Harold Pinter acknowledgement speech

[kandrathe]

...they had real intelligence. In other words unlike you, they were sure there was no evidence for WMDs. ...  [right][snapback]97501[/snapback][/right]

My recollection was that the intelligence they had was wrong, and the corroboration of the source evidence was poor. Iraq had WMD programs and used WMD in the past. They had a number of ex-Iraqi scientists who were indicating vast weapons programs were in place. And, there was also the lack of evidence of destruction, or existence of the known imported precursor chemicals and reagents. And, finally, the refusal by Saddam to allow the UN inspectors to interview known scientists or people involved with the programs or the destruction.

I kind of relate it to a person who has been known to be involved in constructing a Meth lab, the police come in and find all the evidence of such (1991 GW), and then to avoid prison time agreed to cooperate and reveal all evidence relating to their Meth lab activities. Then, after awhile, they decide not to cooperate and the police suspect the person is again rebuilding his Meth lab.

There was such a dearth of on the ground intelligence and so much at risk, that the US was desperate enough to infiltrate UNSCOM with spies. Saddam was very effective in playing cat and mouse, and keeping the West and the UN guessing about what he was or was not doing. A dangerous game of Bahgdad roulette which, along with UNSC weakness, 9/11 fervor, and motivated PNAC hawks resulted in GWII.