Did we "know" Iraq had WMDs because we set them up to acheive them? What do you think of it?

Question

Did we expect to find them because we sent them biological agents and equipment for the development of WMDs?

"1985 [O, C, B] Between 1985-89, the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) exports several shipments of pathogens and other biological agents to Iraq. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention sends a shipment of West Nile Fever virus and more than 80 other biological agents to Iraq for research."

- WMD 411 Chronology — 1985
http://204.71.60.36/f_wmd411/1985.html

"The records show beyond any doubt that American equipment went directly into the Iraqi mass-destruction weapon programs. The records also show that our officials knew it was going there, but held their noses and waived it through."

- Testimony of Gary Milhollin
Professor, University of Wisconsin Law School and
Director, Wisconsin Project on Nuclear Arms Control
Before the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs

http://www.wisconsinproject.org/pubs/testimonies/1992/10-27.html

Answer 1

If we'd sent them WMDs, wouldn't they still have them? The germs may well have been for medical study. West Nile Virus DOES occur in the lands of The Middle East, after all, hence the name.

Answer 2

We still don't know what happened to the WMD. They were likely shipped to Syria, but since we did not find them, that is only a theory.

One of the reasons this error was made is that during the Clinton years, we cut way back on operatives on the ground. We began to get enamored with our technology and lost the contacts to what was really going on. Saddam figured our technology out and worked hard to prevent us from finding the WMD.

Focusing on the lack of WMD does not serve the current debate. We went in and they were not there. Bringing that up does not offer a solution to the current situation.

Answer 3

Things change over time, the US gave computers and satellites equipment to Iraq for the AG program and I am sure that we gave other things and knew where they where going. During the Iran/ Iraq war I am sure both Us and the Russians had hands in the pie. But what has that got to do with us now.

Answer 4

It's possible that the US wink/nodded Iraq's way in the 1980's on chemical/biologic agents at the height of the Iran/Iraq war.

However, we knew Iraq had chemical WMD because he used them quite effectively on his own people, killing many tens of thousands of rebellious Kurds. One can't gas one's own population unless one has the gas to use in the first place.

As Homer would say: "DOH!"

Answer 5

We did not expect to find them but we did give them many weapons. We went for many reasons. One was regional control. Another was the money involved in defense spending. And of course. support for Israel. One reason was not oil for the US. We do not get our oil from Iraq.

Answer 6

They sure did fool us. I hope you don't expect too many answers. The crazies don't argue with the truth, especially truth with facts backing it up.