Your thoughts on the final Iraq Survey Report saying Iraq's WMD program was essentially destroyed in 1991?

Question

Let me guess...Bush didn't get that report before the war. Excuses, excuses.

the Dems don't have access to classified intelligence reports that Bush read. A lot of those dems believed Bush's word and were just showing loyalty. Bush broke that with his poor leadership.

Clinton's policy of inaction? You do remember Clinton bombing Iraq in 1998, do you? Clinton's policy was ahead of Bush's. He certainly knew about Iraq's culture and its difficult geopolitical element.

Answer 1

The pre-war intelligence was cherry-picked, manipulated and fabricated to support a decision to invade and occupy Iraq that had already been made before 911 even took place.

Answer 2

Just remember that WE (CIA) put him in power. We paid, trained and equipped his troops. Dick Cheney shook his hand the day after he used chemical warfare against his countrymen. (The CIA would NEVER see a need in testing NON_EXISTENT WMD that the US doesn't have, would they???) We also paid, trained and equipped all the higher-ups of Al Quiada and the Taliban in Afghanistan to fight the soviets.
In short, we knew what we hadn't given him. WMD have NEVER been found in IRAQ, despite was some delusional republican want the people to believe.
I can believe that George Jr didn't see any reports, they all go to daddy so daddy can make decisions. Forest Gump is just there for photo ops. Daddy's men are all around him so he doesn't make any decisions.

Answer 3

From the internet I have learned Iraq was on the table from Inauturation Day of 2000 - and so now I do not wish to trust anyone.

Answer 4

Chulabi had his own agenda and the Bush Administration was more than happy to skew the intelligence to support Chulabi's faction. It was a classic case of hubris; believing that the US was so powerful, it could just walk right in and take over the country - lock, stock and barrels of oil.

Answer 5

20/20 hindsight.

Have you ever considered - what if the prevailing intelligence had been right and Bush had continued Clinton's policy of inaction?

Decisions are always made on the data available at the time, not on reports 5 years later.

Answer 6

The CIA knew that in 1991, just like everyone else in the world. The Iraq Survey Group - which is drawn from the CIA - is merely closing a chapter.

Answer 7

It didn't matter if he had seen it or not. He was invading iraq no matter what any thing said or if there were or weren't WMDs in Iraq.

Answer 8

they were wrong and Bush was right because our military said they found 500 WMDs in Iraq

Answer 9

Yeah, and what about all the Democrats???
"One way or the other, we are determined to deny Iraq the capacity to develop weapons of mass destruction and the missiles to deliver them. That is our bottom line."
- President Clinton, Feb. 4, 1998

If Saddam rejects peace and we have to use force; our purpose is clear. We want to seriously diminish the threat posed by Iraq's weapons of mass destruction program.
- President Clinton, Feb. 17, 1998

Iraq is a long way from here, but what happens there matters a great deal here. For the risks that the leaders of a rogue state will use nuclear, chemical or biological weapons against us or our allies is the greatest security threat we face.
- Madeline Albright, Feb 18, 1998

Saddam Hussein will use those weapons of mass destruction again, as he has ten times since 1983.
- Sandy Berger, Clinton National Security Adviser, Feb,18,1998

We urge you, after consulting with Congress, and consistent with the U.S. Constitution and laws, to take necessary actions (including, if appropriate, air and missile strikes on suspect Iraqi sites) to respond effectively to the threat posed by Iraq's refusal to end its weapons of mass destruction programs.
- Letter to President Clinton, signed by Sens. Carl Levin (D-MI), Tom Daschle (D-SD), John Kerry( D - MA), and others Oct.9, 1998

Saddam Hussein has been engaged in the development of weapons of mass destruction technology which is a threat to countries in the region and he has made a mockery of the weapons inspection process.
- Rep. Nancy Pelosi(D, CA), Dec. 16, 1998

Hussein has chosen to spend his billions on building weapons of mass destruction and palaces.
- Madeline Albright, Clinton Secretary of State, Nov. 10, 1999

There is no doubt that Saddam Hussein has invigorated his weapons programs. Reports indicate that biological, chemical and nuclear programs continue apace and may be back to pre-Gulf War status. In addition, Saddam continues to redefine delivery systems and is doubtless using the cover of a licit missile program to develop longer-range missiles that will threaten the United States and our allies.
- Letter to President Bush, signed by Sen. Bob Graham (D, FL,) and others, December 5, 2001

We begin with the common belief that Saddam Hussein is a tyrant and threat to the peace and stability of the region. He has ignored the mandate of the United Nations and is building weapons of mass destruction and the means of delivering them.
- Sen. Carl Levin (D, MI), Sept. 19, 2002

Iraq's search for weapons of mass destruction has proven impossible to deter and we should assume that it will continue for as long as Saddam is in power. We know that he has stored secret supplies of biological and chemical weapons throughout his country.
- ex-VP Al Gore, Sept. 23, 2002

We have known for many years that Saddam Hussein is seeking and developing weapons of mass destruction.
- Sen. Ted Kennedy (D, MA), Sept. 27, 2002

The last UN weapons inspectors left Iraq in October of 1998. We are confident that Saddam Hussein retains some stockpiles of chemical and biological weapons, and that he has since embarked on a crash course to build up his chemical and biological warfare capabilities. Intelligence reports indicate that he is seeking nuclear weapons.
- Sen. Robert Byrd (D, WV), Oct. 3, 2002

I will be voting to give the President of the United States the authority to use force, if necessary, to disarm Saddam Hussein, because I believe that a deadly arsenal of weapons of mass destruction in his hands is a real and grave threat to our security.
- Sen. John F. Kerry (D, MA), Oct. 9, 2002

There is unmistakable evidence that Saddam Hussein is working aggressively to develop nuclear weapons and will likely have nuclear weapons within the next five years ... We also should remember we have always underestimated the progress Saddam has made in development of weapons of mass destruction.
- Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D, WV), Oct 10, 2002

He has systematically violated, over the course of the past 11 years, every significant UN resolution that has demanded that he disarm and destroy his chemical and biological weapons, and any nuclear capacity. This he has refused to do
- Rep. Henry Waxman (D, CA), Oct. 10, 2002

In the four years since the inspectors left, intelligence reports show that Saddam Hussein has worked to rebuild his chemical and biological weapons stock, his missile delivery capability, and his nuclear program. He has also given aid, comfort, and sanctuary to terrorists, including al Qaeda members.. It is clear, however, that if left unchecked, Saddam Hussein will continue to increase his capacity to wage biological and chemical warfare, and will keep trying to develop nuclear weapons.
- Sen. Hillary Clinton (D, NY), Oct 10, 2002

We are in possession of what I think to be compelling evidence that Saddam Hussein has, and has had for a number of years, a developing capacity for the production and storage of weapons of mass destruction.
- Sen. Bob Graham (D, FL), Dec. 8, 2002

Without question, we need to disarm Saddam Hussein. He is a brutal, murderous dictator, leading an oppressive regime. He presents a particularly grievous threat because he is so consistently prone to miscalculation. And now he is miscalculating America's response to his continued deceit and his consistent grasp for weapons of mass destruction. So the threat of Saddam Hussein with weapons of mass destruction is real.
- Sen. John F. Kerry (D, MA), Jan. 23. 2003