[AlbionGirl]

If we had known then what we seem to know now (actually I am not so sure we know it), that WMDs and WMD programs in Iraq were in total disarray, and not much of a threat, then possibly the CIC would have taken the next steps in the War on Terror somewhere else. And we would probably be involved in endless debates over that move. This enemy is shadowy and clever enough to play on our limited resolve no matter what we do.

So excellent, it bears repeating.

[AFPhys]

If we had known then what we seem to know now (actually I am not so sure we know it), that WMDs and WMD programs in Iraq were in total disarray, and not much of a threat, then possibly the CIC would have taken the next steps in the War on Terror somewhere else. And we would probably be involved in endless debates over that move. This enemy is shadowy and clever enough to play on our limited resolve no matter what we do.

>> So excellent, it bears repeating.

President Bush NEVER made a statement that Iraq was responsible for 9/11. President Bush NEVER made any statements that Iraq had hoards of WMDs stockpiled, although the administration did, admittedly, believe that there were strong indications of that. Kay's report puts to rest once and for all that Hussein had the capability to initiate and reconstitute such a program within WEEKS of sanctions being lifted, and he most certainly did not come close to complying with UN resolutions and the '91 cease fire agreement. Personally, I believe the reports and indications that large amounts of chem/bio munitions were moved to Syria's Bakaa Valley.

In President Bush's 2003 SOTU speech he lays out clearly the reasons for taking out Hussein. He did not lie, or oversell, the reasons for doing so. I agree with you that Syria and Iran are important to take out, too. If the Demodogs and Fraudcasters had not sabotaged this president, I think we would already have taken care of Syria. North Korea will be dealt with by China/Japan/Russia. Iran, I believe, will be able to free itself, with the help we are covertly giving now, and requires a different strategy. Iraq was incapable of doing so, and the impotent UN proved useless. Anyway, there is no need to launch attacks in every direction at once here, though some of us would like to do so.

As you said, too, developing our intel/ arabic linguist ability has to be done before doing much more in this realm.

What has been done so far is clearly beneficial to the world community. More clearly needs to be done, but our failure to do it thus far does not negate the importance of our deposing Hussein.

This War against Terrorism and the Islamofacists will take at least thirty years. The president made that clear immediately after 9/11, and it is no less true now. Getting rid of the terrorist states in Iraq and Afghanistan were important first steps in our victory, but it is important to realize that they are only FIRST steps.
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