But Iraq has not built an air force in the aftermath of the first Gulf War. In fact, pretty much it's destroyed most of the weapons it had under the auspices of the UN weapons inspectors which certified that over 90 percent of its weaponry was destroyed.
Bush now has two Iraqi documents that have a disparity figural difference of approximately 6,000 weapons. Both documents were provided by the Iraqis. Why must Bush only believe the figure that leaves 6,000 remaining, instead of the lesser figure which could mean those weapons were destroyed.
Do you really think 500,000 people should die over bad recordkeeping?
My personal opinion, based only on conjecture on my part, is that Saddam does have some chemical weapons but that they are weapons he deems necessary for defensive purposes. What if Iran were to invade, or Turkey? For that matter, what if the US were to invade? I suspect he'll want to keep them no matter what.
I think what it ultimately comes down to is what does Saddam Hussein want to be when he grows up? Common is the thinking that he wants to be the new Saladin, the one who reunited the Middle East. At one point, Iraq dealt well with its poverty, issues with women, among other things. However, the combination of the war and the sanctions have not tolled well for him.
I don't think he wants to invade the USA. I think he thinks once he has his ducks in order that it's possible he'd use some of that power for leverage against Israel on behalf of the Palestinians for whom he has an affinity.
But when you think about this, people all over the world have an affinity for the Palestinians. Perhaps the US should stop vetoeing the UN resolutions which support the Palestinians. Maybe the US concentration should be more there than in creating an impression that the US wants Iraq's oil. After all, the US has a history of dominance and aggrsssion when it comes to seeking the world's resources. Given all of the dictatorships the US has supported it's hard to argue it's all been fair trade. |
