WMD's

[Slingin Sammy 33]

Originally Posted by EternalEnigma21

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.

[Slingin Sammy 33]

Originally Posted by djnemo65

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

USATODAY.com - Operation Phantom Fury
Check picture # 2

PBS - frontline: gunning for saddam: saddam hussein's weapons of mass destruction

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

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.

[Beemnseven]

Originally Posted by Slingin Sammy 33

FOXNews.com - Sarin, Mustard Gas Discovered Separately in Iraq - U.S. & World

USATODAY.com - Operation Phantom Fury
Check picture # 2

PBS - frontline: gunning for saddam: saddam hussein's weapons of mass destruction

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

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

"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."