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Politics : Foreign Affairs Discussion Group -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: GST who wrote (141083)	7/22/2004 7:11:25 AM
From: Neocon	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 281500

There were active efforts to improve missile range; there were ongoing research programs into biochemical warfare; there was an ongoing attempt to accumulate fissile uranium on the black market; and there were the means and intention to reconstitute programs as soon as sanctions were lifted. Information from persons in Iraq involved in these programs has been contradictory, but there is some testimony that stockpiles were taken to Syria shortly before the war. We may never be able to verify that, however. What remains clear is that Saddam still had the means and intention to accumulate the capacity that we were concerned about. We are still on track for Iraqi elections, and although questions have arisen about the actual body count attributable to Saddam Hussein, we have not finished excavating sites, and demographic analysis supports high estimates. There is, of course, continued concern over instability, but Iraqi society appears resilient, and the majority seem committed to progress. Not only have we liberated the Iraqis, and given them a chance to take control of their own destiny, but we have relieved the anxiety of Iraq's neighbors about its intentions, and made it easier to take risks that might improve things, as in the case of Sharon's unilateral intention to evacuate Gaza and parts of the West Bank, or in Turkey's concession of greater cultural autonomy to the Kurds. Additionally, our willingness to deal with Saddam has yielded fruit in closing a comprehensive settlement with Libya; jump starting negotiations with North Korea; and getting a few concessions from Iran, which has, at least, permitted greater insight into their nuclear program. In the overall context of the war on terror, we have increasing evidence of ties to Al Qaeda, although the precise nature of the ties is not clear. We also know of extensive ties to other terrorist organizations, mainly operating in the Israeli- Palestinian conflict. It is likely that we have deprived terrorists of training and logistical aid, at least. Much remains to be clarified about the issues involved in this war, and about the eventual results. But it is clear enough that Iraq was a threat, and intended to take advantage of appearing to be compliant; that it behaved suspiciously until the end, and may have merely moved around stockpiles; and that Saddam's regime was a menace to all Iraqis, but especially the Kurds and Shi'ites. We have accomplished a great deal merely by giving Iraq a fresh start.