OMR,
I also want to address the Iraqi WMD issue as a separate topic because, again, people have short or selective memories.
It is true that we did not know as a matter of fact that Iraq was at the time in possession of WMDs. We would have to had invaded their country to determine that because he kicked out the inspectors. So why did we think he did?
Well, we know for a fact that Iraq had in the past possessed WMDs because he used them -- against his own people, the Kurds and against the Iranians.
We knew he had ambitions to develop nuclear weapons and build a nuclear reactor because he built one, with the help of the French, which was destroyed by the Israelis in 1981. The Osirak reactor. Predictably, Israel was condemned for this act as they will be when they destroy Iran's nuclear reactor if they should get one. Hussein also was very clear about ruling the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia, and controlling the entire regions oil supply. He had a huge incentive to develope, and be willing to use, WMDs.
In addition to the U.S., ALL the major intelligence agencies: Britain, Germany, Russia, China, Israel, and France, believe that Hussein had, has, or was developing WMDs. Bill and Hillary Clinton at the time believed that Hussein had WMDs in addition to Kerry, Pelosi, Daschle, Gore, Kennedy, Rockefeller... indeed 77 of the Senators at the time. Very few remember that Hans Blix, who headed the inspection team, discovered chemical rocket warheads in a bunker in Baghdad. Something that was big news at the time. The inspectors were subsequently expelled from Iraq by Hussein.
So let me ask you, and be honest, did you believe at the time that Hussein had and/or actively developing WMDs? If not, what did you know at the time that ALL the intelligence agencies as well as the majority of the Senate and Congress did not know and how did you know it?
Violation of every single UN Security Resolutions, possession and use of WMDs in the past, developing a nuclear reactor, invading and attacking his neighbors, open designs for a "Greater Iraq" and controlling the Middle East oil supply, kicking out the inspectors.
To avoid war all Hussein would have had to do is exactly what Libya did after we invaded Iraq and Gaddafi saw the writing on the wall. He opened his country to inspections. We gave Hussein a lot of warnings. Endless warnings and lines in the sand. Don't you remember how long it dragged on? How we stood there endlessly with our ships and troops parked and ready to go?
He called our bluff.
And we had "no business" invading Iraq?
You can still disagree with our invasion of Iraq, and in retrospect you may be right, but to say that we had no compelling reasons or no business or that Bush lied is just simply not true.
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