Quote:
Originally Posted by djnemo65
No WMD's, is expensive, did create an intractable conflict, did exacerbate sectarian tensions, is inextricable, did polarize global opinion against the United States, was not in our national security interests, was mostly about reconstruction contracts for a few well-connected firms, did provide Al Qaeda with propoganda fodder, etc.
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FOXNews.com - Sarin, Mustard Gas Discovered Separately in Iraq - U.S. & World
USATODAY.com - Operation Phantom Fury
Check picture # 2
PBS - frontline: gunning for saddam: saddam hussein's weapons of mass destruction
The only point you make that's not subject to debate is "No WMDs". As bud mentioned, Saddam has previously used nerve agents on the Kurds. The second link, picture # 2 from USA Today (no bastion of conservatism) shows enough Sarin to kill over 500K people. Probably wouldn't want that let loose in the NY subway system.
Sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The PBS link also indicates that while Saddam's nuclear program wasn't active he had the intel and scientists to reconstitute it once the UN sanctions were lifted. If Saddam had nothing to hide, why avoid the UN inspectors and live with the sanctions?
The US didn't go it alone, over 30 countries went with us. Hindsight is 20/20. Did we find a direct link between 9/11 and Saddam, No. Did we find suitcase nukes and massive stockpiles of other WMDs, No. Should we have gone in the way we did, IMO No. As I've stated before, I would've approached this using covert ops and subversive activities with factions against Saddam in Iraq. Nowhere near as costly in US lives or dollars.