point about the US not being consistent in terms of allies. I
can't argue with that. I don't know who coined this statement but I find it
particularly apt:
"nations don't have permanent allies but permanent interests." It goes
something like that. If we scrutinize the behavior of all countries across
time, we will find ourselves in a sea of inconsistencies. That is asking too
much of a country - even for a superpower. What I'm mainly interested in is
whether the US is justified in this particular case.

You also mentioned that some might favor the US bypassing the UN because
Iraq is a Muslim countries and the only casualties will be Muslims. I favor
bypassing the UN Security Council but certainly not because I don't care
about Muslims (I understand you didn't direct that at me). But whoever it is
directed at, it's charge certainly new to me.

Sorry I cannot address at this time all the points you raised in your email.
Hopefully, we will have time to touch them all.

Have a nice day.

Ousman





>From: Habib Ghanim <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
><[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: [>-<] The Ides of March are coming but not yet gone
>Date: Mon, 10 Mar 2003 06:13:03 +0000
>
>Ousman
>
>I never called for withdrawal of US troops nor did I say let Saddam >stay
>in power.  yes there is no doubt that the US is the most powerful >empire
>today but all empires come and go and I think this is the >begining of the
>downfall of GW Bush's self imposed empire on the >world. The whole world
>can't be wrong  on this . Faked evidence was >even tried to fool us all.
>Saddam must have had good lessons from his >former masters  Bush Sr and
>Rumsfeld and Channey.
>
>You know where I stand on Saddam Hussein .We all want Soddam dead or >alive
>- but why bomb Iraq and kill many people including some of our >own Us
>troops when he can be eliminated CIA style as they did to >Lumumba. Dan
>rather found Saddam why cant the CIA ? and why did he not >put a bullet in
>his head as George rightfully suggested. because GW is >not after saddam
>only but Iraq's oil . Ironically the Iraqis cannot >eat the oil so they
>will have to sell to the US in the end . Let us >call a spade a spade. you
>are a smart young man and I am sure you can >read between the lines per say
>
>Remember the Russian Empire /// The British Empire / Chinese Emperors >and
>Ottoman Empire ( turkish) . Yes  I agree let us look at history >and not
>repeat the same mistakes . If only GW Bush would admit how his >dad created
>Saddam and apologize for that mistake  , I think this >whole operation for
>most people worldwide would be much easier to >swallow . The world is not
>all full of fools ,maybe some greedy >leaders will get some cash for a pro
>US vote but not all .
>
>It may be convenient to by pass the UN today because a muslim country >and
>maily muslims will die imho but why did the USA not take the same >stand
>with Israel  that has never complied with over 30 UN >resolutions ? did You
>ever ask your self that? and do you know how >much Israel alone is costing
>the US taxpayers DAILY ( fyi $ 1.9 >million us dollars daily -yes daily) .
>I can bet my bottom dollar as >James brown would say that if this was a
>European country today , >America would not send its troops first and talk
>later seriously >Ousman.
>
>Why is Bush suddenly bent on Mugabe 's lack of democracy and not at
> >Saudi's or Kuwaits non democracy . Is it the oil ? or are they >different
>?  This double standard is what bothers me not the war alone.
>
>Finally ,when Osama was working with the US to fight the Russians in
> >Afghanistan why did they let him go after the war was won. Don't tell >me
>they could not find him . The CIA can get anyone they REALLY want. >that is
>a fact! I bet now that we are getting close to a police state >with the new
>home land security cover the FBI can tell what each of us >wear or eat
>daily not only hear our phone conversations etc.
>
>bottom line - get Saddam out now but do not bomb Iraq- how ? 007 /cia
> >style
>
>goodnight
>
>Habib
>



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