What exactly was Greenpeace's alternate plan to put an end to the fascist dictatorship of Iraq that slaughtered thousands of innocent people? I must have missed the Greenpeace solution somewhere.

I also must have missed the Greenpeace protests against the environmental damage done to Iraq when Saddam burned oil wells in 1991 and 2003.

Yeah, I've read this article by Predmore. If we are supposed to think this is legitimate and trustworthy because it came from an actual US soldier, why are the positive accounts that support Iraqi Freedom not credible here at Greenpeace?

I apologize for wandering off topic, but the two visitors above are missing something - This weblog isn't "Greenpeace" but rather a group of individuals sharing their thoughts on whatever happens to interest them at the moment, much like many other weblogs. They're not under any obligation to represent both sides of any issue, or to justify their opinions. I think he just thought the article was noteworthy. :-)

Thanks to the above comment for pointing out what this blog is and why I posted the article. To deal briefly with the points raised.

No I don't have a solution to fascist dictatorships the world over but I pretty sure it not pre-emptive war. Maybe powerful governments shouldn't be selling arms to people like Saddam, Mugabe etc in the first place so they can suppress their people? Not a lot of people know the US supported Pol Pot in Cambodia for years because he was anti-communist which was considered far more important than the millions of people he murdered?

I do think a report from an actual solider in Iraq is worth a lot more than people like me and I assume the pro war posters here who have never been to Iraq. I'd like to see a post of a positive experience of a soldier on the ground? (not a general or army PR person)

Believe it or not, I'm a political liberal and definitely not "pro-war." Whenever I hear the "look what the U.S. has done in the past" argument, though, it simply does not address the issue. Yes, the history of U.S. foreign policy is shameful. If we created the monster in Iraq, though, then that is all the more reason for the U.S. to clean it up.

Those who live under dictatorships are not so concerned about who caused it, especially if they are the object of oppression. I was raised on stories by my grandfather, who escaped the Holocaust while most of his family perished.
To me, these are not abstract principles. Life under oppression, and the danger of being murdered at the whim of insane leaders, is not just an academic argument. The bottom line, the Iraqi people now have a choice. Democracy is certainly messy, as current events show, but that's because it's happening in front of a free press now, where every street protest can be filmed and broadcast. The mass murders under Saddam happened without the cameras running.

Am I a Bush fan? No. Do I trust Bush's motivations? Of course not.

Roosevelt's motivation and tactics were questionable, too. He didn't rescue Europe out of any concern for the Europeans. He did it because he saw an opportunity for the U.S. to remake much of the world as a democracy. And he did it. France, Germany, etc., are free to make the decision to oppose the U.S. because of it. Motivations are completely not the point. In Iraq, the end result is the freedom of an entire
country. No, it won't make me like George W. Bush. I still think he's an idiot with questionable motivations who happened to stumble into doing the right thing.

-"Whenever I hear the "look what the U.S. has done in the past" argument, though, it simply does not address the issue"

Yes this is a week later but I just stumbled across this site. You may be right on the Saddam issue...but just barely. If you look in the past you'll see a number of wars started on false pretenses (spelling?) and many instances of the U.S. bringing "democracy" and "freedom" to countries but really only wanting a new market. And yes Saddam is one of the worst dictators of our times, but do the ends justify the means?

From recent polls, it appears Iraqis are much happier about the liberation than Americans are. Perhaps Greenpeace could send a delegation to set these people straight?

After all, western elites have deemed the effort as everything from a catastrophe to, well, a horrible catastrophe. Why aren't the Iraqis on board with this?

Clearly, the neocon cabal has gotten to them - and in true fashion have trampled dissent.

And Greenpeace is letting them get away with it!

Have you no shame, warriors? Only you can save the Iraqis from themselves and the cabal. Anchors Aweigh!!!

Tom, try frontlinevoices.org.