Iraq May Have Been 'Far More Dangerous' Than Believed, Kay Tells

American Forces Press Service ^ | Jan. 29, 2004 | By John D. Banusiewicz

[George W. Bush]

Not exactly a wordsmith, but he does paint a picture. This whole year, so many unsatisfying editorials have missed the point by making distinctions that are too fine. Then I would read one that used fewer words, fewer points, but was more satisfying. There were many possibilities with Saddam's Iraq. Dangerous possibilities.

You can make a far stronger case for vast stockpiles of WMDs and working nukes among the old republics of the Warsaw Pact falling into the wrong hands. But we don't invade them, do we?

You could make a much stronger case for the imminent threat posed by North Korea right now.

You could make a stronger case for the danger posed by Iran, under Pakistani nuclear tutelage.

But if you want to cower in the bunker at this vast arsenel of Saddam's (which no one can even find), go ahead.

It's just a bunch of talk from Kay that means almost nothing of substance. Most of the controversy actually is that he has nothing of substance to offer. And it doesn't address the real danger of proliferation coming from many other countries, all of whom are more dangerous than Saddam's Iraq in the past fifteen years.

Kay is part of a comedy of errors by the Washington establishment. Both parties. This pathetic scrambling at such a late date is even more ridiculous than the usual stuff.

[Imal]

Predictably, David Kay's statements have been carefully edited and quoted out of context by all the usual suspects in the commercial media.

From the way they tell it, Kay said there were never any WMDs, we should never have invaded Iraq, and American soldiers will "drown in their own blood".

[NutCrackerBoy]

You can make a far stronger case for vast stockpiles of WMDs and working nukes among the old republics of the Warsaw Pact falling into the wrong hands. But we don't invade them, do we?

You've made my point. You focus too narrowly on dangerous objects, stockpiles. There is an X factor. Not to minimize the issues of North Korea and Iran, or to exaggerate Iraq. All three were terrorist states with evil ambitions, and two still are. But NK and Iran have their mitigating circumstances - NK's not in the Middle East and Iran has a freedom movement and a somewhat open society. Besides all which they (and old republics of the Warsaw Pact you mentioned) simply aren't suitable candidates at the moment for military invasion to advance the War On Terror.

Saddam had his prime location in the Middle East and his unmitigated terror-hold on oil, riches, scientists. There was evil motivation, chaos, connections with terrorists. Maybe he wouldn't have been able to pull anything off. But dangerous he was. Besides which, by providing the ideal candidate for successful military invasion, we now have established a powerful deterrent to the other rogue states.

[driftless]

The thing is none of those Warsaw Pact countries have invaded other countries, poison gassed their citizens, slaughtered their citizens by the hundreds of thousands, or supported terrorist regimes. They've done nothing like the evil that Hussein has done in the last twenty years. In short, they were no threat to us. Be a little more realistic and don't take people for morons.

[RaceBannon]

major bump

[VOA]

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[dmcnash]

I have heard that military intelligence evaluates two things, capability and intention. While the Warsaw Pact nations may have WMD capability, they don't have the intention. Saddam was believed to have the capability and the intention was clear.

[windchime]

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[Alamo-Girl]

Bump!

[VOA]

bump for publicity

[Howlin]

Go to CSPAN and watch the actual video of the hearing; believe me, it's well worth the time; he handed Ted Kennedy and Carl Levin their heads on a platter. And Ms.Clinton, too.

Most of what you've read in the press is a LIE, up to and including Tom Brokaw saying tonight on that debate that Kay had called for an independent investigation.

Now that you've read it all, you really will be shocked when you hear what Kay actually said -- and how he said it.

[Texican72]

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