Re: OT Kerry was right

It would be hard to discount assertions that Saddam had WMD in light of
the Osirak development almost twenty years earlier. Iraq had been in
pursuit of nukes even then. To think that because the Israeli AF
bloodied their nose they would then give up on the idea forever doesn't
seem prudent.

And, there's the little matter of actual employment of chemical weapons
(they are WMD as well) by Iraq both against Iran and against the Kurds
in the north. If we've got a credible history of willingness to develop
and use chemical weapons, we could reasonably assume continued
predilection.

And, keep in mind that while nuclear weapons require some degree of
infrastructure to produce, the Iranians and N. Koreans are a good case
in point that the infrastructure can be hidden.

And, let's concede (hopefully) that chemical and biological weapons
take much less infrastructure. Bio can be ginned up in a basement or
garage (can you say "meth lab") and chemical can be hidden in plain
sight in the case of binaries.

But, none of that fits the world view of the Bush haters.

Can a modern developed nation take the risk of absorbing a first strike
by terrorists armed with chem, bio or a suitcase nuke? The idea of
withholding pre-emption until after absorbing the first strike is one
which has outlived its utility.

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: OT Kerry was right
    ... > the Osirak development almost twenty years earlier. ... > (they are WMD as well) by Iraq both against Iran and against the Kurds ... > Can a modern developed nation take the risk of absorbing a first strike ...
    (rec.aviation.military)
  • Re: OFF TOPIC! Hundreds of WMDs discovered in Iraq
    ... Bombshell report notes 500 chemical weapons including sarin, mustard gas, ... So WMD count again? ... Will they count tomorrow when the international inspectors determine ... to the inspectors in Iraq. ...
    (alt.sports.football.pro.ne-patriots)
  • Re: Liar Liar Pants On Fire Dept: Moller
    ... All I remember is that when the Iraq invasion was started I thought ... I believed they'd find WMD. ... administration launch a war without absolute certainty they would turn ... found chemical weapons, it'd be in a fine old traditon. ...
    (rec.aviation.homebuilt)
  • Re: OT: Bombing Iran
    ... WMD and are an imminent threat. ... What do you think Saddam did with the stockpile of chemical weapons he had? ... The corrupt UN sent inspectors with enough lead time to move them. ... Or do you think Iraq never had chemical weapons in the first place? ...
    (alt.guitar.amps)
  • Re: 50% of Americans polled falsely believe in Iraq WMDs
    ... and they HAVE found WMD;>500 chemical weapons to date. ... others in a serious debate over what constitutes having found WMD in Iraq, ... it pays to bear in mind that they are the same folks who during the 2004 ...
    (sci.military.naval)