March 26, 2003Montana MaxFound this nugget via Andrea, and since Craig, who is eminently more qualified to comment, isn't available today (he's recharging his Anti-Idiotarian batteries), and since I've lived in Montana just long enough to qualify as a non-Californian (!): Senator Max Baucus (D-MT) won big in the last election, assisted partly by both a strong H'wood push and what many thought to be an anti-gay smear campaign against his opponent; said opponent's inability to "judo" this unfair attack to his advantage was also criticized. But I wonder if Max will be able to withstand the criticism caused by his wife's words about Operation Iraqi Freedom... Max's wife, Wanda Baucus, expounds on her thoughts about the war: "I don't think we have any business being in a preemptive war against Iraq," she said. "Anytime you drop bombs, there are going to be a lot of innocent people hurt. A billion Muslims all over the world are in pain to see their brothers losing their homes and their families losing the stability of their civilization." She added: "Baghdad is where the beginning of civilization occurred, literally where the wheel was invented, where the very first city was built, where writing began, and it has a very deep and profoundly beautiful history -- which we should never take lightly, no matter who the existing president is." Even if it's Saddam? "I think he is very proud of the history of his country. I think it's we Americans who don't know the facts about what anthropologists call 'the cradle of civilization.' When we watch the bombing on television, we really don't seem to understand or appreciate that some of these places are sacred. . . . I disagree with those who say that Saddam Hussein doesn't think about this. He cares about these places and their people." She continued: "I don't think American lives are threatened by him. There is no evidence of weapons of mass destruction and we have no right to make a preemptive strike on another country and try to assassinate its leader. We have no right legally or morally. We are way out of line." (emphasis added) Posted at March 26, 2003 07:01 PMCOMMENTS!
David, Rebecca: Here you go. Too wiped out to post it at "home." :) Posted by: mtpolitics at March 27, 2003 08:41 PMThanks! I will keep checking the Guess-at-it and the Helena paper to see what the locals have to say in the letters to the editor section. I'm hoping to see some good old-fashioned Montana indignation on this.
Wow! I'm impressed by the guts it took for Wanda Baucus to publicly voice her opinion. Which I agree with. It was encourageing because recently we are treated as traitors to our country for having a different view. We have been duped and manipulated by the media and Bush has orchestrated it all beautifilly. We are constanty reminded that Saddam gassed - or used chemial weapons on the Kurds, but do you know who did it to the Kurds first? Great Btritian - 1925 in Sulaimaniya (it was first time poison gas was deployed from airplanes). (This was in retailation for revolts that broke out after the Arab and Kurdish peoples discovered they'd been betrayed by British, French and Russian foreign ministries-Britian had promised Abrab leaders if they joined forces with them against the Turkish ruler, Britain would support creation of new independent Arab State after the war. Instead Baghdad and Basra became part of the British Empire. The U.S. got involved as payoff for our role in the First World War. Irag's oil got split five ways: 23.75% each to Britain, France, Holland and the U.S. (5% went to an oil baron who helped negotiate the deal). This all happened in 1920's and meant that exactly 0% of Iraq's oil belonged to Iraq, and that's how it stayed until the 1958 revolution. In 1927, major oil exploration began. Two years later British Petroleum, Shell, Mobil and Standard Oil + Exxon was set up and within a few years totally monopolized Iraqi oil production. In the area Saddam is in right now was first the home of both Noah (in Fara - 100 miles southeast of Babylon and Abraham. The first written alphabet was invented there as well as early calendars. Great original discoveries in mathematics, particularly in integral calculus, spherical astronomy and Algorithm. Bagdad became a center of power in the world where Arab & Persian cultures mingled to produce a blase of philsophical, scientific and literary glory. Again, I agree with Ms. Baucus .. "I don't think American lives are threatened by him. There is no evidence of weapons of mass destruction and we have no right to make a preemptive strike on another country and try to assassinate its leader. We have no right legally or morally. We are way out of line." I'd like to know the secret of living in a divided household. We finally had to resort to a "peace treaty" of our own. NO ONE gets to even make an off-hand comment about what they've seen, heard or read concerning the war. It is still strained, but better than before. Thanks for taking a public position Ms. Baucus. With strong views and convictions I see how you have contributed to your husband's succesful career. Glinda Fagan, Whitefish, Montana
P.S. He still gets my vote, but I don't always agree with him either. Posted by: Glinda Fagan at March 29, 2003 02:33 AMHey, Glinda...we disagree, but I respect your posting your thoughts about this without "flaming". Thanks. Posted by: DavidMSC at March 29, 2003 10:25 AMi dont believe anybody should be treated badly like the woman are treated in irag they deservea better life for theselves . i do believe the american miltary are trying to help the people re-build their country. the irag people have to trust the american people we are not the enmemy were are the good people. Posted by: gail at August 22, 2003 09:28 AMPost a comment
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