You really should read this thread:
http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=172697
to see why it won’t change Arab opinion of the US whether weapons are found or not.
Pay particular attention to the Baghdad resident who remarks (on seeing the massive effects of US bombing) something like 'why are these guys searching for weapons of mass destruction?" :rolleyes:
As for your possible strategies:
- Apologize, and give Bush and Blair credit for doing the right thing, even in the face of their opposition.
Why would we need to apologise? Surely you don’t think the anti-war movement is all about not expecting to find WOMD? Did you ever think some of us care about civilians (and friendly fire)?
Why didn’t Bush + Blair get a second UN resolution?
How much resentment is Bush causing all around the world? Would you describe him as a master diplomat?
Why is the US making alliances with countries that don’t respect human rights? Didn’t they learn from promoting Sadam as the ‘answer’ to Iran?
- Allege that the WMD could have been eliminated without military action.
As indeed they were being.
I accept that the threat of invasion helped enforce the weapons inspection.
But why did the US go in, just when the inspectors were making progress?
- Deny that the WMD finds are genuine.
Truth is the first casualty of war.
I personally don’t think Bush would plant WOMD.
But since he went in without the UN, how will he defend himself from this accusation?
Do you think terrorist groups (and hostile Governments) will be able to persuade their followers easily enough?
- Deny that the WMD finds are significant.
Well we know the US (and others) sold Sadam this stuff.
Of course he hasn’t used it for over a decade, and the weapons inspectors were making progress…
5. Explain that we knew about the WMD all the time, so finding them is old news.
See above.
- Change the subject; explain that Bush is an evil fascist for some other reason.
I think Bush has squandered the natural world-wide sympathy for the US after the 9/11 atrocity.
When Bush offers Turkey billions of dollars ** and they turn him down**, you just know something is wrong.
When polls all over the world say Bush should have got a second UN resolution, you know something is wrong.
Do you really think this was a timely decision?