Causes of War in Iraq2003-???

“Nobody is supporting Saddam Hussein, but everybody recognizes that in international

politics you have to process. Before you invade a sovereign (independent) country there has to be reason for it or we’re

going to have chaos.”

Bill GrahamFormer Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs

Feb 14, 2002

“There is already a mountain of evidence that Saddam Hussein is gathering weapons for the purpose of using them. And adding additional

information is like adding a foot to Mount Everest.”

Ari Fleisher Former White House Spokesperson

Sept 6, 2002

Judging Reliability of Sources: 1st Key 

• Proximity• “Access” to information• Always ask: How close to the event/person/issue is

the source? • Do not confuse with being “Primary” ie a secondary

source can still have close proximity.•  • The closer the proximity the more reliable the

source!

“The U.S. Administration wants to destroy Iraq in order to control the Middle East Oil, and

consequently control the politics as well as the oil and economic policies of the whole world.”

Saddam Hussein, Former Dictator of IraqSept 19, 2002 (in a letter to the UN)

“The dictator of Iraq is not disarming. To the contrary; he is deceiving.From intelligence sources we know, for instance, that thousands of Iraqi security personnel are at work hiding documents and materials from the UN inspectors, sanitizing inspection sites and monitoring the inspectors themselves.”

George W. Bush, Former US President,

Jan 28, 2003

Judging Reliability of Sources: 2nd Key 

• Corroboration• Similar to “support”; “backed up”• Always ask: Does this source have the same

information as other sources? Can the source be checked for accuracy.

• The more corroboration the greater the reliability!

• “And I challenge Bush and his government to present any evidence of that… Everybody in the region, everybody in the world knows Iraq has no connection with al-Qaeda (9/11 terrorists).”

Tariq Aziz, Former Iraqi Deputy Minister,

Jan 29, 2003

Judging Reliability of Sources: 3rd Key

• Contradiction• The opposite of corroboration• Has opposing evidence from other

sources

• The more contradiction the lesser the reliability

 

Judging Reliability of Sources: 4TH Key • BIAS

• Always ask: What are the main/obvious BIASES?, Do they “get in the way” of the facts?

• * 2 other things to think about with 4th Key:• MOTIVE: Why was this source created? What was the

creator hoping to accomplish?• AUDIENCE: Who was intended to read/see/hear this

source? • Do the answers for A and B make it more biased?

*Remember: everyone has biases therefore everything has a bias. • The LESS biased the source, the greater the reliability!

“A proof is a proof. What kind of proof? It’s a proof. A proof is a proof. And when you have a

good proof, it’s because it’s proven.”

Jean Chretien, Former Canadian Prime Minister,

Sept 5, 2002