I think the debate on him possessing and building WMD's is really a moot point. The discussion needs to be instead if they would ever be used against us and I'm firmly convinced the man was not suicidal. One would have to assume that privately US policy is stated that the result of any country allowing their weaponry to cause damage inside our borders would be devastating consequences. That policy would also have the condition that the developing country would not have to be the direct purveyor of the damage. The blowback would come as well if they gave the technology to some splinter group.

The only true terrorist attack in recent history against the US mainland came not from any country's government but from an non-affiliated cult, someone who is immune from such a policy. As I've stated in other posts, there becomes a maturing of militaristic policy in countries that develop WMD systems. How could one have ever believed that India and Pakistan would refrain from major combat for all the years they have once they both developed nukes? The hatred and extremism in both societies is immense and yet the fear of retaliation overrides the madness. A giant bullseye gets painted on the Presidential Palace as soon as one gets to that stage.

You see REB, as much as we want Saddam to be a suicidal madman, the first part of that label simply isn't supported by the evidence. Suicidal people don't have decoys of themselves at public appearances. They aren't surrounded by heavily guarded entourages that kill at the first sign of non-conformity. They don't create escape tunnel systems. They don't crouch into a spider hole and live in squalid conditions on the run. Suicidal despots

The man was despicable and a thug but his actions clearly did not constitute preemptive American military action. You are dead wrong about that and are in a rapidly shrinking minority that still holds onto that view.

That our government lied is a proven point. It always lies, throughout history and no matter who is in power. The argument here is not whether untruths were told but the motivation behind them. I think it's becoming crystal clear every day that the reasons for these lies were reprehensible and took advantage of a scared and confused country. The damage they did to our national character will never be undone.

Art