Posted on 02/01/2003 10:59:26 AM PST by forest
In last week's State of the Union address, President Bush spelled out a whole list of weapons violations by Saddam Hussein.
"Twelve years ago, Saddam Hussein faced the prospect of being the last casualty in a war he had started and lost. To spare himself, he agreed to disarm of all weapons of mass destruction," President Bush reported to the American people. "For the next 12 years, he systematically violated that agreement. He pursued chemical, biological and nuclear weapons even while inspectors were in his country."
Quite true. That useless paper tiger we call the United Nations knew of Hussein's many violations. Yet, UN officials continually looked the other way.
Last Monday, U.N. weapons inspector Hans Blix reported that Iraq had not accepted its obligation to disarm. Blix told the UN Security Council that Iraq had not yet reached "a genuine acceptance" of disarmament, nor had it answered the many questions about known stocks of missiles and chemical and biological weapons. Blix reported that 6,500 bombs containing 1,000 tons of chemical agents, several thousand medium-range guided missiles and large quantities of biological weapons material were missing from Saddam's audited arsenal.
President Bush seems to agree with Blix's report, limited as it was. However, Dubya had a list of his own. And the Bush List is far more inclusive.
Below are the elements of the Bush List, slightly edited, as reported in the State of the Union address. We should remember, too, that there is a very good case made here that both the Clinton Administration and the United Nations were very remiss in their duty of supervising Hussein's disarmament.
It is up to Iraq to show exactly where it is hiding its banned weapons, lay those weapons out for the world to see and destroy them as directed. Nothing like this has happened. The United Nations concluded in 1999 that Saddam Hussein had biological weapons materials sufficient to produce over 25,000 liters of anthrax; enough doses to kill several million people. He hasn't accounted for that material. He has given no evidence that he has destroyed it.
The United Nations concluded that Saddam Hussein had materials sufficient to produce more than 38,000 liters of botulinum toxin; enough to subject millions of people to death by respiratory failure. He hasn't accounted for that material. He's given no evidence that he has destroyed it.
The 108 U.N. inspectors were sent to conduct -- were not sent to conduct a scavenger hunt for hidden materials across a country the size of California. The job of the inspectors is to verify that Iraq's regime is disarming.
Our intelligence officials estimate that Saddam Hussein had the materials to produce as much as 500 tons of sarin, mustard and VX nerve agent. In such quantities, these chemical agents could also kill untold thousands. He's not accounted for these materials. He has given no evidence that he has destroyed them. U.S. intelligence indicates that Saddam Hussein had upwards of 30,000 munitions capable of delivering chemical agents. Inspectors recently turned up 16 of them, despite Iraq's recent declaration denying their existence. Saddam Hussein has not accounted for the remaining 29,984 of these prohibited munitions. He has given no evidence that he has destroyed them.
From three Iraqi defectors we know that Iraq, in the late 1990s, had several mobile biological weapons labs. These are designed to produce germ warfare agents and can be moved from place to a place to evade inspectors. Saddam Hussein has not disclosed these facilities. He has given no evidence that he has destroyed them.
The International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed in the 1990s that Saddam Hussein had an advanced nuclear weapons development program, had a design for a nuclear weapon and was working on five different methods of enriching uranium for a bomb.
The British government has learned that Saddam Hussein recently sought significant quantities of uranium from Africa.
Our intelligence sources tell us that he has attempted to purchase high-strength aluminum tubes suitable for nuclear weapons production. . . .
From intelligence sources, we know, for instance, that thousands of Iraqi security personnel are at work hiding documents and materials from the U.N. inspectors, sanitizing inspection sites and monitoring the inspectors themselves.
Iraqi officials accompany the inspectors in order to intimidate witnesses. Iraq is blocking U-2 surveillance flights requested by the United Nations.
Iraqi intelligence officers are posing as the scientists inspectors are supposed to interview. Real scientists have been coached by Iraqi officials on what to say.
Intelligence sources indicate that Saddam Hussein has ordered that scientists who cooperate with U.N. inspectors in disarming Iraq will be killed, along with their families.
Year after year, Saddam Hussein has gone to elaborate lengths, spent enormous sums, taken great risks to build and keep weapons of mass destruction. But why? The only possible explanation, the only possible use he could have for those weapons, is to dominate, intimidate or attack.
With nuclear arms or a full arsenal of chemical and biological weapons, Saddam Hussein could resume his ambitions of conquest in the Middle East and create deadly havoc in that region.
And this Congress and the American people must recognize another threat. Evidence from intelligence sources, secret communications and statements by people now in custody reveal that Saddam Hussein aids and protects terrorists, including members of Al Qaida. Secretly, and without fingerprints, he could provide one of his hidden weapons to terrorists, or help them develop their own.
Before September the 11th, many in the world believed that Saddam Hussein could be contained. But chemical agents, lethal viruses and shadowy terrorist networks are not easily contained. . . .
Some have said we must not act until the threat is imminent. Since when have terrorists and tyrants announced their intentions, politely putting us on notice before they strike?
If this threat is permitted to fully and suddenly emerge, all actions, all words and all recriminations would come too late. Trusting in the sanity and restraint of Saddam Hussein is not a strategy, and it is not an option.
So, kudos to the President on this matter. According to President Bush, Saddam Hussein has enough weapons to kill many in neighboring countries and still have plenty to send over here to cause pain and suffering.
Conclusion: War is justified.
Bush's Madd Ass List (Saddam spelled backwards.)
* 25,000 liters of anthrax
* 38,000 liters of botulinum toxin
* 500 tons of sarin, mustard and VX nerve agent
* 30,000 munitions capable of delivering chemical agents
* several mobile biological weapons labs
* advanced nuclear weapons development program
* Buying uranium from Africa
* Buying high-strength aluminum tubes
* hiding documents and materials
* blocking U-2 surveillance flights
* Imposters and death threat
* Terrorists do not announce their attack plans
Conclusion: War is justified.
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