Woodwards book covers the WMD point in some detail. First, the search component was an afterthought that was poorly funded. Still, the resource list given to the first team raised a lot of questions. Most of the information predate the 1991 Gulf War.
Well, after not finding any WMDs, and with pressure starting to mount, a second effort was launched. This involved a new team with a pure intelligence approach to the problem. Unfortunately, in spite of significant cash rewards and the offer of green cards they could not find a single scientist, stockpile guard or other person involved with such a program post 1991. No truck drivers, janitors, scientists, military liaisons -- nada. This in spite of numerous efforts to fraudulently cash in on the offers. There was a recording of one scientists wife begging her husband to make something up, anything, to get the reward and green card. The conclusion arrived at was that Saddam didn't relaunch his WMD programs.
The nuclear program that had been far more advanced than thought pre 1991 was not worth mentioning. Gulf War I completely dismantled that. Chemical and biological programs were not in place formally, and the best that could be offered was that he was in a position to restart them if needed, at some point. But, no programs in place, no modern weapon stockplies, etc.
Funny story on the aluminum tubes. It seems that a friend of Uday had the contract to develop some rocket artillery propellant. Unfortunately, the quality was poor. But, this was a friend of Uday. So, the solution was to find hitech aluminum tubes (stronger and lighter) to meet performance requirements with poorer propellant. An expensive solution, but the only solution available in Saddam's time.
Why not allow inspections? The theory was quite simple. 1. Saddam didn't feel the US would go through with it. 2. The fear of the weapons made him stronger regionally after 1991 than he would have been otherwise (and at home with the Kurds, etc.). 3. Backing down on inspections would be a personal sign of weakness for whatever Saddam II was waiting in the wings, and was less of a personal risk that a US invasion.
Charon
