#IRAQ + 100

[have-you-read-this-short-fiction]

[deadpresidents]

Hi! I'm a longtime reader and am trying to find something you posted years ago about Saddam and Dubya and the real "cause" of the iraq war to show my friend. Are you able to help me find the link to it? THANK YOU!!!!!!!!

Thanks for sticking around for all these years!

I'm guessing this is the post you were talking about. It's one of those posts that gets requested every couple of years:

Anonymous asked: Why did Bush start the Iraq War?

It all started in the spring of 1986 when George W. Bush was sent to Iraq as a secret emissary on behalf of the Reagan Administration.  Despite his lack of experience in…well…anything, President Reagan sent Bush because Bush’s father, Vice President George H.W. Bush, said he could be trusted.

The Iran-Iraq War was at a stalemate and the younger Bush went to Iraq in order to offer assistance to the Iraqis in their cause.  The United States had a vested interest in the deposition of Iran’s Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, and senior aides in the Reagan Administration, as well as top American intelligence officials, believed that strengthening Iraq would lead to an Iranian defeat and that an Iranian defeat would result in the end of Iran’s Islamic Revolution.  That would bring about the fall of Ayatollah Khomeini.

George W. Bush, just 39 years old at the time, arrived in Baghdad in secret and was whisked away by helicopter to one of Saddam Hussein’s palaces, on the Euphrates River in Najaf.  It was there that the eventual adversaries would first meet, but at the time, they really enjoyed each other’s company.  For hours, they joked, watched local performers, spoke to one another about their hopes and dreams, and then gathered for dinner.

During that dinner, the seeds were planted for a conflict that later would cost thousands of American and Iraqi lives.  Saddam and Bush feasted on quail that Saddam claimed he had personally hunted earlier that day.  Bush, remembering his diplomatic initiative, asked Saddam what the United States and President Reagan could do to help Iraq defeat the Iranians and topple Ayatollah Khomeini.  Saddam laid out what he would need, and Bush assured the Iraqi leader that his requests would be no problem and that he was glad that they could come to an agreement.

Unfortunately, both men began drinking during the dinner, and both men became boisterous.  Good-natured joking was transforming into sharp jabs and then downright hostility.  Saddam and Bush were joined by a very small group of people, and the entire room went silent as the Iraqi dictator and the future American President started boasting about their manhood and making challenges to the other man.

Saddam found himself in an unusual position as Bush would not defer to him in these challenges.  When Saddam dropped and did 50 push-ups, Bush did the same.  When Saddam swam across the Euphrates and back, Bush did, as well.  They had a foot race around the palace with no clear winner.  Arm-wrestling settled nothing.  They competed to see who could kick a soccer ball the furthest and, again, there was no distinction between the two.  Saddam skipped a rock across the river six times, and so did Bush. 

Saddam was getting more-and-more frustrated by his inability to best George W. Bush in feats of strength, athletic contests, or the board game “Sorry!”.  If an Iraqi had met all of Saddam’s challenges as Bush had without deferring to the Iraqi dictator, Saddam would have had his son Uday torture the man.  Of course, he couldn’t do that with the son of the Vice President of the United States, especially since he had been sent as a special emissary by President Reagan.

Suddenly, an idea brightened Saddam’s countenance.  He summoned an aide and whispered something in the man’s ear.  Five minutes later, Saddam’s aide walked in with a large boombox and an Iraqi soldier brought in several pieces of cardboard.

Saddam stood up, loosened his tie, removed his military-style beret, and rolled up his sleeves.  Staring at George W. Bush with fire in his eyes, the Iraqi dictator growled, “Let’s see your B-boy stance, Texas.”

Bush quickly stood up, ready for the challenge, removed his jacket, and rolled up his shirtsleeves, as well.  Removing his shoes, Bush gestured to Saddam, “It’s your country…for now…so, why don’t you go first?”.

Although he was fuming and visibly shaken by Bush’s confidence, Saddam closed his eyes, took three deep breaths, and pointed at the Iraqi near the boombox.  Immediately, Run-D.M.C.’s self-titled album began playing and – there’s really no other way to put this: Saddam Hussein got the fuck down.  The Iraqi dictator was popping, locking, busting out power moves and pulling up with world-class freezes.

Bush was obviously overmatched.  The confidence was gone.  The liquid courage from the night’s alcohol was abandoning him.  As “Rock Box” played, Bush discovered that he couldn’t match Saddam Hussein in everything.  Had it ended there, with Saddam smiling and shaking hands with the future President after Bush graciously admitted defeat, perhaps the world would be different today.

Saddam, however, had been humiliated earlier in the night.  Instead of smiling and shaking Bush’s hand, he pointed once again to the boombox.  Saddam stared hard at Bush, did the Crip Walk and then transformed that into a Moonwalk.  Saddam Moonwalked right out of the room, continuing to stare Bush directly in the eyes, and saying, as he reached the doorway, “Show yourself out, motherfucker.”

When George W. Bush returned to the United States, he immediately gave up drinking alcohol and focused himself on his life and future.  He swore to himself that he would one day gain revenge against Saddam Hussein’s disrespectful showing during their b-boy battle in Iraq.  Everything Bush did from 1986 on was done with the single purpose of destroying Saddam Hussein.  Owner of a baseball team, Governor of Teas, President of the United States – none of these things meant much if Saddam Hussein was still gloating about his victory.

People talk about the oil or the revenge for slights against George W. Bush’s father or a search for weapons of mass destruction, but you now know the truth.  George W. Bush went to war in Iraq because Saddam Hussein ambushed and embarrassed him during their breakdancing battle in 1986.  There was never blood for oil; the blood was for breakdancing.

[caffeccino]

I got Armored Core brainworms, but I can't just be into the new one.... 🙄🙄

[dami-ee]

prayers up for that couple and those who perished in that chaos man smh

May they find peace fr

Allahu yarhammahummah 💔

[zingay]

Hey guys did you know Israel has enough nuclear weapons to lay waste to the entire world and literally has a strategy that they use to threaten world leaders

Israel is a genocidal death cult look up the Samson Option

[napoleondienamite]

much attention is given to lawrence for obvious reasons but, feisal deserves much more credit for the things he accomplished in such a short amount of time

[kavehater]

Oh uhm apparently I need to come out to yall that although I’m fully Arab and have Arab genes and have an arabic name or whatever the hell I’m actually a basic white girl cause I have a lighter complexion oops should’ve disclosed that earlier !

[commiearabgirl-2]

Every day I wish East Germany had become the only Germany. Every day.

Then let's make a new socialist and united Germany! Hoping won't get us anywhere.

[ur-mag]

Chilling moment wedding fireworks set ceiling on fire sparking horror inferno that kills at least 100 in Iraq | In Trend Today

Chilling moment wedding fireworks set ceiling on fire sparking horror inferno that kills at least 100 in Iraq Read Full Text or Full Article on MAG NEWS

[repotednews]

Breaking News 100 killed in fire at wedding ceremony Repoted News

There was a terrible fire in the country of Iraq. An event hall in the northern Iraqi town of Al-Hamdania was killed in a fire during a wedding, killing 100 people. More than 150 people were injured, Iraqi health officials said. The injured were rescued by firefighters and police and taken to the hospital. Newlyweds are also reported to be among the injured. Burned bodies were found everywhere at the scene of the incident. Preliminary reports indicate that fireworks used during the ceremony were the cause of the accident, according to Iraq's Civil Defense Department.

[ssavaart]

What does the word Genocide mean to you?

For me... the word Sayfo comes to mind.

Sayfo is the word we use for the Assyrian genocide.

In 1915, my grandfather fled his village of Charbash near Urmia in Iran when he was just 11 years old.

The Ottoman Empire took the land from the Assyrians. The indigenous people native to Mesopotamia (where modern Iran, Iraq, and Turkey exist now).

Over 250,000 Assyrians were wiped out by the occupying Ottoman Empire.

Half of the entire population of the remaining indigenous people.

The rest fled for their lives.

My grandfather and grandmother, being two that, thankfully, made it to New York.

Now, Assyrians have no homeland. No country.

An entire ethnic group that  has been around for around 3,000 years almost completely wiped out of existence by an empire that no longer exists.

It's just so senseless. 

This painting I did of a woman in a Hijab. I have posters of them on my site. 

ssavaart.com

All of the proceeds from the sale of this poster is going to Doctors Without Borders.

I'll sign and ship each and every one of them. 

I know it's not much. It won't stop a genocide. 

But maybe... just maybe... 100 years from now someone's grandchild will be alive and they can tell the story of THEIR people... and what happened to them.

Sending Big Hugs from the Hobbit Hole. ♥♥♥

Scott

[doyoulikethissong-poll]

System of a Down - B.Y.O.B. 2005

Mezmerize is the fourth studio album by the Armenian-American heavy metal band System of a Down. The album sold over 450,000 copies in its first week, and immediately topped the Billboard 200.

The band went on hiatus in 2006 and reunited in 2010. Other than two new songs in 2020 in response to the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War ("Protect the Land" and "Genocidal Humanoidz"), System of a Down has not released a full-length record since the Mezmerize and Hypnotize albums in 2005.

"B.Y.O.B." ("Bring Your Own Bombs") was released as the lead single from Mezmerize. It was written in protest against the Iraq War, and questions the integrity of military recruiting in America. The song reached number 27 on the US Billboard Hot 100, the band's highest peak to date on the chart.

"B.Y.O.B." won a Grammy Award in 2006 for Best Hard Rock Performance.

"B.Y.O.B." received a total of 66,3% yes votes!

[margaretthatchersdead]

Reasons to end the monarchy: Charles Edition

Well it's the coronation so you know what it's time for.

The entire concept of a monarchy is actively undemocratic. The head of state should not be someone who is only in that position because they were born into a certain family.

Having a monarchy upholds classism as a specific family of great wealth and power are viewed as superior to others.

They stand for a history of racism and imperialism. This country has done some truly terrible things in its history and the monarchy are a symbol of that. In order to attempt to begin to undo the harm that we have done, we need to remove this symbol of oppression.

The royal family have previously lobbied the government to hide their own personal wealth. Despite this, we are obviously aware that they have a large amount of wealth.

Prince Charles has himself lobbied the government on a number of occasions. His 'black spider memos' show that he has repeatedly pressured ministers on a wide range of topics from the Iraq war to badger culling to alternative therapies. He has used his power to lobby the government on subjects that would affect him.

The monarch does not occupy a ceremonial role as is frequently claimed. Ministers and civil servants have to consult the monarch. Civil servants have to get the consent of the royals on pieces of legislation, which can cause delays on implementation.

Even if the monarch did occupy a purely ceremonial role, as a literal billionaire he wields a ridiculously high amount of power over people.

Windsor Castle brings in less money than Windsor Legoland does. The many castles that are owned by the royal family could be used to create spaces for the public to enjoy or to be used as a shelter for the homeless. The Louvre in Paris used to be house of the French monarchy and gets over twenty times the tourists. Edinburgh castle hasn't had the monarchy live in it for centuries and yet still brings in tourism.

Prince Andrew is widely known to be connected to Jeffrey Epstein; yet he has not had to face any repercussions for his actions despite blatantly lying when being asked about his actions. The royal family have defended him and prevented him from facing the consequences of his actions.

They cost around £334 million per year. This money could be used to help the poor, given to the NHS, to repair and build infrastructure, to support small businesses that are struggling, pretty much anything.

The royal household publishes a much lower figure about the cost of the royal family, so they are actively trying to cover up their cost.

Charles has had access to confidential Cabinet papers, undermining our democracy.

He has publicly championed alternative medicine and has repeatedly promoted it. He sent at least seven letters to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, that then shortly relaxed the rules governing the labeling of herbal products, ones he as part of Charles's Duchy Originals produces.

He lobbied the health secretary regarding greater provision of alternative treatments on the NHS.

In 2018, 46% of Britons wanted him to abdicate immediately after Elizabeth died. He’s barely wanted by the country even with the sheer amount of pro-monarchy propaganda going around. Charles specifically is very unpopular.

In order to speak to him, broadcasters had to sign a 15-page contract, which includes Clarence house attending the rough and fine cut edits of films and if unhappy can remove that contribution, as well as stipulating that all questions directed at him must be pre-approved and vetted by his representative.

His personal wealth is £1.8 billion. He inherited a large amount of this from Elizabeth, with it being exempt from inheritance tax. Having an immunity from this tax when others don’t is ridiculous.

The Duchy of Cornwall was named in the Paradise papers.

The coronation is going to cost £100 million during a cost of living crisis.

People have been banned from protesting Charles with official warning letters were sent to anti-monarchists.

Protestors who block roads, airports and railways could face an entire year behind bars. Locking yourself to others, objects or buildings could go to prison for six months and face an unlimited fine. Police are allowed to head off disruption by stopping and searching protestors that they suspect.

The public were encouraged to swear allegiance to the new King when he gets sworn in, this is a deeply disturbing suggestion.

He's a billionaire who's going to use the public's money to celebrate himself.

The monarch has sweeping immunity from many laws

He owns business parks and small rented cottages, six of the ten top residential homes, 285,000 acres of mineral rich land. He’s ridiculously rich in a country where so many people are facing extreme poverty.

[odinsblog]

So when Israel bombs yet another civilian hospital, they will have already manufactured consent by claiming—without evidence—that Al Shifa hospital is 100% Hamas and zero percent noncombatant innocent civilians. Israeli war crimes are so common they’re on the “wash, rinse repeat” cycle.

We are unfortunately, once again, at the point in the story where doctors are routinely begging, “Please don’t bomb all the sick patients in my hospital,” and warhawks like Hillary Clinton (the same people who were wrong about Afghanistan and Iraq!) are saying that not bombing civilians would be unfair to Israel.

[boreal-sea]

Who is Tim Walz?

Kamala Harris has apparently picked Tim Walz as her running mate. He seems good, based on his record. He's also responsible for the widely spreading "Republicans are weird" meme I've seen quite a lot of.

He has a good record. Just like I did for Kamala Harris in a post that has become quite popular, I will do a simple review of things I like from Tim Walz' political history. Again, as with Harris, this is just from his Wikipedia page. Let's go!

House of Representatives

Opposed increasing troop numbers in Iraq

Co-sponsored a bill to raise Minnesota's minimum wage

Voted for stem cell research

Voted to allow Medicare to negotiate pharmaceutical prices

Voted against the act to Prohibit Federally Funded Abortion Services

Voted to advance the ACA

Has received a 100% rating from many progressive organizations like Planned Parenthood and the ACLU

Was a member of several caucuses, including the LGBT Equality Caucus

Governor of Minnesota

Signed into law police reforms after the murder of George Floyd

Had Minnesota join the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, meaning that all of the state's electors will vote for whichever candidate wins the popular vote nation-wide.

Under his governance, Minnesota passed laws for requiring paid leave, banning non-compete agreements, cannabis legalization, abortion rights, universal free school meals,

Political stances

Pro cannabis

Against bailout bills that loan taxpayer money to large banks and auto manufacturers

Was a former teacher for many years, and is very pro-education and supporting public schools. He is against merit pay for teachers (this is a good thing), and supports lowering tuition costs

Used to be pro-gun, but after Parkland he changed his mind, and as Governor he signed a bill mandating universal background checks

Pro-LGBT - has voted for LGBT rights many times, including as Governor, where he signed bills banning conversion therapy and protecting gender-affirming care

Supports veterans rights and support

Supports abortion rights and women's rights

I am going to copy-paste the entire section for his views on the Israel-Hamas war, because I don't want people claiming I am taking anything out of context. Overall, he has views that echo my own in many ways:

Walz condemned Hamas's October 7 attacks in Israel and ordered flags to be lowered to half mast in the following days. After the 2024 Minnesota Democratic presidential primary, in which 19% of voters cast "uncommitted" ballots, Walz took a sympathetic view toward those doing so to protest President Biden's handling of the war in Gaza, calling them "civically engaged". Of the protests against U.S. funding of the war in Gaza, Walz said: "This issue is a humanitarian crisis. They have every right to be heard... These folks are asking for a change in course, they're asking for more pressure to be put on… You can hold competing things: that Israel has the right to defend itself, and the atrocities of October 7 are unacceptable, but Palestinian civilians being caught in this… has got to end." Walz also said he supports a ceasefire in Gaza.[100]

[lunaryugamine]

I decided to do this edit because someone on twitter did one, and I thought it'd be fun. Was it? Sort of. Here's the original edit.

Artists under the cut and in the reblog because you can only have 100 links on a page on tumblr I guess.

United States (Cherokee)- pinkcultgirl

Canada (Cree)- lacking-rodents

Mexico- strxbxrrylxvxr

Panama- tiffycat

Haiti- sumechiayuu

Jamaica- risarts

Peru- kotorinrins

Dominican Republic- pls-explodingstars-pls

Cuba- skronklpus

Caribbean(Guadalupe)- majartsy

Greenland (Inuit)- probablymoons

El Salvador- chiliger

Puerto Rico- lavendett

Colombia- mary-92023

Venezuela- hand-painted-5tars

Honduras- nicotine-boi

Guyana- astrumnm on twitter

Guatamala- sadsquatch-art

Bolivia- by-peachy

Argentina- mypillowpaper

Ecuador- astrid-nyan

Chile- jet-set-go-go

Brazil- garden-variety-jumo

Costa Rica- astroskatcher

Belize- jovialodyssey

Nicaragua- sirnatsketches

Bahamas- artbounddude

Trinidad and Tobago- donutsbagels

San Juan (Puerto Rico)- lazycatartist6

Paraguay- 2funk

Uruguay- clayscence

Suriname- yumiaoi5

French Guiana- myballsitchaurghouchie

Barbados- parkbomdotcom on twitter

Guam- grumfield

Norway- parti-poppers

Sweden- rubenthecatisstupid

Iceland- catastrophe-of-clovers

Finland- antony-art

Germany- mangos-draws

Switzerland- graegrape-art

Austria- qwaxi2o8

Czech Republic- miroslav-hashlerka

Italy- mspaint-flower

Turkey (Kurdish)- bubblbudd

Greece- albinobirb

Poland- thirea

Romania- eternalblizzards

Scotland- laplaces-angel

Albania- isaaa-usb

Ireland- can-of-w0rmz

Russia- bdsmchan

Bulgaria- pastellbg

Saudi Arabia- chiroomii on twitter

Hungary- sidecast

Cyprus- diadoesart

Iraq- coloursdraws

Iran- witchydespoina

Syria- rozeliyawashereyall

Lebanon- erebusbored

Israel (Palestine)- langel2

Jordan- guitoneangel on twitter

Yemen- adenlicpng

Kuwait- obscurecrows

Bahrain- Beautifulnoora on twitter

The Netherlands- fayzart136

Belgium- nousanti

Portugal- m4rlol

France- izkph

England- cyclqnes

Denmark- mariehyde

Spain- annomalysstuff

India (Sikh)- starkitten101

Pakistan- ayzaart

Burma/Myanmar- artsyvamp

Afghanistan- ahriana

Thailand- fumiruku

Nepal- astronite13

Bhutan- orobeori

Kampuchea (Cambodia)- othercrossee

Malaysia- roobiedo

Bangladesh- maleficauraa

China (Uygher)- chronically-ill-psionipath

Korea- iyuray

Mongolia- kenvamp

Laos- justgoji

Tibet- saunabun on twitter

Indonesia- moonieee

Phillipines- puppyeared

Taiwan- huyi-hotdog

Sri Lanka- crabs-brencil

Papua New Guinea- Penmastery28600 on twitter

New Zealand- beastwhimsy

Vietnam- sparkly-s0da

Tunisia- cs34

Morocco- sx1ro

Uganda- moonjumps

Angola- PeepawRichter on twitter

Zimbabwe- jxmuu-nat