Saddam's nuke program is probably not as advanced as his biological program, but effective biological agents are sometimes considered weapons of mass destruction as well, because the right agent used with the right technique can kill people over a wide area, if the disease is communicable (unlike Anthrax) and very deadly then it might actually be more dangerous then a nuke (if less predictable and more likely to turn around and bite the people who use it). Chemical weapons are also sometimes considered WMD, but they are not quite as frightening. Still Saddam has a lot of them, and has reportedly been working on ways to deliver them effectively by Scud missiles. Our soldiers might be able to suit up, but is the civilian populations of say Tel Aviv all going to go around wearing not just gas masks but full body rubberized suits?
Tim, thanks for the links. The chemical and biological weapons can be gotten fairly easily on the black market; a nuclear bomb is harder to obtain but can be had. What worries me is when Saddam has nuclear capability and missiles.
As for his nuclear program, there was a large facility at Osirak that was destroyed by the Israeli air force years before the Gulf War. Later on the program made more effort to disperse and hide things to avoid a repeat of this type of action even if it meant the program would cost more and take longer.
Apparently, we've known about Saddam's experiments re chemical and biological weapons as well as his development of a nuclear device since the '80's. What's changed? Why didn't Bush Sr. take Saddam out when he had the chance?
There have also been materials useful in making nuclear weapons that have been seized before they could get to Iraq. I think it would be foolish to think that we got them all.
Pakistan, hardly a benign nation, has nuclear devices......do we take out the henchman who runs that country? How about Ukraine? I believe they have missiles and nuclear devices........their leader is a dictator and is said to be crazy. Do we take him out?
Please explain the logic of taking Saddam out now, and not the rest of them? Why now, and not ten years ago?
And be clear, I ask these questions in all seriousness. It is the answer to these questions that will determine whether this war will be accepted or not.
ted |
