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This was posted to a uk newsgroup by JPB

Where are the weapons?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/2971907.stm

Iraq was alleged to have had:
"... 1.4 tons of VX nerve agent, 20,000 chemical capable artillery
shells, 25,000 litres of anthrax, 12-20 Scud missiles, mobile biological
warfare laboratories and chemical and biological weapons "deployable
within 45 minutes ..."

It seems a significant point to keep banging on about, because this was
the 'casus belli', on which the war was justified, and in view of the
apparent deception that has been played on the UK and US populace,
'Where are the weapons?' is a question worth repetition.

To remind us of what was claimed before the war:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,5944-658453,00.html
"If we know Saddam has weapons of mass destruction — and we do —
does it make any sense for the world to wait to confront him?"
George Bush, October 7, 2002
"It is right (going to war) because weapons of mass destruction,
chemical, biological and nuclear weapons, are a real threat to the
security of the world and this country"
Tony Blair, House of Commons, January 15, 2003

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/2797909.stm
"I detest his regime. But even now he can save it by complying with the
UN's demand."
Tony Blair, Statement to the House, February 25, 2003

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/2862559.stm
"I have never put our justification for action as regime change. We have
to act within the terms set out in Resolution 1441. That is our legal
base."
Tony Blair, Statement to the House, March 18, 2003

But now we have:
Iraq's 'weapons' doubts
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/2944298.stm
"The US Defence Secretary, Donald Rumsfeld, has acknowledged for the
first time that Iraq may have destroyed its weapons of mass destruction
before the US launched its offensive to topple Saddam Hussein's regime."

"... Iraq may have destroyed its weapons of mass destruction *BEFORE*
the US launched its offensive ..." [emphasis added]

"The Bush administration and the war's supporters will say "So what?
Iraq retained the know-how and probably also the desire to have such
weapons again in the future."
But this was not the basis on which the case for this conflict was
made."

"... this was *NOT THE BASIS* on which the case for this conflict was
made." [emphasis added]

Tony Blair should resign in the absence of the justification which he
claimed - he was repeatedly taken to task about these claims in 'meet
the public' broadcasts before the conflict, but doggedly persisted with
his conviction that war was just on the basis of the *active*,
*threatening* Iraqi WMD program.

It seems increasingly apparent that this was a bare-faced lie, as is now
being admitted by US Defence Secretary, Donald Rumsfeld! Perhaps we
should simply address Donald Rumsfeld as Herr Reichsmarshall?

--

"Naturally the common people don't want war: Neither in Russia, nor in England,
nor for that matter in Germany. That is understood. But, after all, IT IS THE
LEADERS of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple
matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist
dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice,
the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy.
All you have to do is TELL THEM THEY ARE BEING ATTACKED, and denounce the
peacemakers for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. IT WORKS
THE SAME IN ANY COUNTRY."
--Goering at the Nuremberg Trials