Iraq: What’s it all about, Alfie?

-- If they ever fully understood it, too many Americans, including some members of the military, have become confused as to why we’re there.

-- Easy for facts, reason and reality to get lost in the fog of negative media coverage and mindless political rhetoric. War reportage drives polls, which in turn become the focus of the “news.”

FOR A MOMENT STAND IN THE PRESIDENT’S SHOES ON 9/14

• Know as you assimilate the extent of the carnage that the next such attack could be worse; it could be nuclear.

• Know that you are responsible for preventing the next 9/11.

• In this circumstance the primary lesson of 9/11 becomes crystal clear. To this day, many still don’t get it.

Iraq: What’s it all about, Alfie?

• Must acknowledge we’re really at war; -- On 23 Feb 1998, a coalition of five terrorist

groups, including Al Qaida, declared international holy war (Jihad) against the U.S., Israel and the West.

-- Despite a series of post-dec attacks overseas, until 9/11 we didn’t realize state of war existed.

Iraq: What’s it all about, Alfie?

• Must acknowledge we’re really at war;• Must understand threat -- Stateless coalition of terror groups -- State sponsors of terrorists/groups

Intelligence and military sufficiency easier to manage vs nation states:

Capabilities & intentions

Iraq: What’s it all about, Alfie?

• Must acknowledge we’re really at war;• Must understand threat -- Stateless coalition of terror groups -- State sponsors of terrorists/groups• Must heed primary lesson of 9/11

-- Cannot wait for a threat to become imminent; must deal with gathering vs imminent threats.

“Pre-emptive defense”

Iraq: What’s it all about, Alfie?• Must acknowledge we’re really at war;• Must understand threat -- Stateless coalition of terror groups -- State sponsors of terrorists/groups• Must heed primary lesson of 9/11• Must comprehend GWOT -- Global scope defined by declaration of international Jihad. -- Much more than pursuit of bin Laden in Afghanistan. -- Includes military, intelligence, economic, diplomatic, and other means. Nothing is off the table.

Iraq: What’s it all about, Alfie?

• Must acknowledge we’re really at war;• Must understand threat -- Stateless coalition of terror groups -- State sponsors of terrorists/groups• Must heed primary lesson of 9/11• Must comprehend GWOT• Why Iraq?

-- Context is National Security, period.

About Arab dictators

• Power is everything. Extensive weapons arsenal enables them to control their own population and gives them status among fellow Arab leaders.

• Would never voluntarily and secretly destroy the essence of their own power.

• Must go nuke if able and rival neighbor is doing so.

Saddam: A gathering threat

• Self-proclaimed state sponsor of terrorism• Declared intent to acquire/build nukes

-- Determined to join regional nuclear club -- Plenty of “loose nukes” on black market

• Manipulating Oil-for-Food Program, accruing billions for WMD

• Did not destroy his residual chem/bios• Not contained; sanctions completely failed

First, we did not invade Iraq…

• For oil;• By accident;• Because of faulty intelligence;• In order to create a democracy;• Because Saddam was brutal dictator;• Because Iraq was involved in 9/11;• To enrich Halliburton;• To retaliate for something.

We invaded Iraq….

• NS goal: To prevent a nuclear 9/11 by ending Iraq’s -- pursuit of WMD/nukes

-- state sponsorship of terrorism.

• Means: By replacing dictatorship with government elected by the Iraqi people (potential ally)

• Consequences: Post-war obligation (moral and legal) to support new government and defend country until it is “able to govern itself, sustain itself and defend itself.”

ONE MORE LOOK AT THE RUBBLE OF WHAT THREE DAYS BEFORE HAD BEEN THE WORLD TRADE CENTER SHOULD HELP REMOVE ANY DOUBT AS TO WHY WE ARE IN IRAQ TODAY. REMEMBER, YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR U.S. NATIONAL SECURITY!

We are in Iraq-- not to retaliate for the first 9/11 --

but to try to preventa nuclear one.