Wrong question to ask -- since you're suggesting that I must prove that something doesn't exist. The burden of proof is on those who insist that it DOES exist. We can go back over some typical threads here in late 2002 and early 2003 to make my point . . .
Alberta's Child: I'm telling you right now that these so-called WMDs will never be found.
Other Freeper: What are you, a DUmmie? Of course they will. Everybody knows they will . . . it's beyond any doubt.
Alberta's Child: All right -- let's have a bet on it.
******
Now let's fast-forward to 2006 . . .
Alberta's Child: Where are those WMDs? It's been more than three years now.
Other Freeper: What are you, a DUmmie? They've been moved to Syria. Everybody knows that's exactly what happened to them . . . it's beyond any doubt.
Alberta's Child: They aren't going to be found in Syria. Let's have a bet on it.
As you can see, this kind of discussion ends up being a futile waste of time -- because at every turn of the road there will always be people who "insist" that they know exactly what happened to these WMDs -- "beyong any doubt." If I had 100 years to spend on this process, I'd end up in a bizarre discussion with someone right here on FreeRepublic with someone who insists that these WMDs were either take to the International Space Station on a Russian re-supply mission, or hidden in John Kerry's basement by George Soros.
It was, in fact you who suggested the war was a dismal failure; your original post read "I'd also point out that this war was a dismal failure on the part of the U.S."
Let's go back and look at my original post here . . . "I'd also point out that this war was a dismal failure on the part of the U.S. if we've spent hundreds of billions of dollars and thousands of U.S. lives over these WMDs only to have them spirited out of the country without our knowledge."
I don't "converse" with you on a regular basis here, so I'll be a little lenient. But the next time you quote me out of context in a deliberate attempt to deceive other people on this site will be the last time I post a response to you.
I didn't ask that you prove something that doesn't exist. You state they don't exist. That does not make it irrefutable fact. I asked you to back up your statement with facts. You apparently refuse to do so. This makes you unpersuasive and irrelevant.
"Alberta's Child: I'm telling you right now that these so-called WMDs will never be found. Other Freeper: What are you, a DUmmie? Of course they will. Everybody knows they will . . . it's beyond any doubt. Alberta's Child: All right -- let's have a bet on it."
An absurd argument. I'll remind you that another post on FR a few days ago related to an Englishman who had purchased acreage in Normandy on which he'd just recently discovered a WWII German bunker above Utah Beach and near a memorial to that invasion; a bunker heretofore unknown. Since D-Day occurred 62 years ago this year and it took that long to discover a bunker so situated, what makes you believe that evidence of Iraqi WMD cannot yet be discovered? If you want to bet someone, go ahead. Don't come crying here in the future if it goes sour on you.
"I'd also point out that this war was a dismal failure on the part of the U.S. if we've spent hundreds of billions of dollars and thousands of U.S. lives over these WMDs only to have them spirited out of the country without our knowledge."
Leaving off the balance of your statement was not taking you out of context. We have spent billions of dollars and our loss of life has been in the thousands. WMD has not been found. Whether it's been 'spirited out of the country' without our knowledge remains to be seen. Thus, the second half of your statement contains factual information making the first half of your statement a true representation of your beliefs; i.e. that the war was a dismal failure. I'm not the one deceiving anyone here; you are. You make a statement then you try to obfuscate the issue to make it seem something it isn't. If you wish to continue your delusional insistence that WMD did not exist after 1998 be my guest. But this will be my last post to you. There are far more reasonable and responsible people here at FR to converse with; I see no need to waste my time with the likes of you!