A fantasy foreign policy

Thanks for linking that article. It is very insightful, especially coming from someone who was so close to the truth.

Paul.

Saddam has already Used weapons of mass destruction.

http://www.phrusa.org/research/chemical_weapons/chemiraqgas2.html

Nerve Gas used in Northern Iraq on Kurds

Yes, unfortunately Iraq is one of the few countries that have used WMD. It seems to be the only one that got rid of them since, though.

But I guess all of this is hard to look at objectively as it is happening.

Oh there is no doubt that Iraq has used WMD.

No one ever claimed they didn't.

I personally beleive America was right to remove Saddam. Pity they didn't do it first time around.

America has however completely fooled the America people into believing that Saddam currently had WMD. They tried to fool the rest of the world but they weren't as gullible. Look at the reaction the UN (and particularly France) got from the US for failing to believe this untruth!

Paul.

I also agree that getting Saddam out of power was a good thing. I'm just not sure that the way used was the best (in term of immediate human and material cost and in term of stabilizing the region). It's hard to know how many Iraqi civilian died, but most numbers I found are around 10000, that is 3 times the casualties of 9/11. Some might think it's not that much, but I do.

The way I see it, the rush to war was justified by some immediate danger, which seems to have been fabricated. From an international point of view, it does not matter anymore (from a (American) domestic point of view, it matters if the truthfullness of the administration is a factor in reelection). I just find it sad that the international community did not try for a little bit longer. It seems that progress was made near the end, thanks to the pressure of a possible attack, which unfortunately occured. Now, from an international standpoint, is time to rebuilding. And to see whether the US invaded Iraq, or if they liberated it. (a quick test to answer: who is governing, and who is using the resources)

Be interesting to see what the interim report from the Iraq survey group says. That's the US led group of 1300 people including some UN weapon inspectors who the US tasked to find evidence of WMD. Report should be out in a day or so.

Paul.