It is always nice to discuss things with you, as you keep everything civil
and that makes it easy to answer and continue the dialog.  You are a true
gentleman.

You ask a good question, why now?  In 1991,Colin Powell, then chairman of
the joint chiefs of staff and now secretary of state, decided that the goals
of operation Desert Storm had been reached.  He told Bush 41 that we needed
to stop now.  The mandate of the UN resolution had been fulfilled.  Saddam's
capture or the destruction of Iraq was not mandated by the UN.  Also, in
those days, Saddam provided a balance to Iran, another rogue state.  Bush
agreed and the war was stopped.  In return for the cease fire and his
remaining in power in Iraq, Saddam agreed to disarm, and to let inspectors
into his country to prove compliance.  That was mistake number 1.  Saddam
lies all the time, we knew that, but we left him there.

When Bush 41 lost the election in 1992, Saddam was safe for the next 4 and
then 8 years.  Clinton talked big and bombed a lot all over the world,
especially small, inconsequential countries, but there was no way he would
bother Saddam for real.  However, in the fall of 1998, there was point where
Saddam wanted the inspectors out of his country. The whole thing cam to a
head and everybody talked big, but nothing happened.  Saddam won, the
inspectors left.

I have a link here to a page that shows the positions in 1998 of the
countries that interest us.  Astonishing the change between 1998 and now.

http://cns.miis.edu/research/iraq/reac1298.htm

The only main difference is that Clinton was president then and Bush is
president now.  In 1998, Gerhard and Chretien and others could talk big
because they knew that Clinton would never do anything.  Now, they know Bush
does what he says he is going to do.

So let me turn the question back to you.  If in 1998 France, Germany and
others knew and believed that Saddam had WMD and was going to use them, what
makes them think Saddam got religion since and got rid of everything he had
spontaneously?  Isn't that a bit disingenuous?

You can and should read the full text of 1441 here:
http://www.bigjweb.com/michnews/2002111386437788text_of_un_security_council_
reso.asp

Just so you know, I became an American citizen in 1996.  I am Canadian by
birth, American by choice and Texan by the grace of God.  :)

Denys

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