I decided I could not ignore this.
In fact, the poll is pretty worthless. First, the United States has uncovered evidence of collaboration between Iraq and Al Qaida, the only thing unknown is the extent of the collaboration. Thus, the question would depend upon interpretation: do extensive ties imply close working relationship, or more casual cooperation?
Similarly, although it is true that we have not uncovered stockpiles of weapons of mass destruction, we have, in fact, discovered such weapons, in vials and smaller caches. We have uncovered containers of several biological and chemical toxins. Thus, again, it depends on how one interprets the question: if one needs stockpiles and fully weaponized, ready to go material, well, no, but if one merely needs the deadly toxins, eureka, we found some.
Finally, the question of backing. No, most people did not back us, but:
Of the countries of the EU, the leadership of more than half the countries did, in fact, back us;
France announced that it would veto the Security Council resolution authorizing the use of force precisely because we were lining up a majority, and;
People like Blix and Annan have generally conceded that we are better off without Hussein, thus creating, in some people, the impression that support followed success. |
