This was sent to me by Michael Baier, I don't know if it was
intended to be private, but if it was, I apologize for it being
posted here.  I put it here because I cannot imagine why we would
not want all to see.

Brice,

where is/was the threat to the US?
That is my problem to understand.

One minute this war is about a threat to the US.
Then about coalition with al-quaida,
then about liberating the iraqis
then about showing the moslim countries, that
democracy works

?????????????????????????????????????????????
So, what is this war about?
See reason seems to change by the minute.

.........

I have and always have maintained the reason for this was was because
Iraq was a treat to this country - but all of the reasons you have above
are reasons to depose Saddam, not just one.  I have some time now so I
will explain.

Before the Gulf War Iraq had a missile capable of reaching the US
East Coast.  He also had just enough nuclear material to make an
atom bomb.  All he lacked was the technology to make a bomb capable
of being used by that missile.  He may not have that missile or the
nuclear material now, but we cannot be sure because the inspections
have not been reliable.  This alone makes him a threat to the USA.

I cannot imagine how he has been prevented, or for that matter anyone
in the Middle East has been prevented from purchasing a Nuclear missile
from the former USSR.  That whole situation over there is an accident
waiting to happen.  Iraq appears not to have one, but it cannot be from
lack of trying.

As far as Al-Quada is concerned, all of those terrorist groups are
loosely networked together and have ties to regimes hostile to the
USA.  The fact that we found an Al-Quada training camp in Iraq is
evidence of that.  It is proof for certain Iraq supported the people
who wrecked the trade center.

Liberating the Iraqi's is a noble goal, but not enough for us to go to
war.  If in the process of deposing Saddam we liberate some oppressed
people, so much the better.

I don't know enough about the attatudes of the different factions in
Iraq to know how to make democracy work there.  Iraq is mostly still
a tribal society rather than a unified people, but if we can get
democracy to work there, so much the better.  If instead we get a
government more along the Egyptian model, OK.  Just about any kind
of government would be preferrable to the one run by Saddam.

* To join/leave the list, search archives, change list settings, *
* etc., please visit http://raven.utc.edu/archives/hp3000-l.html *