Who were the first to claim SH had WMD?

[Ripsnort]

All these can be found on Snopes website, and verified true. Gee, I could see how the current administration could be duped considering how long this has been an issue in politics for the last 10 years...

"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 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 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 Sens. 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 destrution 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 the 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 seing and developing weapons of mass destruction."
Sen. Ted Kennedy (D, MA), Sept. 27, 2002.

"The last UN weapons inspectors left Iraq in October1998. 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 alway s underestimated the progress Saddam has made in development of weapons of mass destruction."
Sen. Jay Rockerfeller (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. "[W]ithout 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 has 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.

[JBA]

Not to pat myself on the back but I posted this along time ago.

But you’re right this has been an on going problem and one Admin. gave it to the next, And that could have been Gore for that matter. Clinton didn't care who got the problem as long as it wasn't him.
Clinton was scared to do anything for fear of his legacy. He ordered the launch of a few cruse missiles and washed his hands of it. Others will argue he fought tooth and nail to stop terror But anyone informed  and not looking for political gain will agree he did very little.

[Torque]

They shouldn't be hard to find then eh.

No luck yet?

[Virage]

No one denied saddam wanted WMD.

Hence the sanction and inspection policy.

Which worked.  

If the Bush whitehouse was sure of Saddam's WMD, why did they fabricate evidence to support it?  

WMD was a false pretext for going to war.
The fact that we are still talking about it shows how successful it was.

[Krusher]

Originally posted by Virage
No one denied saddam wanted WMD.

Hence the sanction and inspection policy.

Which worked.  

If the Bush whitehouse was sure of Saddam's WMD, why did they fabricate evidence to support it?  

WMD was a false pretext for going to war.
The fact that we are still talking about it shows how successful it was.

so what evidence did they fabricate and please be specific and site sources.

[AKWeav]

Ya beat me to it Krusher:aok

[Maverick]

Just a couple questions here.

If sadumb didn't have wmd's what did he use against the iranians during the iraq / iran war and against the kurds after gulf war 1?

I thought that was already independantly verified. Anyone think he used them all during these actions?

[Virage]

Originally posted by Krusher
so what evidence did they fabricate and please be specific and site sources.

Let me introduce you to Google. A good place to start your own thinking.

[Krusher]

Originally posted by Virage
Let me introduce you to Google. A good place to start your own thinking.

yea thats pretty much what I expected..


nothing

[Curval]

Attempting to pin the WMD argument on a political party and another President appears to be a desparate attempt to divert blame for something...like the lack of WMDs found in Iraq thus far.  Is this the idea now?

[Virage]

You can Lead a Horse to Water...

[Sixpence]

Originally posted by JBA
Clinton was scared to do anything for fear of his legacy.

They tried to get support for action against saddam, as a matter of fact they had a debate on it. They were laughed out of the building to chants of "no war for oil". It was an embarrassment. As a matter of fact I believe it was Hillary doing the talking, as soon as she said action against saddam the no war for oil chants started and you couldn't even hear her speak.

The fact is the same would have happened to Bush, but then came 911, and people woke up.

[yowser]

"...Gee, I could see how the current administration could be duped...."


Not that it would take much to dupe this bunch.

yowser

[Ripsnort]

Originally posted by Curval
Attempting to pin the WMD argument on a political party and another President appears to be a desparate attempt to divert blame for something...like the lack of WMDs found in Iraq thus far. Is this the idea now?

No, this was the idea from the beginning, when the liberals ignored mass graves, Pulp mill shredders, and Rape rooms, and started asking "Waaa! where are the WMD???"  They can't find anything to pin on Bush anymore, so this is all they have to hold onto.

[Ripsnort]

Originally posted by yowser
"...Gee, I could see how the current administration could be duped...."


Not that it would take much to dupe this bunch.

yowser

Actually, what you view as "stupid" will be recorded in military history as "brilliant".

From a strategic point of view, it was a brilliant move.

Establish a base in the middle east to ensure safe flow of the oil to the world.

Center the "fight on terrorism" in the Middle east, instead of on our home. Let the terrorists come to us in Iraq.

Let neighboring countries know that if you plan to support/finance terrorism in the future, *we* will know about it. Think of it as a neighborhood "Block watch".

Regardless of the initial motive, the humanitarian side of it has proven it was a just war.

Brilliant!