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Originally posted by MaggieL
We were at war with this bozo not all that long ago. Since then he's refused to abide by the agreements that saved his ass, he lies through his teeth constantly, and he's *got* WMD and is developing more as we speak.

The bozo is still there only because Cheney, et al in the George Sr administration screwed up big time - handed back the surrender to Saddam because they did not do their jobs. It is irrelevant that Saddam lies or does not keep agreements. He is the recognized leader of Iraq - even by the US.

Does Saddam have weapons of mass destruction? Only those who worship what George Jr claims would say yes. What are every one of our own allies saying - including ones who actually have spies in country? There is no valid evidence that Saddam has any WMD. That's right Maggie. There is no evidence of these WMD anywhere - except where fears rules the minds of leaders.

If Saddam was such a threat, then at least one adjacent nation would fear him. And yet the government of every adjacent nation more fears a US unilateral attack on Iraq than Saddam. How do you deal with that reality? Rumor that Saddam has WMD and hope at least one nation will bite? Every nation - even our closest ally Turkey, sees a unilateral American attack as worse than leaving Saddam be. None like Saddam. But every one agrees a unilateral US attack would be even worse - even Kuwait.

What has this nonsense about Iraq done to American credibility and international relations? It has damaged or destroyed virtually every relationship we have had with every nation. Need I cite the recent heckling of Sec of State Powell in South Africa this last week - not by third world nations but by nations considered America's closest friends - that fact stated directly in the Nightline broadcast. Nightline demonstrated these soured relations again in interviews among reporters of countries that are suppose to be our closest allies. Even many in Tony Blair's own party are not supporting his position on Iraq. Everyone else - yes everyone - considered an American ally is against an American unilateral attack - except one - the Likud party of Israel.

Our allies love America and hate this president. German Chancellor Shröder demonstrates the problem - try to stand close to your best ally while trying not to support the policies of its leader. A difficult political hand to play. Shröder is also up for relection. To increase German voter support, he now campaigns by outrightly opposing George Jr's attack on Iraq. Talk highly of America while associating George Jr with bad things like attacking Iraq. That position works well in Germany - and elsewhere. Germany will stand by American in every war BUT will not support the US if the Iraqi war is not first approved by the UN. Don't offend America but don't support George Jr either.

Words like unilateral and arrogant were not stated by America's friends four years ago. Now those terms are routinely used by citizens of America allies from Japan, to Columbia, to Venezuela, S Africa, Germany, France, and Russia. Nightline demonstrated how American popularity has fallen so quickly - directly traceable to an administration that would have attacked China over some silly spy plane - and uses the same mindset to claim Iraq has WMD. From the first months George Jr has been in office, his need to find enemies where they don't exist is ... well ... an example of his mindset.

Unfortunately some will preach his nonsense verbatium. Where is proof that Saddam has WMD? It does not exist. That is the response from our closest allies who have direct access to the same intelligence material. Those WMD exist only because Saddam had oppurtunity? What kind of nonsense reasoning is that? Reasoning from a president who even claims he need not consult Congress before unilaterally attacking a soveriegn nation. Attack only because George Jr does not like Saddam. Only Tony Blair agrees with this president. It may just cost Blair an election that should have been a landslide victory.

But where rumors of WMD come from is also where this report comes from. A briefing paper leaked to the Washington Post on 10 July describes Saudia Arabia as an enemy of the US:

the kernel of evil, the prime mover, the most dangerous opponent [in the Middle East]. The Saudis are active at every level of the terror chain from planners to fiancier, from cadre to foot-soldier, from ideologist to cheerleader.

As a result of this extremist (unstable) thinking, Saudi money has been moving out of the US. Obviously. Because the report created during this adminstration also recommended that the US force an ultimatium on the House of Saud to either stop backing terrorism, or face a seizure of Saudi oilfields and all financial assets in America. Where else does this administration see enemies hiding?

Is this Saudia Arabia conclusion from an honest nation or from a nation led by dicator metalities? Dictators act with arrogence, act unilaterally, and don't consult their allies. Exactly the recent criticism of America by other nations as reported in this last Nightline. Create rumors that Saddam has WMD and blood thirsty American extremists will rally to those excuses to attack Iraq - legal nicities and American principles be damned.

We have an example. Maggie has openly declared that Saddam has WMD when no such evidence exists. Why? Blood thristy extremist?