WMD dearch abandoned. WMDs: O. Dead civilians:17,500. Dead Brits: 53. Dead US 1,405
Michilín
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
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I just find the whole sordid affair hilarious, in a sad way. Bush
refused to be patient with the UN weapons inspectors. Then he begged
the world to be patient with him so his claims of WMDs could be
proven. And now Bush's claims are shown to have been nothing but a
sham. I continue to be ashamed of this President.
Andy Burke, Branchburg, NJ
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What was coming has finally happened. They have admitted it. Now
please clean up the mess you have created in Iraq.
Cheta Nwanze, Abuja, Nigeria
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Do you mean they were still looking?
Gustavo Silva, Saint Etienne France
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Iran and North Korea are both breathing a little easier thanks to Bush
and Blair's botching of the Iraq WMD affair. Let's face it, the next
time America stands up to warn of another dangerous WMD arsenal in the
hands of a madman, it will be much more difficult to appear credible
in the eyes of the international community. Bush's rush to war based
on the false WMD claim has further eroded Americas credibility in an
era in which needs as much international support as it can get.
Jason Dimmell, Ottawa Canada
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This should be no surprise to anyone. It is about time this
administration gives up the charade. I am happy to know that the
resources that were being used for the search can now be used for
reconstruction and other worthwhile projects.
Tony Angelo, Anchorage, Alaska, USA
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
There no justification of war and the killing of all these poor
soldiers from both sides and the civilians as well. Is it possible now
to charge George Bush with war criminal acts because of his actions?
Naba Tangan, Tampa, Florida, USA
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Because they didn't find them does not necessarily mean they were not
there...
Dan, US
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Something we knew all along, what is the worst of all, there seems to
be little public outrage about the announcement. Maybe that's because
all along we knew it was a ruse, and red states still don't seem to
care.
David, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Is this really news? The fact that Iraq had no WMD has been pretty
obvious for a long time. Unfortunately I do not see any political
fallout from this. One only needs to look at our election to see that
invading countries on false pretences had no negative impact on Bush's
ability to win the election.
Eric Ross, Oregon, USA
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
And what will happen to those who commissioned this search, wasting
our time, money and human life? Not a thing. I wonder how their
conscious works.
William J. McKinstry, Quakertown, PA, USA
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No surprise. There is no way the US can leave Iraq now because after
this occupation, "revenge" will take hold - as is the custom there -
and instead of al-Qaeda the US will have to worry about "al-Iraq".
Thanks to Bush and his Neocons, we are now more insecure over the long
run.
Hasan Hussein, Cincinnati, USA
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
There is only one thing more disturbing than this unnecessary war: the
culprits, the leaders of the various governments responsible for this
war, will get away with it completely unscathed. Justice will never be
done for all of the soldiers and Iraqi civilians who lost their lives
needlessly.
Ryan Healy, Tucson, Arizona
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We told you so!
Jake Earnshaw, Victoria BC, Canada
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I am not surprised. The Bush administration's words never said
anything about having proof, only vague generalities and "maybes"
Bill, Birmingham, Michigan, USA
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It was a mistake to ever make the war about WMDs. If they had them,
they could have gotten rid of them. And if they didn't have them, then
you just invaded a country on false pretence. I do believe that Saddam
had to be dealt with in some way, but the failed strategy and Bush's
inability to ever employ diplomacy suggests that perhaps he was not
the man for the job. It's just too bad that our other choice lacked
the spine it takes to stand by your convictions.
Jeff Stein, Purchase, NY, USA
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Michilín
d@ve
"Michilín" <mic...@shaw.ca> wrote in message news:41e5f078.13516485@news...
Helen Ramsay
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)
1/3 cup Arborio (short-grain Italian) rice
2 cups milk
3 Tbsp granulated sugar
3 Tbsp butter
Grated rind of 1 lemon
1 Tsp cinnamon
Preheat the oven to 250F (120C)
Mix the rice, milk, sugar, butter and lemon rind together in a bowl and
pour the mixture into a greased 2 quart baking dish.
Bake for 2 hours.
Sprinkle with the cinnamon and serve hot or cold.
Serves 4
My Mother always made rice pudding in an ashet :)
--
Cheers, Helen
hramsay at cogeco dot ca
Frank Thomas
"d@ve" <d...@vedundee.com> wrote in message
news:3EmFd.118296$48.6...@fe1.news.blueyonder.co.uk...
> OK but Falluja has been Liberated.
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.
Helen Ramsay
> "d@ve" <d...@vedundee.com> wrote
>
> > OK but Falluja has been Liberated.
>
> 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? :)
MacRobert
<h...@AwaAnBileYirHeid.com> paused to reflect but wrote anyway:
"You call 'shaddup frog!' a HINT?"
kermit