[dude1394]

Originally Posted by alexamenos

two points on this...

1. I think the trumpeting of DUBYA EMM DEES was a bit of propaganda genius on the part of Bush and Abu-Cheney of the desert. It completely framed any discussion about Iraq in such a way as to invariably elicit a response of, "EEK! Weapons of Mass Destruction!!!! How very scary!"

A few jars of some WWI vintage mustard gas??? "EEEK!!! Weapons of Mass Destruction!!!"

Never mind that 99% of the so-called evidence were neither weapons nor were they capable of mass destruction -- certainly the dreaded chemical and biological arsenal of S. Hussein and Company were no more capable of causing mass destruction than a few (hundred) JDAM missiles, and the collateral damage caused by such things is no less indiscriminate than the killing effected by economic embargoes.

2. The funny thing is....and this has been understood all along but kind of shushed under the desk as if it's irrelevant....

...in the very same judgments which the CIA and the rest of the "intelligence community" said that, in their judgment, Hussein et al were likely still pursuing some sort of chemical and biological weapons program, they also said that the only way in hell Hussein would use them against the US was if we launched some full frontal assault with the intent of ousting him from power...

While "everybody knew" Hussein had CBW's, or at least some form of chemical precursors, everybody also knew that Hussein's primary two concerns were Iran and a Iraqi Shiite uprising, and he was only interested in getting the US off his back, not agitating the US.

I think I'll defer to bubba..

Bill Clinton put it in 1998, “The community of nations may see more and more of the very kind of threat Iraq poses now: a rogue state with weapons of mass destruction, ready to use them or provide them to terrorists. If we fail to respond today, Saddam and all those who would follow in his footsteps will be emboldened tomorrow.”