# WMD's destroyed ten years ago, and more bad poll results for Bush on Iraq requests **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 17, 2003, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wmds-destroyed-ten-years-ago-and-more-bad-poll-results-for-bush-on-iraq-requests/202203 "2003-09-17T19:27:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![elf6c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c57346/32.png) [@elf6c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elf6c)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wmds-destroyed-ten-years-ago-and-more-bad-poll-results-for-bush-on-iraq-requests/202203/1 "2003-09-17T19:27:48Z")
Why exactly are we in this 87 Billion dollar a year disaster? What is the revisionist history dejure? > [@](#): > > SYDNEY (Reuters) - Former U.N. chief weapons inspector Hans Blix now believes Iraq (news - web sites) destroyed its weapons of mass destruction 10 years ago and that intelligence agencies were wrong in their weapons assessment that led to war. > > . . . > > In 1991, the United Nations (news - web sites)’ International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) found what it called a secret nuclear weapons program in Iraq. It spent the next seven years dismantling Baghdad’s nuclear capability, until its inspectors were thrown out of Iraq. > > Before ordering the invasion that toppled President Saddam Hussein (news - web sites), President Bush (news - web sites) referred to an imminent threat posed by Iraqi weapons of mass destruction as a prime justification for war. > > “In the beginning they talked about weapons concretely, and later on they talked about weapons programs…maybe they’ll find some documents of interest,” Blix said. [http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=574&e=23&u=/nm/20030917/wl\_nm/iraq\_weapons\_blix\_dc\_3](http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=574&e=23&u=/nm/20030917/wl_nm/iraq_weapons_blix_dc_3) 5+ months and no WMD’s, no WMD programs, nothing. And there seems to be more “terrorists” in Iraq now then before. Nicely done Curious George. And Afganistan is going peachy too. 6 in 10 Americans call shenanigans on the latest Bush p.r. attempt: > [@](#): > > A majority of Americans disapprove of President Bush’s request to Congress for an additional $87 billion to fund military and reconstruction efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan over the next year, amid growing doubts about the administration’s policies at home and abroad, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll. > > Six in 10 Americans said they do not support the proposal, which the president announced in his nationally televised address last Sunday night. That marks the most significant public rejection of a Bush initiative on national security or terrorism since the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. > > In a second rebuff to the administration, more Americans said that, if Congress decides to approve the additional money, lawmakers should roll back the president’s tax cuts to pay for the increased spending, rather than add to the federal budget deficit or cut government spending. [http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1802&ncid=1802&e=10&u=/washpost/20030914/ts\_washpost/a7030\_2003sep13](http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1802&ncid=1802&e=10&u=/washpost/20030914/ts_washpost/a7030_2003sep13) More failed spin doctoring: > [@](#): > > At the same time, a 55 percent majority doubts Bush has a clear plan about what to do in Iraq, and more than eight in 10 – 85 percent – now fear the United States will get bogged down in a long and costly peacekeeping effort there, up from 76 percent in less than three weeks. And when real life mimicks the Onion. > [@](#): > > President Bush (news - web sites) paused in his Labor Day remarks about jobs and told his audience of union members, “I want you to think back to that fateful day, September the 11th, and what happened afterwards.” > > Usually his reminder is more subtle, but Bush is invoking the terrorist hijackings frequently as he ramps up his reelection campaign and tries to defuse the political risk posed by persistent joblessness, setbacks in Iraq (news - web sites) and accusations that he exaggerated evidence on the road to war. > > In the past six weeks, Bush has cited “9/11” or Sept. 11, 2001, in arguing for his energy policy and in response to questions about campaign fundraising, tax cuts, unemployment, the deficit, airport security, Afghanistan (news - web sites) and the length, cost and death toll of the Iraq occupation. [http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1802&ncid=1802&e=18&u=/washpost/20030911/ts\_washpost/a57456\_2003sep10](http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1802&ncid=1802&e=18&u=/washpost/20030911/ts_washpost/a57456_2003sep10) Of course the difference between me and George is that I was within a few thousand yards of the White House on 9/11, and I bothered to finish my term of military service. Bring them on indeed. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wmds-destroyed-ten-years-ago-and-more-bad-poll-results-for-bush-on-iraq-requests/202203/2 "2003-09-17T19:36:15Z")
Clark on '04! That is all. ---
**Author:** ![Bruce\_Daddy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@Bruce\_Daddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bruce_Daddy)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wmds-destroyed-ten-years-ago-and-more-bad-poll-results-for-bush-on-iraq-requests/202203/3 "2003-09-17T19:47:42Z")
Can we consolidate all the “Bush is a poopypants” threads into one? The hamsters would be _so_ happy. ---
**Author:** ![Binarydrone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3da27b/32.png) [@Binarydrone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Binarydrone)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wmds-destroyed-ten-years-ago-and-more-bad-poll-results-for-bush-on-iraq-requests/202203/4 "2003-09-17T19:57:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bruce\_Daddy \* > \*\*Can we consolidate all the “Bush is a poopypants” threads into one? The hamsters would be _so_ happy. \*\* Only if we can consolidate all of the sycophantic idiots that blindly support Bush no matter what he pulls in a thread of their own as well. ---
**Author:** ![Gadfly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/aeb1de/32.png) [@Gadfly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gadfly)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wmds-destroyed-ten-years-ago-and-more-bad-poll-results-for-bush-on-iraq-requests/202203/5 "2003-09-17T19:58:53Z")
I give it a nine. Lots of cites, with effective, minimalist commentary. Nice job. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wmds-destroyed-ten-years-ago-and-more-bad-poll-results-for-bush-on-iraq-requests/202203/6 "2003-09-17T20:01:09Z")
If indeed all had been destroyed then Hussein not letting the inspectors back in with the threat of devestating war looming was one of the dumbest miscalculations of all time, shortly ahead of his “Mother of all battles” boast. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wmds-destroyed-ten-years-ago-and-more-bad-poll-results-for-bush-on-iraq-requests/202203/7 "2003-09-17T20:03:37Z")
Well, not to belabor the obvious, but Blix isn’t exactly in a position to call shenanigans, either. If I recall, he went before the UN Security Council and declared Saddam in material breach of UNSCR 1441. So, now Blix comes out and says that the weapons were destroyed 10 years ago, when he could have said that months before and prevented all of this? I give that one a big :rolleyes:. Talk about revisionist history. ---
**Author:** ![elf6c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c57346/32.png) [@elf6c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elf6c)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wmds-destroyed-ten-years-ago-and-more-bad-poll-results-for-bush-on-iraq-requests/202203/8 "2003-09-17T20:16:05Z")
Save your rolleyes- he had been saying that for a while, but Bush and his cronies responded with personal attacks and dimissals. Becuase they had _proof_ that Iraq had WMD’s ready to go. Oops. :rolleyes: indeed. ---
**Author:** ![lno](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a8b319/32.png) [@lno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lno)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wmds-destroyed-ten-years-ago-and-more-bad-poll-results-for-bush-on-iraq-requests/202203/9 "2003-09-17T20:17:28Z")
The whole war could have been averted if Hans Blix had said so six months ago? I didn’t know the invasion had anything to do with WMD. I thought it was all about freeing the noble Iraqi people who will greet us like liberators, and stopping the atrocities and preserving democracy and making Baghdad safe for baseball, Mom, and apple pie. Or at least, that’s what I’m being told. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wmds-destroyed-ten-years-ago-and-more-bad-poll-results-for-bush-on-iraq-requests/202203/10 "2003-09-17T20:27:40Z")
So Bush et al. made him declare Saddam in material breach of the resolution. That’s what you’re saying, right? Otherwise, you’re full of crap. If Blix knew they didn’t exist, how could he declare Saddam in material breach, since that was the substance of the resolution? He didn’t know squat, he thought they were there, and he said so to the Security Council. Now he’s playing CYA after the fact because his credibility is just as shot as Bush’s. Don’t try to blow smoke up my ass. It’s a beautiful, and obvious example of revisionist history. ---
**Author:** ![Bruce\_Daddy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@Bruce\_Daddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bruce_Daddy)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wmds-destroyed-ten-years-ago-and-more-bad-poll-results-for-bush-on-iraq-requests/202203/11 "2003-09-17T20:31:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Binarydrone \* > \*\*Only if we can consolidate all of the sycophantic idiots that blindly support Bush no matter what he pulls in a thread of their own as well. \*\* Works for me. [hijack + putting my imaginary dem/lefty hat on] Would not a better tack for the anti-Bush folk be to ask how Bush is such an idiot for not _finding_ the bad stuff instead insisting it was never there? Everybody at one point (Clinton/UN) was pretty convinced it was. Or has this been covered ad nauseum in GD and I didn’t see it? [/hijack and hat wearing] Damn it, I got pulled into GD by way of the Pit ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wmds-destroyed-ten-years-ago-and-more-bad-poll-results-for-bush-on-iraq-requests/202203/12 "2003-09-17T20:46:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by elf6c \* > Save your rolleyes- he had been saying that for a while, Can I have a cite for that one? I’d appreciate anything from Blix before the war indicating that Iraq had already destroyed their WMD. All I remember is him saying Iraq was kind of cooperating now and they hadn’t found anything yet (other than the long range missles). > [@](#): > > but Bush and his cronies responded with personal attacks and dimissals. Becuase they had _proof_ that Iraq had WMD’s ready to go. Well, obviously Bush’s ‘evidence’ was a steaming pile, don’t think some of us who supported the war aren’t pretty pissed off about that. ---
**Author:** ![Soup\_du\_jour](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@Soup\_du\_jour](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soup_du_jour)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wmds-destroyed-ten-years-ago-and-more-bad-poll-results-for-bush-on-iraq-requests/202203/13 "2003-09-17T20:54:27Z")
Saying Saddam hasn’t accounted for all of his weapons is what made Blix say he was in material breach, IiRC. He could very well have destroyed the weapons, and then proceed to not tell anyone. Yes, there are valid reasons to do this. He’s thinking of his own security. If neighboring countries knew for sure that he had disbanded the weapons, there would be a risk of invasion from Iran or Saudi Arabia, in Saddam’s mind. Thus, he might have destroyed the weapons to appease the UN, but have still kept it ambiguous enough to not compromise his own security. Deterrence, and all that. ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wmds-destroyed-ten-years-ago-and-more-bad-poll-results-for-bush-on-iraq-requests/202203/14 "2003-09-17T20:54:33Z")
He is becoming a clown and a caricature of himself. The more he mentions 9/11 for no reason the more people will get tired of it and roll their eyes. i have to say I did not expect events to catch up with him so fast and I look forward to several months of enjoyment while I watch him squirm and worry and beg. If it were not for the many people on both sides who are dead or wounded or destitute as a result of his actions, I would say it is almost worth it. Unfortunately the price is horrendous and still growing every day. I hope _he_ pays a high price for it. ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wmds-destroyed-ten-years-ago-and-more-bad-poll-results-for-bush-on-iraq-requests/202203/15 "2003-09-17T21:18:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Airman Doors, USAF \* > \*\*So Bush et al. made him declare Saddam in material breach of the resolution. That’s what you’re saying, right? Otherwise, you’re full of crap. If Blix knew they didn’t exist, how could he declare Saddam in material breach, since that was the substance of the resolution? He didn’t know squat, he thought they were there, and he said so to the Security Council. Now he’s playing CYA after the fact because his credibility is just as shot as Bush’s. > > Don’t try to blow smoke up my ass. It’s a beautiful, and obvious example of revisionist history. \*\* Here is [Hans Blix’ final report to the UN Security Council](http://www.un.org/Depts/unmovic/SC7asdelivered.htm). In no way does he declare Iraq in material breach of 1441. He says that their cooperation had been less than immediate, but that is not the same thing. He strongly urges that more time be spent on inspections, and that Iraq is showing encouraging signs of cooperation. Moreover, nowhere does he state that he believes Iraq currently had stockpiles of WMD. Of course, he had to operate on the assumption that they did – he’s _chief weapons inspector_. It’s his job to exhaust every possible lead in the time he had [sub]before being prematurely kicked out so that Bush can start his war[/sub]. The same Google search turned up an interesting [Reuters article](http://www.commondreams.org/headlines03/0623-10.htm) on Hans Blix’ comments about WMD after the war had started. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wmds-destroyed-ten-years-ago-and-more-bad-poll-results-for-bush-on-iraq-requests/202203/16 "2003-09-17T22:01:51Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by World Eater \* > \*\*Clark on '04! > > That is all. \*\* 😕 Who’s Clark? Clark Kent? [Joe Clark](http://www.joeclarkspeaker.com/biography.htm)? ---
**Author:** ![Binarydrone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3da27b/32.png) [@Binarydrone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Binarydrone)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wmds-destroyed-ten-years-ago-and-more-bad-poll-results-for-bush-on-iraq-requests/202203/17 "2003-09-17T22:36:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jeff Olsen \* > \*\*😕 > Who’s Clark? Clark Kent? [Joe Clark](http://www.joeclarkspeaker.com/biography.htm)? \*\* I’m thinking [Clark Kent](http://superman.ws/fos/thescreen/tv1/kent.gif) ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wmds-destroyed-ten-years-ago-and-more-bad-poll-results-for-bush-on-iraq-requests/202203/18 "2003-09-17T22:39:38Z")
Thinking maybe they’re setting up Cheney to take the fall. White House came out and said they had no proof that Saddam had anything to do with 9/11, in effect distancing themselves from his remarks on Sunday. Uh oh. ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wmds-destroyed-ten-years-ago-and-more-bad-poll-results-for-bush-on-iraq-requests/202203/19 "2003-09-17T22:46:07Z")
link??? ---
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wmds-destroyed-ten-years-ago-and-more-bad-poll-results-for-bush-on-iraq-requests/202203/20 "2003-09-17T22:47:06Z")
Um, wasn’t Hans Blix a part of the team that was tagging Iraqi WMDs for destruction in 1998? Wasn’t that 5 years ago? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wmds-destroyed-ten-years-ago-and-more-bad-poll-results-for-bush-on-iraq-requests/202203.md?page=2)