In Congressional Hearings, Iraqi Parliamentarian Blames The "Destruction" Of Iraq On U.S. Invasion

Some extraordinary testimony is being offered today in hearings impaneled by Congressman Bill Delahunt - who chairs the Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights and Oversight - by two Iraqi parliamentarians: Sunni Khalaf al-Ulayyan and Shiite Nadim al-Jaberi. GOP Congressman Dana Rohrabacher asked the two men, point blank, if they would have preferred the United States not launch the invasion of Iraq. For al-Jaberi's part, he did not want to dwell on the "mistakes of the past." Al-Ulayyan, however, was a little more blunt in his assessment:

[WATCH.]

DANA ROHRABACHER: Maybe if you could just...if it's possible to answer with a yes or no, would you have preferred that the United States not have conducted the military operations it did in order to rid Iraq of Saddam Hussein? Would you have preferred that we not do that now, in retrospect...

KHALAF al-ULAYYAN, Member of the Iraqi Parliament: We would prefer if it didn't happen because this led to the destruction of the country.

ROHRABACHER: So you would have preferred the United States not to have gone in and got rid of Saddam Hussein?

al-ULAYYAN: The United States got rid of one person, but they brought hundreds of persons who are worse than Saddam Hussein.

ROHRABACHER: That's a fair answer.

al-ULAYYAN: And, unfortunately, now Iran is going into Iraq, and this is under the umbrella of the American occupation of Iraq.

Over at the Washington Independent Spencer Ackerman has collected a number of other highlights from these hearings, including the two men's opinions on whether the Surge worked (it didn't) and whether they support the proposed long-tern security plan (surprise! they dont!).

Comments

[booksnmore4you]

Ah, these are just a bunch of Blame America First-ers.

There, I dismissed it all with an emotional label that conjured up shirt-sleeve patriotism. Should be good enough for the Right-wing.

NEXT!

[booksnmore4you]

Wow. WOW. WOW....

[lovethesinner]

If I was John McCain (thank Allah, I am not) I'd be wondering what to say when the nation of Iraq endorses Senator Barack Obama for President. What's amazing to me is how desperately Republicans hold on to George Bush's illusions when their very lives depend on revealing them.

This is the sword they lived by coming back to kill them.

Obama-Webb '08 (but, I'm liking Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer, for VP, also)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Schweitzer

[marymansour]

This is the Bush legacy and no matter what McCain says or how he attempts to distance himself from Bush, he still wants that war to continue and possibly start another. This is all so tragic. All those people who died needlessly - both Americans, allies and Iraqis.

[nyboomer]

Wars make money. Bush's family makes money out of wars and so does Cheney's family. So long as they can prosper, why would they not sacrfifce American lives?

[rajoro]

Finally the truth. Thank you congressman Delahunt! This is what America needs to hear. Two Iraqis, one Shia, one Sunni telling America they would like you to leave that the American occupation is the problem. Why hasn't the MSM reported on this. Could it be the corporations are too invested in the war?

Everything the democrats and Obama have been saying is true and they are testifying to. I watched this in horror. WE ARE CONTINUOUSLY LIED TO BY THIS ADMINISTRATION AND THERE IS NO ACCOUNTABILITY!!! Americans and Iraqis are still dying and they are still trying to push their oil based agenda.

[RTIII]

Yes, the Military Industrial Complex Ike warned us about.

Unfortunately, there are far too many Dems -powerful Dems - who are a part of the unaccountability part. Namely, Nancy P. She, singularly, is responsible for this lack of accountability. The Constitution gave us ONE out and she refuses to use it.

SOME DEMOCRATS MUST GO TOO.

[Marlyn]

It is not Pelosi's fault. It is the fault of the GOP (except Hagel) and the blue dog Democrats like Feinstein and Rockefeller who have continually supported GW Bush and his Iraq war.

[thegreatgiginthesky]

Behold the Bush administrations legacy. The scourge of the world. The destroyer of nations. The boil on the behind of humanity. Only the great and mighty brush clearing Bush could fail so spectacularly.

[thegreatgiginthesky]

How dare this Iraqi Parlimentarian blame the great and mighty Bush for the destruction of Iraq. Does he not know that the Bush is all knowing and almighty? Does he not know of the fiery Bush? This guy is toast for sure.

[Marlyn]

Does he not know that in 50 years Iraq will be a shining new democracy?

[tellit]

No way will the Bush Admin. allow us to leave Iraq. There is still too much money to make off of this irresponsible war. The admin. is not done forcefeeding Democracy down their throats. Bush is still looking out for his legacy. How dare America ask this cowboy to ride off into the sunset without his trophy. (Democracy for who I demand have it). I want out of Iraq also, but we have to clean up the s*it
we left first. That in my opinion is Democracy.

[DontBeFoolish]

Were is CNN, MSNBC or FOX on this meeting. Give these people back their country. Enough is Enough.

[gorgol]

This testimony.­..should be on the FRONT PAGE of all MSM news...but it won't be. It will be buried with the rest of the "truth" about this administra­tion..this war....and the Neocon Agenda.

[Mercedes]

These men are telling the TRUTH, but it won't stop Bush and his Neo-Con 'Project for the New American Century' (PNAC); even though this 'project' is disintegrating right before his eyes.

It will take Barack Obama and the Democratic majority (at least 2/3 of Congress, so they can pass legislation even though the Repubs, who got us into this mess will try to fight against leaving Iraq and to threaten to walk out) to bring our beloved troops HOME where they belong...