Well, it is an absolute lie to say we didn’t find any WMD
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/10/14/world/middleeast/us-casualties-of-iraq-chemical-weapons.html?_r=0
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A33082-2004May17.html
http://www.nbcnews.com/id/4997808/ns/world_news-mideast_n_africa/t/bomb-said-holddeadly-sarin-gas-explodes-iraq/
http://www.foxnews.com/story/2004/05/17/sarin-mustard-gas-discovered-separately-in-iraq.html
And the press had a short, millisecond short, bout of honesty
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/14/isis-chemical-weapons-_n_5987106.html
http://www.ibtimes.com/saddam-era-chemical-weapons-now-under-isis-control-reports-1705144
http://m.nydailynews.com/news/world/isis-seizes-chemical-weapons-depot-baghdad-sarin-gas-rockets-article-1.1859934
Yes, and Doctor Death had enough biological toxins hidden in her vanity as home to restart Saddam’s bio-weapons program, but the scale of any WMD activity was not what we were promised.
This is closer to the real story, and it is closer to Trump’s position:
With Americans still feeling the pain and fear of 9/ 11, in 2002 the Bush administration began to build a case for invading Iraq and toppling Saddam Hussein. George W. Bush created a special office in the Pentagon— called the Office of Special Plans— specifically for the purpose of supplying him with intelligence regarding Iraq, a task previously performed by the CIA. He put his friends Secretary of Defense Don Rumsfeld and Paul Wolfowitz in charge of that intelligence reporting, creating a political “interpreting” operation that supplanted expert analysis by the CIA.
Suddenly the reports coming to the president, and leaked to the public, were full of contentions that Saddam possessed an arsenal of chemical and biological weapons, and suggested the possibility of nuclear weapons as well. Those accusations provided the ingredients for a well-orchestrated public relations campaign to lay the groundwork for an invasion with the express purpose of deposing Saddam Hussein. The justification: With WMDs at the ready, Saddam posed a threat to the United States.
After months of preparation and a demand that Saddam leave the country “or else,” on March 20, 2003, George W. Bush ordered the invasion of Iraq to begin. U.S. forces rapidly dispatched the Iraqi military and toppled Saddam’s government. In December of 2003, Saddam was captured, and three years later, executed.
Mission accomplished, at least for George W. Bush. The man who plotted to kill his father, and committed untold other crimes, is dead. But 12 years later, more than 4,000 American troops have died in Iraq— and $ 1.7 trillion have already been spent, a number that increases every day. The weapons of mass destruction George W. claimed were there, and used to justify that human and financial cost, were never found.
The people of Iraq? The horror of Saddam has been replaced by the horror of civil war, ISIS, and an entirely uncertain future.
Stone, Roger; Hunt, Saint John (2016-02-16). Jeb! and the Bush Crime Family: The Inside Story of an American Dynasty (Kindle Locations 4272-4286). Skyhorse Publishing, Inc.. Kindle Edition.
“One way or the other, we are determined to deny Iraq the capacity to develop weapons of mass destruction and the missiles to deliver them. That is our bottom line.” President Clinton , Feb. 4, 1998.
“If Saddam rejects peace and we have to use force, our purpose is clear. We want to seriously diminish the threat posed by Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction program.” President Clinton , Feb. 17, 1998.
“Iraq is a long way from [here], but what happens there matters a great deal here. For the risks that the leaders of a rogue state will use nuclear, chemical or biological weapons against us or our allies is the greatest security threat we face .” Madeline Albright , Feb 18, 1998.
” He will use those weapons of mass destruction again, as he has ten times since 1983 .” Sandy Berger, Clinton National Security Adviser, Feb, 18, 1998
“[W]e urge you, after consulting with Congress, and consistent with the U.S. Constitution and laws, to take necessary actions (including, if appropriate, air and missile strikes on suspect Iraqi sites) to respond effectively to the threat posed by Iraq’s refusal to end its weapons of mass destruction programs.” Letter to President Clinton, signed by Sens. Carl Levin, Tom Daschle, John Kerry, and others Oct. 9, 1998.
“Saddam Hussein has been engaged in the development of weapons of mass destruction technology which is a threat to countries in the region and he has made a mockery of the weapons inspection process.” Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D, CA), Dec. 16, 1998.
“Hussein has ... chosen to spend his money on building weapons of mass destruction and palaces for his cronies.” Madeline Albright , Clinton Secretary of State, Nov. 10, 1999.
“There is no doubt that . Saddam Hussein has reinvigorated his weapons programs. Reports indicate that biological, chemical and nuclear programs continue apace and may be back to pre-Gulf War status. In addition, Saddam continues to redefine delivery systems and is doubtless using the cover of a licit missile program to develop longer-range missiles that will threaten the United States and our allies.” Letter to President Bush, Signed by Sen. Bob Graham (D, FL,) and others, Dec, 5, 2001.
“We begin with the common belief that Saddam Hussein is a tyrant and a threat to the peace and stability of the region. He has ignored the mandate of the United Nations and is building weapons of mass destruction and the means of delivering them.” Sen. Carl Levin (d, MI), Sept. 19, 2002.
“We know that he has stored secret supplies of biological and chemical weapons throughout his country.” Al Gore , Sept. 23, 2002.
“Iraq’s search for weapons of mass destruction has proven impossible to deter and we should assume that it will continue for as long as Saddam is in power.” Al Gore , Sept. 23, 2002.
“We have known for many years that Saddam Hussein is seeing and developing weapons of mass destruction.” Sen. Ted Kennedy (D, MA), Sept. 27, 2002.
“The last UN weapons inspectors left Iraq in October1998. We are confident that Saddam Hussein retains some stockpiles of chemical and biological weapons, and that he has since embarked on a crash course to build up his chemical and biological warfare capabilities. Intelligence reports indicate that he is seeking nuclear weapons...” Sen. Robert Byrd (D, WV), Oct. 3, 2002.
“I will be voting to give the President of the United States the authority to use force “ if necessary “ to disarm Saddam Hussein because I believe that a deadly arsenal of weapons of mass destruction in his hands is a real and grave threat to our security.” Sen. John F. Kerry (D, MA), Oct. 9, 2002.
“There is unmistakable evidence that Saddam Hussein is working aggressively to develop nuclear weapons and will likely have nuclear weapons within the next five years . We also should remember we have always s underestimated the progress Saddam has made in development of weapons of mass destruction.” Sen. Jay Rockerfeller (D, WV), Oct 10, 2002,
“He has systematically violated, over the course of the past 11 years, every significant UN resolution that has demanded that he disarm and destroy his chemical and biological weapons, and any nuclear capacity. This he has refused to do.” Rep. Henry Waxman (D, CA), Oct. 10, 2002.
“In the four years since the inspectors left, intelligence reports show that Saddam Hussein has worked to rebuild his chemical and biological weapons stock, his missile delivery capability, and his nuclear program. He has also given aid, comfort, and sanctuary to terrorists, including al Qaeda members. It is clear, however, that if left unchecked, Saddam Hussein will continue to increase his capacity to wage biological and chemical warfare, and will keep trying to develop nuclear weapons.” Sen. Hillary Clinton (D, NY), Oct 10, 2002
“We are in possession of what I think to be compelling evidence that Saddam Hussein has, and has had for a number of years, a developing capacity for the production and storage of weapons of mass destruction. “[W]ithout question, we need to disarm Saddam Hussein. He is a brutal, murderous dictator, leading an oppressive regime ... He presents a particularly grievous threat because he is so consistently prone to miscalculation. And now he has continued deceit and his consistent grasp for weapons of mass destruction ... So the threat of Saddam Hussein with weapons of mass destruction is real ... Sen. John F. Kerry (D, M
http://www.foxnews.com/story/2004/05/19/tests-confirm-sarin-in-iraqi-artillery-shell.html
Another link for the link pile.