Mr Asher, did the revelation about the Oil for Food scandal not give
you cause to think on these things?
Mr. Duelfer was jobbed with finding the "truth" as rapidly as possible
and so he couldn't investigate every possibility of finding where the
WMD went. There is NO question that Hussein had them. EVERY
intelligence service in the world had knowedge of them. The components
for manufacturing them WERE shipped to Iraq and WERE NEVER found. Bill
Clinton, Hillary Clinton, Al Gore, ALL of the Democratic Leadership in
the late 90's AND NOW, said that Hussein HAD them.
Mr. Duelfer put searches in abeyance in order to produce a report to
stiffle political rhetoric on the subject. It was as complete as could
be in the time alloted but nevertheless had some things to say that are
more than significant:
http://www.cia.gov/cia/reports/iraq_wmd_2004/Comp_Report_Key_Findings.pdf
"Saddam's primary goal from 1991 to 2003 was to have UN sanctions
lifted, while maintaining the security of the Regime. He sought to
balance the need to cooperate with UN inspections-to gain support for
lifting sanctions-with his intention to preserve Iraq's
intellectual capital for WMD with a minimum of foreign intrusiveness
and loss of face. Indeed, this remained the goal to the end of the
Regime, as the starting of any WMD program, conspicuous or otherwise,
risked undoing the progress achieved in eroding sanctions and
jeopardizing a political end to the embargo and international
monitoring.
The introduction of the Oil-For-Food program (OFF) in late 1996 was a
key turning point for the Regime. OFF rescued Baghdad's economy from
a terminal decline created by sanctions. The Regime quickly came to see
that OFF could be corrupted to acquire foreign exchange both to further
undermine sanctions and to provide the means to enhance dual-use
infrastructure and potential WMD-related development.
By 2000-2001, Saddam had managed to mitigate many of the effects of
sanctions and undermine their international support. Iraq was within
striking distance of a de facto end to the sanctions regime, both in
terms of oil exports and the trade embargo, by the end of 1999."
Let's put this in terms of this discussion: Saddam Hussein HAD the
ability to manufacture Chemical weapons in massive quantities within
two years of the end of sanctions. And as you see, sanctions were about
to end with the corruptive influences of huge bribes to UN officials.
Chemical weapons are bad. As someone whose lungs were seared with
poison gas let me tell you that you can NEVER underestimate the effects
of a poison gas attack. It took me more than two years to recover from
a minor chemical accident. One can only imagine what a weapons grade
attack would do in a large city.
But the real danger was Biological Warfare Agents. You cannot believe
the power of these weapons. They are considered my militaries all over
the world as FAR more powerful than nuclear weapons and every
knowledgeable political or military leader fears these more than
anything else.
(Page One Key Findings Biological) "At a meeting of the Iraqi
leadership immediately prior to the Gulf war in 1991, Saddam Husayn
personally authorized the use of BW weapons against Israel, Saudi
Arabia and US forces."
"Under the aegis of the intelligence service, a secretive team
developed assassination instruments using poisons or toxins for the
Iraqi state."
It was judged that Iraq had the ability to begin producing weapon grade
and quantity of biological warfare agents within weeks or month of the
end of sanctions.
What is open to interpretation is what would have happened after
sanctions ended. Hussein WAS trying to achieve stature in the Arab
world by threatening Israel and supporting terrorists and terrorist
causes. He provided medical facilities and recuperation for some of the
world's most notorious terrorists. Abu Nidal had killed or wounded 1500
people some 70 of them Americans. Ansar-al-Islam, Arab Liberation
Front, Hamas, Kurdistan Workers Party, Mujahedin-e-Khalq and of course
the Palestine Liberation Front were all supported by direct funding
from Saddam Hussein.
Arguing that Osama Bin Ladin and Saddam Hussein didn't like each other
is a cruel joke. Hussein was trying to get Bin Ladin on his side to the
effect that he provided medical care and was working cooperatively with
Al Qaida. While the relationship wasn't close is was a work in
progress.
Why did Senators Carl Levin, Tom Daschle, John Kerry all sign a letter
on Oct. 9, 1998, to the President stating ""We urge you, after
consulting with Congress, and consistent with the U.S. Constitution and
laws, to take necessary actions (including, if appropriate, air and
missile strikes on suspect Iraqi sites) to respond effectively to the
threat posed by Iraq's refusal to end its weapons of mass destruction
programs." if they didn't have genuine concerns?
Senator Hillary Clinton on October 10, 2002, stated, "In the four years
since the inspectors left, intelligence reports show that Saddam
Hussein has worked to rebuild his chemical and biological weapons
stock, his missile delivery capability, and his nuclear program. He has
also given aid, comfort, and sanctuary to terrorists, including al
Qaeda members ... It is clear, however, that if left unchecked, Saddam
Hussein will continue to increase his capacity to wage biological and
chemical warfare, and will keep trying to develop nuclear weapons."
Husseins desire for political power in the middle east would have led
him inexorably to be eventually cornered into providing real WMD to
terrorists and with this sorts of weapons at their disposal terrorists
would target the Great Satan and none other.
As President of the United States George Bush took an action that will
forever be criticized by his political enemies. But the fact remains
that not ONE substantive terrorist act against the USA has occurred
since 9/11. Moreover, Libya has opened their borders, turned over ALL
of their WMD which were even further along than Iraq's and become a
part of the larger world again. Terrorists have taken a nearly fatal
blow. It will take time to reduce the large terrorist organizations to
a few psychotic individuals but it will be accomplished. Turn off the
money machine and the terrorist organizations will wither and die.
