[MD] Barbarian attack

[Platt Holden]

Mike said:
> Saddam had WMD in the past, but it was never proved that he had them in
> 2003. It was, however, widely claimed by the government and the media as
> a justification for war.

Every intelligence service in the world said Saddam had WMD. It isn't 
lying when you believe you are telling the truth. The Big Lie is saying 
Bush and Blair lied. 

> > As the quote says, Iraq could scramble jets with bio-bombs within 45
> > minutes.

> This was never proved. The question is, if Saddam had this capability,
> why didn't he use it to defend himself?

He knew his side would have no chance at all against the Allies if he 
employed bio-weapons against them. The question is, why did Saddam 
throw out the U.N. inspectors if he had nothing to hide?

> I never charged that Bush declared an imminent threat. Blair did.

You have yet to show evidence that Blair said any such thing. The 45 
minute quote you offered said nothing about an attack on London. 

> Saddam was secularist. Al-Qaeda don't like secularists (to put it
> mildly).

Again, you present no evidence that Al-Qaeda "didn't like" Saddam.
There's plenty of evidence they got along just fine. 

> I consider the domestic "terrorist tactics" of Saddam to be
> distinguishable from the international "terrorist tactics" of Al-Qaeda
> (both are deplorable, of course).

Not only deplorable but inexcusable wouldn't you agree? Or like some 
others here do you blame the U.S. and the West for the rise of radical 
Islam and the attack of 9/11? 

> > Saddam's links with Al-Qaeda have been documented.
> 
> I'm glad that you're acknowledging my point. Saddam's links with
> al-Qaeda were documented. This was a lie used to persuade the people of
> Britain and the US to support the war. Saddam and Bin Laden hate each
> other almost as much as they both hate the US.

By links I mean "cooperation." No lie here except the lie that it was a 
lie.

> Would you agree that anyone who sells arms to such a barbarian can
> also be considered a barbarian?

Yes, if it was known at the time of the sale that the buyer would use 
the arms against his own people or invade a neighboring country. At 
times in the face of a larger threat, it is necessary for a nation to 
make allies with other nations whose government it doesn't approve of. 
Our alliance with brutal dictator Joe Stalin during WW II is a case in 
point.
   
> > When fighting terrorists you sometimes have to use terrorist methods.
> > Or would you, like Arlo and others, rather invite the terrorists to
> > swallow some sugar cubes laced with LSD, dance together around a
> > maypole and then have group sex? :-)
> 
> Sounds like a plan! :-D

It figures. :-)  It's little wonder that, as Pirsig says, the Hippie 
movement was "a moral rebellion that failed."

Regards,
Platt