WMD's

How has the left been "proven completely right" about the war in Iraq?

No WMD's, is expensive, did create an intractable conflict, did exacerbate sectarian tensions, is inextricable, did polarize global opinion against the United States, was not in our national security interests, was mostly about reconstruction contracts for a few well-connected firms, did provide Al Qaeda with propoganda fodder, etc.

Iraq had and USED WMD's . The UN weapons inspectors found WMD's in 1991 , after Iraq had to let them in as part of UN resolutions . Nobody is happy that we are in Iraq . My guess is that 99 % of us would like to never see another war , reality is that we will likely use military action at some time in the future . As long as Bin Ladens / Saddam H. Chavuez/ and the chi-a-pet in N. Korea are in power , there is that probability . Sad truth is , there will be another " Hitler " pop up , and the world will have to deal with it .

Iraq had and USED WMD's . The UN weapons inspectors found WMD's in 1991 , after Iraq had to let them in as part of UN resolutions . Nobody is happy that we are in Iraq . My guess is that 99 % of us would like to never see another war , reality is that we will likely use military action at some time in the future . As long as Bin Ladens / Saddam H. Chavuez/ and the chi-a-pet in N. Korea are in power , there is that probability . Sad truth is , there will be another " Hitler " pop up , and the world will have to deal with it .

I was just trying to understand what this thread is about. It's titled WMD's, but it seems like it would more accurately be called congressional democrats went along with Bush's war plan in 2002, and betrayed no doubts about the existence of WMD arsenals in their public appearances. To which I pointed out, that's true, but many other people were skeptical. So skeptical that they staged protests all across the country prior to the war (unprecedented in US history, organized protestation of a war that hadn't started yet) and now look pretty smart, whereas the democrats mentioned in your video look like boobs, just like the republicans.

If, however, the point of this thread is to argue that in fact Iraq did have WMD's, well, please excuse me while I check out.

If, however, the point of this thread is to argue that in fact Iraq did have WMD's, well, please excuse me while I check out.

Love of one's party = distorted sense of reality.

Ya know there was intelligence provided that all of congress was given, and they based their opinions on that intel, which was found to be bad.

We were keeping watch, so if in the time between our intel and our invasion they moved the WMDs to lybia or syria we shouldve seen it.

The question is where did the intel come from and was it a mistake or fabrication. If I were a betting man I'd figure on asking Rumsfeld. I bet he knows.

Ya know there was intelligence provided that all of congress was given, and they based their opinions on that intel, which was found to be bad.

We were keeping watch, so if in the time between our intel and our invasion they moved the WMDs to lybia or syria we shouldve seen it.

The question is where did the intel come from and was it a mistake or fabrication. If I were a betting man I'd figure on asking Rumsfeld. I bet he knows.
Intel came primarily from the CIA under George Tenet (holdover Clinton appointee). Tenet was the one breifing the President and Colin Powell.

No WMD's, is expensive, did create an intractable conflict, did exacerbate sectarian tensions, is inextricable, did polarize global opinion against the United States, was not in our national security interests, was mostly about reconstruction contracts for a few well-connected firms, did provide Al Qaeda with propoganda fodder, etc.
FOXNews.com - Sarin, Mustard Gas Discovered Separately in Iraq - U.S. & World (http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,120137,00.html)

USATODAY.com - Operation Phantom Fury (http://www.usatoday.com/news/graphics/phantom_fury/flash.htm)
Check picture # 2

PBS - frontline: gunning for saddam: saddam hussein's weapons of mass destruction (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/gunning/etc/arsenal.html)

The only point you make that's not subject to debate is "No WMDs". As bud mentioned, Saddam has previously used nerve agents on the Kurds. The second link, picture # 2 from USA Today (no bastion of conservatism) shows enough Sarin to kill over 500K people. Probably wouldn't want that let loose in the NY subway system.

Sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarin_gas_attack_on_the_Tokyo_subway)

The PBS link also indicates that while Saddam's nuclear program wasn't active he had the intel and scientists to reconstitute it once the UN sanctions were lifted. If Saddam had nothing to hide, why avoid the UN inspectors and live with the sanctions?

The US didn't go it alone, over 30 countries went with us. Hindsight is 20/20. Did we find a direct link between 9/11 and Saddam, No. Did we find suitcase nukes and massive stockpiles of other WMDs, No. Should we have gone in the way we did, IMO No. As I've stated before, I would've approached this using covert ops and subversive activities with factions against Saddam in Iraq. Nowhere near as costly in US lives or dollars.

FOXNews.com - Sarin, Mustard Gas Discovered Separately in Iraq - U.S. & World (http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,120137,00.html)

USATODAY.com - Operation Phantom Fury (http://www.usatoday.com/news/graphics/phantom_fury/flash.htm)
Check picture # 2

PBS - frontline: gunning for saddam: saddam hussein's weapons of mass destruction (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/gunning/etc/arsenal.html)

The only point you make that's not subject to debate is "No WMDs". As bud mentioned, Saddam has previously used nerve agents on the Kurds. The second link, picture # 2 from USA Today (no bastion of conservatism) shows enough Sarin to kill over 500K people. Probably wouldn't want that let loose in the NY subway system.

Sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarin_gas_attack_on_the_Tokyo_subway)

The PBS link also indicates that while Saddam's nuclear program wasn't active he had the intel and scientists to reconstitute it once the UN sanctions were lifted. If Saddam had nothing to hide, why avoid the UN inspectors and live with the sanctions?

The US didn't go it alone, over 30 countries went with us. Hindsight is 20/20. Did we find a direct link between 9/11 and Saddam, No. Did we find suitcase nukes and massive stockpiles of other WMDs, No. Should we have gone in the way we did, IMO No. As I've stated before, I would've approached this using covert ops and subversive activities with factions against Saddam in Iraq. Nowhere near as costly in US lives or dollars.


Only problem is, Sarin gas isn't technically a "weapon of mass destruction". It is a tactical battlefield agent that depends on wind direction designed to target a specific area. Under the terms of the Bush administration, it doesn't qualify as a WMD upon which the invasion was based.

BBC NEWS | Middle East | 'Nerve gas bomb' explodes in Iraq (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3722255.stm)

"However, a senior coalition source has told the BBC the round does not signal the discovery of weapons of mass destruction or the escalation of insurgent activity."