OK heres my buy on it, as a non-Yank who's clearly not-totally-pro-USA.
First terrorism. I can't believe half the world missed this one. When pushed on potential US action in Iraq, Saddam warned that he would strike back at the US on their own soil (US soil that is). Now, Iraq has no conventional weapons capable of striking the USA. So what other weapon could Saddam possibly use? Answer - Terrorists. Conclusion, Iraq has openly admitted links to and use of terrorists on US soil.
Second, UN Inspectors. The last lot thrown out were lead by a Kiwi, thats right, an NZer, a no BS type. Iraq was clearly trying to hide toejam and this guy didn't play diplomatic roll over and rub my belly.
Third. I watched a recent report where 'diplomats and reporters' (no scientists LOL) were given a tour of a site rumoured to be a weapons development facility. Of course it was 'sanitised'. Although there were 'pens' used for livestock research, what made me laugh was there was no room for a cow/horse/anything larger than a man in these 'pens', so you can guess what sort of livestock was being 'researched'. The reporters filmed parts of the facility which were clearly recently rebuilt, and heavily fortified, and were prevented from filming in some areas by security.
Saddam is playing a waiting game. The longer it takes the world to figure it out, the more fortified Iraq becomes. And the more developed their NBC weapons become. The truth of the matter is if Iraq takes Kuwait again, the Arab nations will not get involved. If Iraq strikes Israel, the Arab nations 'officially' will 'protest', but they won't lift a finger against Saddam. They are scared.
By now Saddam has read up on the US military tactics, he has learned of any weakness from Desert Storm. He is prepared to use weapons the west find horrific, even at the cost of his own people.
We are essentially, looking at a Hitler scenario.
