The United States has stopped searching for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, according to Intelligence officials. They say the chief US investigator, Charles Duelfer, is not planning to return to the country. In a previous report, Mr Duelfer said there had been no stockpiles of chemical or biological weapons at the time of the US-led invasion.
A selection from those who wrote to comment on the WMD fiasco. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -----
The following comments reflect the balance of opinion received so far.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----- Three little words: France was right. Michael, Nieul-sur-mer, France --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----- After so much talk of WMDs, could Mssrs Bush and Blair now please publicly acknowledge that their arguments for invading Iraq were based on wrong evidence? Andrea Krug, London, UK --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----- I am sick and tired of America bashing. Who came to the aid of Europe when they needed it most, twice I might add. Who has done more to promote democracy and peace in the world. Where was Europe and the world to protest Saddam's brutal regime? It is always easy to look in the mirror. In a 9/11 world you have to react and not wait for something to tragic to happen before it is too late. I have no doubt that Saddam was posturing and had to be dealt with. Matt, Cambridge Ma, USA --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----- If Clinton can be impeached for lying about sex shouldn't Bush stand trial for lying about WMD? Manish, California --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----- The whole world has been coming to the conclusion that there were no WMD. It took some longer than others to reach this point and some never did think there was any. The bottom line is that there is no shock value in the announcement that the USA has discontinued the search. We would have been more surprised if they found any! Gordon Jackson, Nanaimo, Canada --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----- I feel disappointed of my country for giving up the search for the WMDs. I expected this President, whom I voted for, to complete the tasks and goals that were set by his administration. In knowing that the search will be stopped is another reason that I doubt my President and his evolving administration. Jose M. Jr., Fayetteville, North Carolina --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----- I am so glad I don't live in the United States. My two sons may have gone to war, based on lies, to liberate a Country which now hates it's occupancy. Where was the USA in Uganda, Rwanda, Cambodia, Croatia, etc. Is it a coincidence that Iraq and Kuwait have oil while other Countries in trouble don't. I'm proud of Canada for seeing through this facade. Tony, Toronto, Canada --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----- Does it really matter? The validity of the WMD argument only mattered before the war: as soon as troops moved in, there was no stopping any of it anyway. It was already widely expected that no WMD would be found, and Bush long ago switched his pitch to eradicating the ' evil' of Saddam. There will be no political consequences, and there will be no humility forthcoming from the US. Sadly, what is an important fact has been reduced by circumstance to a triviality. Michael Moszczynski, Toronto, Ontario, Canada --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----- Most American's are so influenced by the corporate media machine that they really can't possibly have an objective opinion concerning anything in Iraq. The entire War is sugar coated and we rarely even see bloodshed on the Major Networks. Of course with the Bush administration's arrogance concerning the rest of the world I expect we'll get what's coming to us eventually. William Gannon, Burlington, Vermont --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----- After December 1998, when the arms inspectors were kicked out by Saddam Hussein, the world had no idea what weapons he had. He allowed the inspectors back in only once there were a quarter of a million troops building for an invasion, by which time standing down those troops was not practicable. To have assumed that Saddam Hussein, who had invaded two of his neighbours, launched missiles at Israel, used chemical weapons extensively, and had a nuclear program, was not re-launching a WMD program in the absence of monitoring would have been extremely foolish (to put it mildly). That is the environment that Bush and Blair had to make their decisions, without the benefit of the hindsight so many are now waving in their face. Gareth Harris, Pensacola Florida --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----- Will there be a backlash? Of course not. The US invaded another sovereign nation and it will get away with it, eventually at least, because for now, its troops are paying the ultimate sacrifice for the Bush Doctrine. Lets force Christian values onto people, even when they prefer their way of life Basic, MD, USA --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----- Thousands of innocent people killed, torture of prisoners, complete disregard for human rights, state security cracking down on basic freedoms, invasion of other countries and ownership of weapons of mass destruction. I think we had better invade the US to stop this rogue state! It is sad that the United States has stooped to the level of Iraq. Robert Cox, Vancouver, Canada --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----- Shame shame shame! But let's be thankful that the US did not plant WMDs to perpetuate the lie. If not in the US administration, we can at least have faith in the US institutions. Let us see if these institutions can now find someone accountable for this costly lie. Hrishi, India --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----- Is it so terrible that Saddam is gone and Iraqis have a shot at democracy? Sure war is hell, but we've liberated millions of people from decades of tyranny and far worse brutality in every way than our regime change. Unfortunately closed minds are impossible to liberate. Geode, USA --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----- The United States and UK took the case of Iraq WMD before the UN Council with all types of falsified claims. Now after all these economic, political and social catastrophes in Iraq; Are they ready to go before the UN ones more and this time apologizing to the world for being selfish in their decision to start a war that has caused thousands of lives and economic set backs for the Iraqis? Dennis Mwaipola, Mbeya, Tanzania --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----- Every one of the letters posted that laments the loss of life in 'post Saddam Iraq' fail to mentions the loss of life during Saddam's regime. They cry for the recent dead but not the past dead. These people need to understand that Iraq is the frontline in the war against terror. It is a battle and people die like they did on September 11 and in Madrid, Bali, East Africa, and Turkey. It's a war. Kill or be killed. It's that simple. Thank Goodness W was re-elected and is willing to fight. RB Richter, Dallas, TX USA --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----- That makes the war not only illegal, but unabashedly unjustified and immoral. The United States, Great Britain and the "coalition of the willing" owe the people of Iraq an apology, war reparations, and the withdrawal of their troops. The euphemisms of "war on terror ... rebels, insurgents" are no justification for the continued killing and destruction of people who are fighting to free their country from occupiers. Ron LaFramboise, Rome, Italy --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----- It didn't take the public two years to realize there were no WMD's in Iraq, we all realized this whole war was based on lies 6 months later. What a waste of good lives for the interests of a few. Daniel, LA, California --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----- I think that the only person who was surprised at the finding (or lack there of) was the common man in the streets of America. Everyone around the world (even American leaders) knew all along that there was nothing there to find. Tito, Chicago, USA --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----- Surely, this now has to be the point when Mr Blair resigns. His justification to the British people for the invasion of Iraq was to disarm Saddam of his weaponry. He said nothing about regime change being policy. No, it was the weapons and the terrible threat they posed to the British people. Trevor Smith, Bakewell --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----- No, it does not change my view of the war. Note that Mr Duelfer stated that stockpiles did not exist at the time of the invasion. Saddam had months leading up to the invasion to plan for weapons to be hidden or transported out of the country. The borders are not now and were not then sealed. Brian, Tokyo, Japan --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----- What a colossal waste of time, lives, and money. Now, more people have been killed in Iraq (mostly Iraqis) than would have been had Saddam possessed and used WMDs. And to think people re-elected Bush too...tragic. J Roberts, La Mirada, USA
...
"Michilín" <mich...@shaw.ca> wrote in message news:41e5f078.13516485@news... > The United States has stopped searching for weapons of mass > destruction in Iraq, according to Intelligence officials. They say the > chief US investigator, Charles Duelfer, is not planning to return to > the country. In a previous report, Mr Duelfer said there had been no > stockpiles of chemical or biological weapons at the time of the US-led > invasion.
> A selection from those who wrote to comment on the WMD fiasco. > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------
> The following comments reflect the balance of opinion received so far.
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------ > Three little words: France was right. > Michael, Nieul-sur-mer, France > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------ > After so much talk of WMDs, could Mssrs Bush and Blair now please > publicly acknowledge that their arguments for invading Iraq were based > on wrong evidence? > Andrea Krug, London, UK > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------ > I am sick and tired of America bashing. Who came to the aid of Europe > when they needed it most, twice I might add. Who has done more to > promote democracy and peace in the world. Where was Europe and the > world to protest Saddam's brutal regime? It is always easy to look in > the mirror. In a 9/11 world you have to react and not wait for > something to tragic to happen before it is too late. I have no doubt > that Saddam was posturing and had to be dealt with. > Matt, Cambridge Ma, USA > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------ > If Clinton can be impeached for lying about sex shouldn't Bush stand > trial for lying about WMD? > Manish, California > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------ > The whole world has been coming to the conclusion that there were no > WMD. It took some longer than others to reach this point and some > never did think there was any. The bottom line is that there is no > shock value in the announcement that the USA has discontinued the > search. We would have been more surprised if they found any! > Gordon Jackson, Nanaimo, Canada > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------ > I feel disappointed of my country for giving up the search for the > WMDs. I expected this President, whom I voted for, to complete the > tasks and goals that were set by his administration. In knowing that > the search will be stopped is another reason that I doubt my President > and his evolving administration. > Jose M. Jr., Fayetteville, North Carolina > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------ > I am so glad I don't live in the United States. My two sons may have > gone to war, based on lies, to liberate a Country which now hates it's > occupancy. Where was the USA in Uganda, Rwanda, Cambodia, Croatia, > etc. Is it a coincidence that Iraq and Kuwait have oil while other > Countries in trouble don't. I'm proud of Canada for seeing through > this facade. > Tony, Toronto, Canada > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------ > Does it really matter? The validity of the WMD argument only mattered > before the war: as soon as troops moved in, there was no stopping any > of it anyway. It was already widely expected that no WMD would be > found, and Bush long ago switched his pitch to eradicating the ' evil' > of Saddam. There will be no political consequences, and there will be > no humility forthcoming from the US. Sadly, what is an important fact > has been reduced by circumstance to a triviality. > Michael Moszczynski, Toronto, Ontario, Canada > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------ > Most American's are so influenced by the corporate media machine that > they really can't possibly have an objective opinion concerning > anything in Iraq. The entire War is sugar coated and we rarely even > see bloodshed on the Major Networks. Of course with the Bush > administration's arrogance concerning the rest of the world I expect > we'll get what's coming to us eventually. > William Gannon, Burlington, Vermont > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------ > After December 1998, when the arms inspectors were kicked out by > Saddam Hussein, the world had no idea what weapons he had. He allowed > the inspectors back in only once there were a quarter of a million > troops building for an invasion, by which time standing down those > troops was not practicable. To have assumed that Saddam Hussein, who > had invaded two of his neighbours, launched missiles at Israel, used > chemical weapons extensively, and had a nuclear program, was not > re-launching a WMD program in the absence of monitoring would have > been extremely foolish (to put it mildly). That is the environment > that Bush and Blair had to make their decisions, without the benefit > of the hindsight so many are now waving in their face. > Gareth Harris, Pensacola Florida > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------ > Will there be a backlash? Of course not. The US invaded another > sovereign nation and it will get away with it, eventually at least, > because for now, its troops are paying the ultimate sacrifice for the > Bush Doctrine. Lets force Christian values onto people, even when they > prefer their way of life > Basic, MD, USA > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------ > Thousands of innocent people killed, torture of prisoners, complete > disregard for human rights, state security cracking down on basic > freedoms, invasion of other countries and ownership of weapons of mass > destruction. I think we had better invade the US to stop this rogue > state! It is sad that the United States has stooped to the level of > Iraq. > Robert Cox, Vancouver, Canada > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------ > Shame shame shame! But let's be thankful that the US did not plant > WMDs to perpetuate the lie. If not in the US administration, we can at > least have faith in the US institutions. Let us see if these > institutions can now find someone accountable for this costly lie. > Hrishi, India > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------ > Is it so terrible that Saddam is gone and Iraqis have a shot at > democracy? Sure war is hell, but we've liberated millions of people > from decades of tyranny and far worse brutality in every way than our > regime change. Unfortunately closed minds are impossible to liberate. > Geode, USA > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------ > The United States and UK took the case of Iraq WMD before the UN > Council with all types of falsified claims. Now after all these > economic, political and social catastrophes in Iraq; Are they ready to > go before the UN ones more and this time apologizing to the world for > being selfish in their decision to start a war that has caused > thousands of lives and economic set backs for the Iraqis? > Dennis Mwaipola, Mbeya, Tanzania > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------ > Every one of the letters posted that laments the loss of life in 'post > Saddam Iraq' fail to mentions the loss of life during Saddam's regime. > They cry for the recent dead but not the past dead. These people need > to understand that Iraq is the frontline in the war against terror. It > is a battle and people die like they did on September 11 and in > Madrid, Bali, East Africa, and Turkey. It's a war. Kill or be killed. > It's that simple. Thank Goodness W was re-elected and is willing to > fight. > RB Richter, Dallas, TX USA > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------ > That makes the war not only illegal, but unabashedly unjustified and > immoral. The United States, Great Britain and the "coalition of the > willing" owe the people of Iraq an apology, war reparations, and the > withdrawal of their troops. The euphemisms of "war on terror ... > rebels, insurgents" are no justification for the continued killing and > destruction of people who are fighting to free their country from > occupiers. > Ron LaFramboise, Rome, Italy > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------ > It didn't take the public two years to realize there were no WMD's in > Iraq, we all realized this whole war was based on lies 6 months later. > What a waste of good lives for the interests of a few. > Daniel, LA, California > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------ > I think that the only person who was surprised at the finding (or lack > there of) was the common man in the streets of America. Everyone > around the world (even American leaders) knew all along that there was > nothing there to find. > Tito, Chicago, USA > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------ > Surely, this now has to be the point when Mr Blair resigns. His > justification to the British people for the invasion of Iraq was to > disarm Saddam of his weaponry. He said nothing about regime change > being policy. No, it was the weapons and the terrible threat they > posed to the British people. > Trevor Smith, Bakewell > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------ > No, it does not change my view of the war. Note that Mr Duelfer stated > that stockpiles did not exist at the time of the invasion. Saddam had > months leading up to the invasion to plan for weapons to be hidden or > transported
Discussion subject changed to "The Best Rice Pudding In The World (was Re: WMD dearch abandoned. WMDs: O. Dead civilians:17,500. Dead Brits: 53. Dead US 1,405)" by Helen Ramsay
Short-grain Arborio rice is essential for the texture and taste of this pudding. It's terrific, and not at all what you've been used to. Ordinary rice or converted rice just won't work. JB (James Beard)
Uh huh. So, I suppose you are planning on buying some resort investment property in this liberated, pacified and undervalued locale? I hear its a bargain and a sound investment. Condos, shops, fine restaurants are on the way.
Discussion subject changed to "Business ops (was Re: WMD dearch abandoned. WMDs: O. Dead civilians:17,500. Dead Brits: 53. Dead US 1,405)" by Helen Ramsay
> Uh huh. So, I suppose you are planning on buying some > resort investment property in this liberated, pacified and > undervalued locale? I hear its a bargain and a sound investment. > Condos, shops, fine restaurants are on the way.
Ah, but do they need good photographers or wedding specialists? :)
Discussion subject changed to "The Best Rice Pudding In The World (was Re: WMD dearch abandoned. WMDs: O. Dead civilians:17,500. Dead Brits: 53. Dead US 1,405)" by MacRobert
>Short-grain Arborio rice is essential for the texture and taste of this >pudding. It's terrific, and not at all what you've been used to. Ordinary >rice or converted rice just won't work. JB (James Beard)
