This is a very interesting discussion. It would also be very entertaining if it were not about such a serious topic.
Having worked around the world for much of my life, I have long since realized that history depends upon who is writing it. The truth is often such a complex subject that various parties may interpret it in many ways depending upon their geographical position and political ideologies.
Saddam has been trying to build WMDs for years. The Israelis took out his atomic bomb facility years ago. His forays into bio-weapons are well documented as commented upon earlier in this thread. There is absolutely no question regarding his intentions although there may be dispute upon just what he has on hand and his ability to deliver it at this time. That is one of the reasons that time is of the essence in order than he does not get to the point that he has both quantity and quality of delivery systems.
There is no question that Iraq provides both safe harbor and financial assistance to terrorists around the world. Does it matter if it is 25 million or 250 million?
I think there is only one important discussion at hand at the moment. That is how we neutralize the man. Do we send a couple hundred thousand men in, or do we give one guy a $12.50 .50 cal round and matching sniper rifle (or something in between)
I do find it sad that some that live in this country have such a poor grasp of the history, as it is written, of the events of the past 90 years.
Being older, and having a young son, I hate to see men and women sent off to war to eliminate the world of a pennyante tyrant that rules his own country by fear. I agree with whomever pointed out that he would not last long if his populace slept with AK-47s under the pillow.
In spite of all that, there may be no other way to exterminate him other than invasion.
Being the arrogant, inbred farmer that I have become, I admit to sleeping with a .45 under the next pillow along with a large percentage of the hicks in this town. If he shows up around here, I doubt that he will take root. Oh, the large percentage of hicks around here don't sleep under my pillow...and most of them don't want a war, but, most of them would be happy to take him out because we understand vermin and varmits....