Home > Kucinich: “The Iraqis Will Not Be Handed Freedom Based On Lies”

Kucinich: “The Iraqis Will Not Be Handed Freedom Based On Lies”

by Open-Publishing - Thursday 9 December 2004
18 comments

Wars and conflicts International USA

Congressman Dennis J. Kucinich (D-OH), Co-Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, gave the following speech today on the House floor:

“Nearly thirteen hundred brave American men and women have sacrificed their lives in Iraq. Yet the central reasons for the US invasion have fallen apart: Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11. Iraq had no weapons of mass destruction. No proof that Iraq was instrumental with Al Queda’s role in 9/11. Iraq was not trying to get nuclear materials from Niger. This Administration misled the Congress, misled the American people, violated international law, directed the bombings of populated areas, the disruption of water, sewer and electrical service, ordered house to house fighting, and now the civilian toll, by one account, is over 100,000 Iraqi civilians perished. Why?

“Freedom, if it is to be obtained anywhere, must be advanced under the standard of truth. The Iraqis will not be handed freedom based on lies. Nor will our own nation preserve our own freedoms if we continue to accept the basis for our continued occupation of Iraq.

“This Administration must be held accountable under our constitution and under international law for the disaster it has visited upon Iraq. Only the truth can clean the stain on our nation’s conscience.”

http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/oh10_kucinich/12_6iraq.html

Forum posts

  • Thank God we have a politician in Washington speaking the truth! I love this part ...
    "This Administration must be held accountable under our constitution and under international law for the disaster it has visited upon Iraq. Only the truth can clean the stain on our nation’s conscience.”

    The sooner the better!

    Dennis Kucinich and 20 Members of Congress also Send Letter Of Support For UN Secretary-General Annan To Secretary of State Colin Powell

    In the wake of heavy criticism against Secretary General Annan, we want to highlight the shared responsibility by the United States for the alleged fraud and abuse that occurred in the Oil-for-Food Program.

    http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/oh10_kucinich/annan.html

  • however, this man did not attend an important meeting today with the congressional black caucus

    and he has been absolutely silent on the un - election ....
    these are strange times ... rolling over when you have won ... once, but twice ????
    i could never trust him or the democratic party again

    though he says a few important truthful things

    leadership would be to ask all voters who feel they were disenfranchised in the recent Ohio vote to join him in the streets till they get to vote and have it counted

    • i agree- where has kucinich been on the vote fraud issue?

      strangely silent indeed- especially since he’s from Cleveland, a city with major vote suppression by the repubs.

    • Kucinich has not been silent on the vote fraud issue. He saw the potential for fraud long before the November election and tried to get a paper trail in place to prevent computer tampering.

  • Why would America SUDDENLY get truthful... 60 years after Pearl Harbour they haven’t come clean with it’s own citizens about the bombing of Pearl Harbour.

    My second comment would be, that if the truth were forthcoming, what comfort is that to the 1000’s of widows and orphans. Truth won’t put any more food on your table, nor will it keep you warm at night, wipe your tears, or pay for a college education. (if ever they get electricity and phones again.)

    F. Hansen
    Canada

  • He actually has been involved. Just like his campaign for Presidency no mainstream media ever seems to bother covering what he’s doing so he released his own statement to CommonDreams.org.

    Read his statement here:

    http://www.commondreams.org/views04/1110-31.htm

    Also, I saw him speak at the very end of his campaigning for the Presidency. He looked beat, run into the ground and exhausted - but the man still spoke of hope and determination and doing the right thing.

    He stood out in the rain to speak to us for an hour and a half, because the building they reserved had been overflowing and they were worried about the appearance being shut down for being too crowded - so he volunteered to speak outside for anyone who wanted to stay and listen.

    Everyone stayed. He hopped up on a picnic table so everyone in the crowd could see and hear him.

    It was well worth it to hear someone speak who is truly sincere and passionate about doing the right thing. It’s sad the media paints him as such a hippy dippy. He was incredibly intelligent, well spoken, and everything he said radiated common sense. Having been raised in a very "red" state I am certainly not the typical liberal. I never got the impression the man was anything but a red blooded American patriot with a vision to bring America back to its roots.

  • One minute....one minute is all they give Dennis because they are too busy destroying our constitution, naming post offices, and congratulating the boston red sox. Nancy Pelosi needs to go. The whole house needs to be cleaned, because there are very few congresspeople that take their oath to protect and preserve our constitution seriously.

  • Thank goodness that at least one of our elected is trying to hold this admin ACCOUNTABLE.
    "Only the truth can clean the stain on our nation?s conscience.?
    I so appreciate this man whose stands reflect a majority of Americans who voted this election against Bush.
    I wonder how many of his peers want him to shut up even though they know what he says is true but they do not want to deal with the ACCOUNTABLILITY issue. I have never been so disappointed in our governing bodies.
    Kerry can’t even add his name to ACCOUNTABILITY of vote counting in Ohio.
    Until there is ACCOUNTABILITY, nothing will change.
    Thank you - Dennis !
    e.

  • He even mentioned the Constitution.

    I didn’t know there were any members of Congress who still remembered that old thing.

  • The fact is the Democrats led by Al The moran Gore , tried and failed to steal the 2000 election ,and now the Democrats tried and failed to steal the 2004 election for Traditor John, will the Democrats try to steal the 2008 Election also? If so they will fail for the 3rd time. The Democrats will never win any elections , nor will they be able to steal an election , until they come up with a new policy, the current policy that the Democrats have now is to lie 100% about everything and anything has not , nor will it work in the Future, which is great news for all americans and all peoplo of the world

  • Bravo! Bravo! Kucinich is absolutely right. The ongoing attack on Iraq is and was shameful. I am glad that someone in Congress has the courage to stand up and say the truth.

  • I object Mr. Kucinich. These is the brutal Nazi force of the 21. century! Led by the world dumbest
    dictator: George W. Bush.

  • I object Mr. Kucinich.
    These soldiers you called brave are the brutal NAZI force of the 21. century, led by the worlds
    dumbest dictator: George W. Bush.

    • I could agree with you that anyone who volunteers from now on is choosing the brutal NAZI force but many now in Iraq never intended to be part of this mess but joined the military for education, a sense of civil service, pride so have been used by the Bush Regime. Oh, they should just quit, you might suggest? It’s not that easy to dessert, goto Canada.

      Dennis Kucinich is about the most authentic human you will find anywhere. I happen to know him personally, having gone to school with him many years ago. Be glad he is courageous to say what he says. Anyone who maligns him is creating a smoke screen for they know he’s right on.

  • It is such a shame that Congressman Kucinich was not the Democratic nominee for President.

    Dennis has the vision for a more sane world, combined with the down to earth common sense to apply his ideas, and make them work.

    Maybe in 2008? see http://www.kucinich2008.com

    http://www.draftkucinich2008.com

    Claire McGee
    Portland Oregon

    • Walk the walk, Mr. Kucinich. Don’t just talk the talk. Why did you support and actively campaign for Iraq war candidate John Kerry, then? And where have you been in Ohio during the presidential election vote fraud that disenfranchised thousands of your own constituents?

      Pretty words are not enough, Dennis. DO SOMETHING from that supposed conscience of yours!

      Sincerely,
      imagineallthepeoplelivinglife in peace

    • Oh, and if you want to read recent comments by Ralph Nader about what happened to Dennis Kucinich in the 2004 presidential election (comments with which I concur), go to the interview at:

      http://www.counterpunch.org/merlin12162004.html

      You don’t raise your arm in solidarity with a pro-war candidate if you are indeed against the war.

      imagineallthepeoplelivinglifeinpeace

    • The US government like here in the UK will always have representatives that publicly speak ’with the peoples voice’. However well intentioned Mr Kucinichs’ words are you have to ask yourself two questions;
      Will it make the slightest difference ? Is the administration likely to change course ?

      If it was going to make a difference would the NeoCon administration allow people like him to criticise. No. We have people like Kucinich in the UK, a noble man by the name of Tony Benn.
      These people act as a buffer to REAL change. The populace thinks ’Ah someone is voicing our opinion, speaking up for us’ Then you here Bush and Blair pontificating ’’Thank god you live in a democracy so you can say those things’’ This may be true -...but nothing changes. It is mass movement s of people that change the status quo. Kucinich should also highlight that Bush is not the legitimate president.