do not entirely agree with this. You seem to be citing Al Gore and the New York Times as evidence that the left is coming around and accepting Bush's contention that Iraq possesses WMD's. The problem is that Al Gore and the New York Times do not speak for the left. Both are far more moderate than anything. The problem is that most political players within the public eye fall within a far narrower range of beliefs than the American political spectrum as a whole. Just as I wouldn't cite Arlen Specter or the New York Post to prove that conservatives were accepting a liberal idea, please don't cite Al Gore and the NY Times to prove the counter. Regardless, I don't particularly care to argue this premise, although I feel I could make a strong case against it.
You're right, this really was a poor example. I was simply trying to reach the liberals of this board. However, I don't see you contending anywhere that he does have these weapons, even later on in what you wrote, so the point still stands.
I could again debate this point. Al Qaeda and Hussein have been at each others throat's before, although I will not rule out the possibility that they have also cooperated. In regards to other terrorist groups, one common example is Hussein's payouts to the families of Palestinian suicide bombers. We could argue about whether or not these suicide bombers are terrorists, and whether Hussein's support of their families amounts to supporting terrorism all day, but again, this isn't what I particularly care to argue right now.
Here's a list of people Saddam has been linked to (he supports them):
What kind of support has Iraq given terrorists?
Safe haven, training, and financial support. In violation of international law, Iraq has also sheltered specific terrorists wanted by other countries, reportedly including:
Abu Nidal, who, until he was found dead in Baghdad in August 2002, led an organization responsible for attacks that killed some 300 people.
Palestine Liberation Front leader Abu Abbas, who was responsible for the 1985 hijacking of the Achille Lauro cruise ship in the Mediterranean.
Two Saudis who hijacked a Saudi Arabian Airlines flight to Baghdad in 2000.
And Abdul Rahman Yasin, who is on the FBI's "most wanted terrorists" list for his alleged role in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing.
Iraq has also provided financial support for Palestinian terror groups including Hamas, Islamic Jihad, the Palestine Liberation Front, and the Arab Liberation Front, and it channels money to the families of Palestinian suicide bombers. In April 2002, Iraq announced that it had increased the amount it pays to such families from $10,000 to $25,000. (Experts say that by promoting Israeli-Palestinian violence, Saddam may hope to make it harder for the United States to win Arab support for a campaign against Iraq.)
Now, imagine any of those terrorists (some of whom DID directly attack the United States) with weapons of mass desctruction. It would be devasting. I don't care if it's Al Qaeda or some 15 year old kid- the WMD would still be a catastrophe nonetheless.
Again, no solid link has been given between Saddam and Al Qaeda, but I firmly believe it will be given on the 5th by Powell. I don't think I've ever heard our government or Blair say so bluntly that there's a link. There has to be one and it will be given.
He has certainly not invaded any other countries, and I have a feeling that if he were to launch missiles at Israel, his country would soon be a sheet of glass. I could be mistaken on this, but I believe that the closest thing to aggression that Hussein has displayed is firing on US and UK spyplanes flying above his country. On the basis of this information, I fail to see how you can make the claim that Saddam is a danger to the surrounding countries.
The point is that WMD are the great equalizer. With nuclear weapons and sufficient delivery means of weapons of mass destruction, Saddam could blackmail, threaten, or even invade his neighbors, and we'd have to tread very lightly. This is especially true if Saddam ever achieves nuclear capablities, as his ex top science official has said he could in roughly 5 years. I do concede your point that Saddam hasn't shown any aggression since the Gulf War, but people do not just change. The second Saddam has an advantage, he WILL use it.
Hussein must be aware that all of these countries have considerably greater military capability than he, and that all would quickly band together in case of an attack on any one of them. It's the very reason we justify having nuclear weapons- mutually assured destruction, except in this case, there's a slight alteration- hussein's assured destruction.
That's what has changed. The U.S. used to believe that Saddam could be contained, that even he was not stupid enough to use WMD. Now we are starting to realize that Saddam could hand a caseful of Anthrax to an Al Qaeda member or a member of any terrorist organization and not leave a single finger print to be traced back to him and Iraq.
While he could conceivably attack through unconventional means, I feel that the time that has passed since 9/11 has proved that attacking us in such a fashion is far more difficult than it may seem. We have not been successfuly attacked since, and I'm sure it's not for lack of trying on the part of our actual enemies.
The point is that Saddam CAN do this. I'm glad that you have enough faith in the CIA and the other branches of our government to successfully repel any attempt made by Saddam backed terrorists to enter our country. I, however, think that the source of the problem should be eliminated rather than us hoping to catch every terrorist. It's a game of Russian roulette that potentially involves thousands and thousands of american's lives; a game that we've eventually bound to loss.
In conclusion: we disagree on many points, but it's nice to debate w/ an intelligent person who doesn't resort to flames.
Freedom of speech makes it much easier to spot the idiots.