Mark,

The evidence now suggests that Iraq stopped attempting to produce biologicial and chemical weapons altogether in 1998 after Bill Clinton tossed a few cruise missiles at them. It also appears that Saddam stopped investing in his military machine after the first Gulf War - they were completely ineffectual.

It would have been far cheaper and just as effective to continue to allow Hans Blix and company to roam around the Iraqi countryside and then occasionally lobbing a cruise missile or two from time to time to punctuate the point. Had we followed this course, there would be 287 American and 49 British soldiers still with us today. Thousands of injured American soldiers, many with permaanent disabilities, would be well and healtthy today.

Regards.
Donald