Senate Democrats play politics

"Scooter" Libby, who worked for Vice-President Cheney, resigned after he was indicted for lying under oath, obstruction of justice, etc. In plain english, he broke the law, most likely will receive a light sentence and will move on with his life. What puzzles me, is that he isn't charged with outing the identity of Valerie Plame (a CIA agent), which caused him to be indicted. Democrats could care less about the "Scooter," since he is only being used to attack the President. Today, the Democratic Parties Senate leader, Harry Reid, called for a "closed-door" session to look into pre-war intelligence in Iraq. This is where the Democrats don't get it and will get it again in the 2006 and 2008 elections. Since I will support either Senator McCain or former New York City Mayor Rudi Guliani for President in 2008 (given that the Democrats have no one of interest running...especially Hillary Clinton), I am glad they will continue to fall on their own sword.

I can't understand how undermining our mission and the efforts of our troops in Iraq is supposed to help them. First of all, saying that WMD was the only reason to remove Hussein shows total ignorance of historical fact and most Americans know that Hussein wasn't "demonized" by the President or his father. Saddam Hussein committed war crimes, crimes against humanity and was very active in keeping pace with other regional powers that had already become nuclear powers (ie, Pakistan, India and often accused, but unproven, Israel). Hussein's efforts were thwarted Israel in 1981 and again in 1991, after his invasion of Kuwait. He had the money, the scientists, the machinery and the desire. What he lacked was the material, since his country had U.N. sanctions and an economic embargo from 1990 to his removal from power in 2003. He forced UNSCOM II to leave his country in December 1998 (just prior to Operation Desert Fox...the four-day bombing campaign by the US and UK) without completing their mission to ensure he had no WMD and no ability to reconstitute his programs. Four years later, in late 2002, he had sufficiently "cleansed" his country in order to get the sanctions and embargo lifted in order to get back on track. President Bush addressed the U.N. Security Council in September 2002, outlining all 16 U.N. Resolutions that Hussein's regime failed to comply with, which led to U.N. Resolution 1441. This final resolution was not a resumption of the inspection process, but the last opportunity for Hussein to come forward with evidence of what happened to his programs and assist UNMOVIC to complete the work of UNSCOM II. Once again, he refused to fully cooperate and was prepared to play the same games as before. Obviously, he had reassurances from Russia and France, who were the the top two contributors with kickbacks from the "Oil for Food" Program funds. Both of those countries had already made a separate deal with Hussein to veto any U.N. Resolution that would authorize the removal of his regime. This is how the Persian Gulf War came to an end, after 12 years of non-compliance. Democrats would be wise to let this one go or be crushed by the facts. They are on the wrong side of history and the ballot boxes will prove it. No one in their right mind likes war, but sometimes, diplomacy doesn't work. If Saddam had been a rational, responsible and respectful leader, there never would have been a Gulf War. I am astounded that history continues to repeat itself. This isn't the first time we have seen world leaders act irrationally and start wars. Why do we continue to appease these leaders until it is too late and we are forced to wage war? Containing Hussein would have only worked, until we realized he was no longer contained. We tried to contain Bin Laden and his terrorist network. I think 9/11 proved that to be a failed policy, too.

Someday, the Democratic leadership will figure out what they are doing wrong and do the right thing...or maybe not...we'll see.