Richard W. Behan
Early in December of 2016 CODEPINKconducted "The People's Tribunal on the Iraq War." Two days of testimony and documentation disclosed the indisputable truth: Afghanistan and Iraq were invaded to gain control of hydrocarbon resources. Combating terrorism was irrelevant, a concocted deception.
The detailed history below is adapted from a powerpoint
presentation, The Fraudulent War, included in the Tribunal's record.
Within ten days of taking office in January of 2001, the Bush Administration declared its intent to invade Iraq, and in August the President notified India and Pakistan "...the U.S. would launch a military mission into Afghanistan before the end of October."(1) 9/11 was still five weeks in the future.
Early preparations for both wars were underway--Cheney's "Energy Task Force" and the State Department's "Future of Iraq Project." But President Bush faced two immense obstacles.
Under the Constitution only Congress can declare war. And the charter of the United Nations is unequivocal: unprovoked invasions are prohibited. In August of 2001 both obstacles appeared formidable.
9/11 Dishonesty
Nine months had elapsed since President Bush first refused to accept custody of Osama bin Laden or to signal the Taliban to assassinate him. But bin Laden had done nothing more since he bombed the USS Cole in October of 2000. Perhaps he was no longer a serious threat.
If Mr. Bush thought so, his judgment was corrected on September 11, 2001 when bin Laden unleashed his attacks in Washington and New York.
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