At first, I have to admit that, although against this war I didn't ascribe to the theory that the war with Iraq was about something as crass and base as profiteering. Specifically I didn't buy the "no blood for oil" argument because I truly believed something else was afoot. We have an old saying in Texas, if it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck and walks like a duck, it's probably a duck.

Let's review this war again.

First, there is the totally obtuse and unsubstantiated manner in which this administration has repeatedly insisted that there is a link between Iraq and the bombings of 9/11. Despite a total absence of virtually any proof whatsoever, this administration and the neo-conservative warmongers have shrieked this mantra so often that it is now considered a fact despite having no proof whatsoever. This administration cannot prove this link despite the most elaborate, expensive and thorough intelligence gathering service in the history of the world.

We have yet to find any of the alleged Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) that we were told was the predominant reason for this invasion. We insisted Hussein provide the weapons for us to destroy, he didn't have them but it was a catch 22. If he provided the weapons we would have an excuse to claim there were more and invade Iraq. If Hussein failed to provide the weapons (ostensibly since he doesn't have them) we will accuse him of non-compliance and invade him anyway, the route we wound up taking.

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We were told breathlessly throughout the campaign that there were several points when Saddam's forces were no doubt going to launch chemical weapons against our troops. We were told the Iraqis would most likely do this when we crossed the "red zone", a ring about 50 miles around Baghdad. If Hussein had these weapons, given the fact that the United States and the "coalition of the willing" were unwilling to do anything remotely resembling a diplomatic solution, he would have used them. The Iraqi's never used chemical weapons at all during the entire conflict, another indicator he probably no longer has them.

We are given equally breathless accounts on a daily basis that chemical weapons have been found, only to have those reports fade away in the light of the truth. In one case, pesticide (a nerve agent) was initially claimed to be a huge chemical weapons stockpile but later proven to be bug spray, it seems that even the "evil and backward" Iraqi people actually have discovered modern agriculture.

Alleged sites of supposed burials by un-named people, reported on by disgruntled former Iraqi government stooges with an obvious axe to grind have turned into nothing but dry holes. The factories and manufacturing facilities that we claimed before the war were used for "dual use", i.e. construction of legitimate products as well as WMD's turn out to be single use facilities for legitimate products after all. Too bad we bombed them into rubble before we checked them out more thoroughly… oops.

The presence of Al Qaeda terrorists operating in supposedly friendly Kurdish territory were proclaimed loudly as the "smoking gun" link between Hussein and 9/11 but when it was discovered that these Al Qaeda terror cells were operating with our supposed allies at their behest, the story was abruptly squelched.

Now we are treated to the spectacle of the heir apparent to the new Iraqi "democracy", namely the radical Islamic Shiites, another terrorist sponsoring group themselves. If George Bush were truly a Christian he might have a bit of empathy for the Christian minority who are demanding an Islamic government. Of course it will be a democratic one since the Shiite's represent about 52% of the population, allowing them to legally tyrannize, abuse and put to death any of the minority who oppose them. (The Sunni Muslims represent 42% of the population and the rest are Christians and Jews).

The most amazing spectacle of chutzpah, something even the Clintons in their monumental arrogance would never have attempted though are the special deals made with major corporations for the rebuilding of Iraq. At the top of this list is none other than Dick Cheney's own Haliburton as well as Bechtel and other giants who, "coincidentally" happen to be well connected with this Bush administration. Don't think for a moment that they will be using US labor or former servicemen either, another case of more taxpayer money going directly into the pockets of crooked politicians and their cronies.

The Bible has a clear warning to "avoid the appearance of evil" but apparently president George W Bush, the Christian, is either unaware of this rather common Biblical admonition or is simply unconcerned with. That of course assumes that GW Bush believes that he is the president of a Constitutional Republic and not a conquering empire.

The most disgusting aspect of this entire war is that the soldiers and taxpayers who have funded this invasion and conquering of a sovereign nation, in some cases with their very lives, are the same people who will continue to lose their Constitutionally guaranteed, God given rights. While the Bush administration and their well connected business allies will reap mighty profits and remain insulated from the coming tyranny of the Bush/Ashcroft police state, we the people will pay for this war and others while we continue to be stripped of our inalienable rights.

I wonder though if any of the whooping warmongers will even notice that the tramping footsteps in the future are not soldiers going to war but are the sounds of the police state marching inexorably against our Constitutional Republic.