2/10    So what do you guys think:
        (a) WMDs were destroyed before the war
        (b) WMDs are buried in the desert in the middle of nowhere
        (c) WMDs are in Syria/Lebanon/etc
        (d) There were never any WMDs
        (e) WMD's are hiding with Osama.
        \_ No fair relabeling your options.  It makes everyone look nonsensical
        \_ Aren't you sick of this topic already?
        (d) WMD's are hiding with Osama.
        (d) WMD's are hiding with Osama.
        \_ I don't think even Wolfowitz was nutty enough to suggest (d).
        \_ how about:
        \_ I don't think even Wolfowitz was nutty enough to suggest (e).
        \_ We know some of (A) is true.  (B) wouldn't be a bad guess since
           the Iraqis have buried plenty of other things in the sand but
           obviously there's no proof (B) is true or we wouldn't be wondering
           about it.  (C) is based on intelligence rumors which is never a
           100% guarantee especially in the Middle East.  American intel has
           been weak since we started putting up lots of high quality spy
           satellites and letting the human intel skills dry up.
        \_ I think, more than likely, people under hussein probably had
           them destroyed to try and get back into the graces of the UN,
           and that the posturing was a balance between putting on a show
           of strength for their general populace and appeasing hussein.
           The inspectors were there and were looking.  We should have let
           them continue.  It was, apparently, an effective containment.
           --scotsman
           \_ Wait... that makes no sense.  Why would people under Hussein
              want to get into the graces of the UN?  UN could not save them
              from Hussein sending them to shredders.  What possible motive
              do they have for trying to appease an org which could do NOTHING
              for them, vs. appeasing a dictator who could kill them on a whim.
              Hussein had nothing to gain by giving up WMDs.  At the same time,
              almost every major nation except the US had something to gain
              by having US appear with an egg on their face.  Thus, what I think
              happened is, the WMDs are in Syria, possibly with Russian, etc.
              help.  Of course, it will be really difficult to prove, since
              Syria can move them somewhere else, or destroy them discreetly.
              \_ I think by "people under Hussein" scotsman is referring to his
                 underlings, not his peasants.  The people in his party would
                 want to help him avoid getting invaded.  That being said, if
                 there were WMDs, it wouldn't surprise me if they had were in
                 Syria or buried in the desert.
                 \_ BUSH IS ALWAYS RIGHT!
                 \_ [ I have less patience than poster below. ]
                    \_ Good way to kill a decent conversation, trollboy.  I'd
                       censor your dumb ass but I believe everyone has the
                       right to publicly demonstrate just how stupid they are.
           \_ There was a really great article about this subject by the
              guy who wrote "A Gathering Storm."  Wish I had the URL, but
              basically he had a fairly good argument that the WMD thing
              post 1995 was a bluff meant to help Saddam's domestic
              political situation.  There's also the whole issue of the
              large numbers of weapons scientists who were claiming to
              work on programs in order to get money but then simply
              embezzling it.  Then again, his book turned out to be all
              wrong so who knows.
              \_ Uhm, in 1998 the entire world still believed Iraq had WMD
                 when the inspectors left so either the bluff was very
                 effective and Iraq's internal security aparatus was rock
                 solid or there were WMDs somewhere in Iraq.
                 \_ Uhm, please don't speak for the entire world when
                    your knowledge of the world is limited by what
                    your third rate media and press dumps on ya.
                    \_ Gee, you're right.  I never read foreign press or see
                       what foreign dignitaries say or do anything else but
                       mindlessly suck up what ABC/NBC/CBS dish out at 8pm
                       everynight!  Thanks for enlightening me!  Ok, asshole,
                       back here in the real world, the entire world is on
                       public record as believing there were WMD in Iraq in
                       the 1998 post-inspector era.  Thank you.
                       \_ You keep saying, but it is still not true. Hans
                          Blix said otherwise, Colonel Ritter (Retired US
                          Marine Corp Colonel, head of the UN Inspection
                          Team in 1998) and Russia said otherwise. Your
                          repetition of a lie in the face of overwhelming
                          evidence makes you less credible. It does not
                          make the lie more believable.
                          \_ Now you're just outright lying.  I've seen
                             interviews with both Blix and Ritter and both
                             have said in public interviews that there were
              wrong so who knows.
                    your knowledge of the world is limited by what
                    your third rate media and press dumps on ya.
                          repetition of a lie in the face of overwhelming
                          evidence makes you less credible. It does not
                          make the lie more believable.
                             still WMD in Iraq in 1998 post-inspectors.  I was
                             going to give you the benefit of the doubt and
                             just call you ignorant but you've gone beyond
                             that.
                             \_ Prove it. I have the URLS and have posted them
                                time and time again. Show me the interviews
                                where Hans Blix or Ritter say that there
                                are still WMD in Iraq. You will never be
                                able to produce them because they never
                                said any such thing. You are just a big
                                fat liar.
                          \_ But, but, but it works for Fox News!
           \_ bingo. nicely put.