Posted on 01/12/2005 8:41:31 AM PST by areafiftyone
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- U.S. inspectors have ended their search for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq in recent weeks, a U.S. intelligence official told CNN.
The search ended almost two years after President Bush ordered the invasion of Iraq, citing concerns that Saddam Hussein was building weapons of mass destruction and may have hidden weapons stockpiles.
Members of the Iraq Survey Group were continuing to examine hundreds of documents and would investigate any new leads, the official said.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
Beeeeeeeeeep Abu Grahib and WMD" this has been a CNNBS, CBS, ABS, NBS, New York/LA Slimes recording.
Search to start in Syria soon. News at 11.
They now have sufficient documentation showing that the weapons were shipped to other friendlies prior to the war and are no longer in Iraq!
Try Syria or Lebanon or the Horn!
Yes, and let's open the suspected sights in Syria with 2,000lb. satellite-guided "keys."
IMHO we got a HUGE WMD with the capture of Saddam Hussein.
And what do we do if we don't find them there? Besides which, I'm not sure that your nation or mine can afford another war.
Perhaps a purge of the 'military intelligence' departments will help in the future. Someone cocked up, big time.
Perhaps not worry about it? I'm concerned with keeping people from flying planes into office buildings, not appeasing the U.N. or helping out Tony Blair politically (although I do greatly admire the stand he has taken in support of us).
Purge the intel agencies? Over WMD? You must be kidding.
"Someone cocked up, big time." --Slipperduke, Jan. 12, 2005
"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 Bill 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 Bill 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: -- Democratic Senators 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 th! e 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 seeking and developing weapons of mass destruction." -- Sen. Ted Kennedy (D, MA), Sept. 27, 2002
"The last UN weapons inspectors left Iraq in October of 1998. 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 underestimated the progress Saddam has made in development of weapons of mass destruction." -- Sen. Jay Rockefeller (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." -- Sen. Bob Graham (D, FL), Dec. 8, 2002
"Without 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 is miscalculating America's response to his 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, MA), Jan. 23. 2003
Speaking as someone who works in a very big building, I heartily agree with you!
Despite all the reports and the inquests, the pages and pages of evidence, not a single UK politican has fallen on his sword over this single fact . We said there were weapons, we said we'd be vindicated when we found the weapons and we found nothing, save a couple of antique sarin shells.
I'm not moaning about the invasion, I've been on this board countless times arguing for US/UK forces to stay in Iraq. I'm looking at the simple question of us not looking competent when it counts.
Kind of a waste of time to search for WMD in Iraq when we knew ahead of time the goods were shipped to Lebanon through Syria.
I'd say the intelligence agencies did drop the ball. They should have looked a little closer at the trucks rolling out of Iraq on the eve of the war. Losing George Tenet was a start at fixing things.
That said, we can afford what little it will take to push Syria and Lebanon over, particularly with help from the Iraqi army. Many of their intelligence/military people are too busy stirring the pot in Iraq now.
Now, if only we can offer a little more support to the Iranian dissidents.
Bumping ^
Quilla, I'm English, this isn't a partisan issue for me. I'm happy we got rid of Saddam, he was a dickhead of the lowest order. But where did these weapons go?
Yep. And those Egyptians and Jordanians and Israelis and Iranians and Russians and Brits and French and Germans and UN guys who all said there were, well, they were all just lying, cause they wanted to "set up" Bush.
Too true. There have been numerous benefits to the invasion, not least the fact that all the surrounding nations know that they're now playing poker with people who don't bluff.
I don't know how well stocked your armed forces are, but we're getting close to the bottom of the barrel. An awful lot of the boys in Basra are 'weekend warriors' from the TA (Reserves). I don't think we could take another conflict too comfortably.
"They now have sufficient documentation showing that the weapons were shipped to other friendlies prior to the war and are no longer in Iraq"
Links?
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