Arthur Frank writes:

>>> Ken Hirsch <[log in to unmask]> 02/11/03 08:24AM >>>
>> The U.S. never gave or sold any weapons to Saddam.

> I've heard this claim more than once.  I've read otherwise:
> http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A52241-2002Dec29.html
> http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=15&ItemID=2766
> http://www.counterpunch.org/boles1010.html

The facts have been known since the early 1990s.  Iraq bought billions and
billions of dollars worth of SOVIET and FRENCH arms, and a few from other
countries such as South Africa.   Iraq bought "dual use" items from several
western firms, mostly German, but also American, French, British, Dutch,
etc.

No matter how often the lie is repeated that America "armed Iraq" it still
isn't true.

But exactly what is the point of this, anyway?  One might think that it
would cast some doubt on the motives of the French, the Germans, and the
Russians in their current opposition to war, but no, apparently it somehow
reflects badly only on the U.S.  I don't get it.  Please explain it to me.

Does it have any relevance to these questions:
   Does Iraq have chemical, biological, or nuclear weapons?
   Is Iraq trying to buy or develop chemical, biological, or nuclear
weapons?
   Is Iraq likely to use chemical, biological, or nuclear weapons?
   Is Iraq aiding anti-U.S. terrorists?  Is it likely to do so in the
future?

I don't see the relevance.  Please explain it to me.

Maybe the idea is that Saddam is "all our fault" so... so what?  Even if it
were true, which it isn't, are we just supposed to live with it?  With Osama
bin Laden, there is some slight truth to his being our creation, even if it
is an exaggeration.  The fact that he declared war against the U.S. even
though we helped him in the past just makes me want to strangle the
traitorous bastard even more.

For the record, I think our going to war against Iraq now is a bad idea.  I
think the risks of invading Iraq are greater than the risks of containment.
But just barely.  Of course Saddam still has weapons of mass destruction.
Does anybody here want to bet they won't be found after the U.S. invades?

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