[oolatec]

The issue is whether or not he had them after 1991, not before...

[justa-hairyape]

I dont recall anyone in the Bush administration claiming Saddam had operational Nukes prior to this current war. It was claimed that he had not properly documented destroying all of his functional chemical and biological WMD. These were the weapons he had previously been forced to admit possessing to the UN. It was also claimed that Saddam was actively seeking nuclear capabilites. That claim has now been vindicated by the top Iraqi scientist ordered to construct said nuclear weapons.

[endthematrix]

Not really. Saddam was a thorn for regional stability in the 70's with conventional forces and strategically with Europe and the USA when he messed with his nuclear program. He had the means, motive, and opportunity to strike. If we looked the other way in 1991, Saddam would have the technologically capability to rain NUCLEAR (aside from chem and bio weapons) missiles intercontinentally, only years later. By using air strikes against his nuclear program in 1991 we bought only time. That time was running out. Saddam refusal have his program transparent was his failure, not ours. The world is safer for knowing what he has by the US looking into it, not the UN asking Saddam what he has. The world has been guessing for 20 years on what Saddam has knowing stating for the Saddam time frame: To become the Arab leader, get the Arab bomb and crush Israel.

[piasa]

One of the issues was whether or not Iraq would reconstitute its nuclear programs the moment sanctions were lifted.

Another issue, since no one could reasonably argue that Iraq wouldn't do just that were Hussein to remain in power, was that a nuclear Iraq could use terrorism to blackmail other nations with impugnity, knowing that against a nuclear state most non-nuclear nations if not all nations would find it less risky to either accede to Saddam Hussein's demands or accept unimited terrorist casualties because retaliation would be too provocative.

Another issue was rapidly degenerating US and UK credibility as a force against terrorism, state-sponsored or otherwise, should we have to allow Iraq to thumb its nose at the cease fire agreement.

Another issue was the failure of Iraq to return 602+ Kuwaiti civilian and military prisoners from the first Gulf War, two American civilians accused of spying, one American Naval aviator from the first Gulf War, and even Iranian prisoners from the Iraq/Iran war.

Another issue was the inability of Iraq to account for even what Iraq itself claimed to possess as WMD.

Another issue was the construction of additional facilities at al Tuwaitha and elsewhere.

Another issue was Iraq's profuse funding of terrorist groups.

Another issue was Iraq's repeated violations of sanctions by smuggling oil.

Another issue was Iraq's failure to distribute relief food and medical supplies.

Another issue was Iraq's efforts at genocide, the elimination of the Marsh Arabs.

Another issue was Iraq's efforts to shoot down coalition aircraft.

Another issue was Iraq's violations of sanctions by using front companies to import forbidden materials, precursors, tools, technology, etc, which it continued to do right through 2002.

Another issue was Iraq's involvement in assassinating dissidents, including American citizens within the territory of the United States.

Another issue was Iraq's support of terrorist groups which have attempted to assassinate US officials inside the territory of the US and abroad.

Another issue was Iraq's bribery and blackmail of UN inspectors.

Another issue was that Iraq made no effort to cooperate fully with the UN inspections, which was part of the deal.

Another issue was Iraqi diplomats' involvement in acts of terrorism, as either support or funding, such as the murder of a US Green Beret and a Philippino citizen right before the war in a bomb attack.

Another issue was Iraq's harboring of wanted terrorists.

Another issue was Iraq's training of terrorists....

[WindOracle]

Wrong, the issue was whether he would give access for verification as agreed to in his surrender terms, and required by UN Resolutions. Whether he HAD them or not is irrelevant.