We know Sadaam has biological weapons because we gave him the Ames anthrax strain. We know he has chemical weapons because of the GI's involved in the incineration of his weapons dumps in the Gulf War.
We know that he would like to perfect nuclear weapons. The only problem that he has is no delivery systems that could approach the United States. Now my question is: What threat does Sadaam pose to the United States in real terms?
My answer to that is that he poses a real threat to any American troops stationed in the Mideast. He also poses a threat to the Israelis with his Scud missiles.
We counter this threat by preparing an invasion force and subjecting more troops to his threat? Do you think Israel is going to stand by and let its people be attacked by chem and bio weapons?
So when Israel launches a nuclear attack, our troops get peppered with nuclear fall-out as well as the Iraqis. The only sane policy in this whole equation is, we have to warn Sadaam that the first time he attempts to launch an WMD attack, Iraq will be obliterated with nuclear missiles. Then be prepared do just that. Anything else is nonsense.
We did warn Saddam exactly that during the first Gulf War, one of the reasons I expect he didn't fire any SCUDS at Israel with biological or chemical weapons. Also, if I'm not mistaken, Israel has warned Saddam that if he fires WMD at Israel, she will respond with nuclear weapons. Unless Saddam has a death wish (and a need for more glass surfaced parking lots in Baghdad) I can't see what he hopes to gain in attacking U.S. troops in the Middle East or Israel.