"The only direct threat would have been through deniable attacks, sponsored by Iraq but carried out by terrorist groups."
In the decade following Gulf War I, did he sponser any such attacks against us? He certainly had the motivation to do so. Doesn't the lack of such attacks indicate an unwillingness to do so?
"Plus, he was a sponsor of proliferation in general."
Proliferation of what? As near as we can tell he had no WMDs, so what could he help proliferate? Also can you give me an example of something he proliferated since Gulf War I?
"In addition, he was a threat to the peace and stability of the region, through his ability to intimidate countries like Saudi Arabia and the emirates with his arsenal"
Then why were his neighbors, other than Kuwait, unwilling to join us in deposing him? Do you have any evidence that another country in the region was intimidated by him post-Gulf War I? Also, what "arsenal" do you speak of? An arsenal of rocket-propelled grenades?
"and therefore to establish hegemony without necessarily provoking intervention."
Given that his prior attempt to establish hegemony over Kuwait resulted in our intervention and his getting his ass kicked, do you have any support for that statement?
"He would then be in a position to manipulate markets or amass ever greater wealth for his projects."
What projects do you speak of? Do you have any evidence of these projects? If so, please contact the White House immediately, as they have been looking for them.
"Finally, he was a genocidal threat to internal minorities (Kurds and Shi'ites) and external enemies, mainly Israel, something to which we could not turn a blind eye........"
The last time he struck against Kurds and Shi'ites was when they rose up against him after Gulf War I. Do you have any evidence that he intended to conduct genocide?
Also, given that he did not strike against Israel when they blew up his budding nuclear plant, and had not stuck out at Israel since Gulf War I, what makes you think he was a danger to Israel? Yes he gave cash rewards to families of anti-Israel terrorists, but so do Saudi Arabia, Iran and Syria. |
