[jerej]

The sole point of "giving the inspectors more time" was really to give Saddam more time to HIDE THE EVIDENCE. So where did he hide the weapons then? Did he hide them in [insert country that is pissing US off here]? Is Wally in the wardrobe? I seem to remember Colin Powell presenting "evidence" to the UN of these weapons with Cuba Missile Crisis -esque aerial footage. But were are they? Your point is a typical US shoutdown of any criticism. At least the UK can discuss this. US democracy has been replaced with unquestioning patriotism which rejects every other standpoint as 'liberal'.

[alnick]

So where did he hide the weapons then?

You can't possibly be serious. I'll give you a hint: When something is hidden, it is not generally known where it is.

[optimistically_conservative]

Your point is a typical US shoutdown of any criticism.

Since when does, "How dare you criticize the criticizer!" - qualify as democracy or free speech? Your point reflects a typical anti-patriotic, anti-nationalism, globalistic cynicism which is the hallmark of 60s liberalism.

If your criticism is why haven't we, in 10 weeks, uncovered more of the unaccounted for WMD than two buried biological weapons labs, fine. I don't know, but I haven't run out of patience yet.

If your point is why, after 10 years of intelligence reporting by the US, Canada, UK, Germany, Isreal, etc. and inspections by the UN - all describing (and finding pieces of) Iraqi WMD programs - some partisan ideologues would so obviously run against history to attack Bush/Blair, it's simply because they believe you and others will not hold them responsible for being liars and reprobates.

Perhaps that is what you mean by an intelligent discussion in the UK?