Thank You Mr. Cheney

Dick Cheney the former Vice President at the time of George W. Bush presidency died last night at the age of 84. He was repeatedly criticized for his major role in the 2003 US led invasion of Iraq which led to the fall of one of the biggest dictator's of history Saddam Hussain. The US led invasion destroyed the Iraqi forces in just 100 days, the army which was considered the 5th most powerful at the time. Saddam with all the money he earned selling oil made on of the strongest forces but that didn't stand long against " Desert Storm ". That was the name of the operation which wiped out Saddam and his men quickly and effectively. Some people in the West opposed Cheney strongly and even demonstrated against him for orchestrating the war citing he was lying about the Weapons of Mass Destruction that had been said Saddam had. It does not matter if Iraqis had or did not have any weapons of that magnitude, although I believe they had because my definition of such weapons is different from Westerners (Weapons of Mass Destruction in the view of Western people and politicians are the weapons which are able only to hit Western targets!), Saddam and Iraqis deserved the punishment.

When Saddam Hussain came into power in 1979, Iran was still a very strong and powerful country. Neither Saddam nor any other Arab or non-Arab politician did not even think of doing something to upset the Shah (King) of Iran but when the Shah left in early 1979, Saddam though he could use the confusion and chaos in Iran to gain what he always wanted: Arvand-Rud a river between the two country with the imaginary line in the middle as the border. For that Iraqi forces cross into Iran in Sep.1980 and that was the beginning of the 8-year devastating war. Iraqi forces committed every possible crimes to defeat Iranians including dropping chemical bombs in the forces and civilians, attacking cities with surface-to-surface missiles, you name it but because no Westerner was hurt, none of those was considered Weapons of Mass Destruction or War Crime!

Saddam did not stop there. He attacked his own people of Kurdish ethnicity in north of the country with chemical bombs and killed nearly 5000 civilians including elderly, women and kids. 

Kuwait was his next and last target which led to two operations: " Desert Shield " which in that the US led collision defended Saudi Arabia as at the time they were convinced that they would be the next target and " Desert Storm " which was briefly referred to above. 

Stories about the crimes of the brutal regime of Saddam Hussain, his sons and Ba'ath Party is numerous but then again as long as no Westerner is hurt, he shall be free to do whatever he wanted to do unless people like Saudis and Kuwaitis ask him to come to their aid! For that I say: Thanks Mr. Cheney. You did great by planning to topple the brutal regime of Saddam Hussain. Rest in Peace. When I get a chance to go to the States next, I will make sure I pay my respects to the gentleman. Whatever else he has done is not my business! 

(Photo: Cheney is seen next to Rumsfeld in his early years. Rumy, as they called him, was his trainer and mentor. He passed away in 2021)