Iraq War When the Wrong Path Was Taken and What to Do Now

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By Steven Leser (about the author) Page 1 of 3 page(s)

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For OpEdNews: Steven Leser - Writer

I spend a lot of time listening to people talk about Iraq. When I say people, I mean people on the left in the various Blogs and forums out there, in local Democratic club meetings, etc. I also spend a fair amount of time reading threads on Free Republic on the subject and other right leaning forums. I watch politicians and pundits of all stripes on the news and the political talk shows. There is so much incorrect information on Iraq that passes for news or talking points on both sides of the ideological aisle. No wonder we have made so many mistakes.

Other than the lies that the administration told linking Iraq and Hussein to Al-Qaeda and 9/11, the administration's policy toward Iraq, and Democratic support thereof was correct right up until March 7, 2003. The prevailing wisdom up until that time was that there was good reason to fear that Iraq may have had Weapons of Mass Destruction.

The Clinton administration believed that Iraq had them. The UN and its Weapons inspectors suspected the same and were eager to get into the country to check. Iraq had agreed to various resolutions that indicated it must destroy its weapons of mass destruction and it had to agree not to resume production of WMD as well as to agree to independent verification by the appropriate UN groups.

For a number of years, Saddam Hussein had not been allowing UN Weapons Inspectors into the country to do their jobs. One of the two events that reversed that was the Iraq War Resolution http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/10/20021002-2.html passed by congress on October 2, 2002. Among other things, the Resolution said:

SEC. 2. SUPPORT FOR UNITED STATES DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS

The Congress of the United States supports the efforts by the President to-

(a) strictly enforce through the United Nations Security Council all relevant Security Council resolutions applicable to Iraq and encourages him in those efforts; and

(b) obtain prompt and decisive action by the Security Council to ensure that Iraq abandons its strategy of delay, evasion and noncompliance and promptly and strictly complies with all relevant Security Council resolutions.
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In addition to this join congressional resolution, the UN Security Council passed Resolution 1441 on November 8, 2002 whose intent was to give Iraq one last chance to come clean on its WMD programs.

Faced with the US Congressional and UN Security Council Resolutions, Iraq relented and allowed UN Weapons Inspectors back into the country on November 13, 2002.

Several reports were submitted by Hans Blix and Mohamed El Baradei, the two heads of the UN Weapons Inspector teams culminating in their final reports on March 7, 2003. Hans Blix' report which can be seen at http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/03/07/sprj.irq.un.transcript.blix/ and El Baradei's report can be seen here http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/03/07/sprj.irq.un.transcript.elbaradei/ . Anyone intending to have a good understanding of the events that led to the Iraq war and also intending to know who may have made mistakes or acted inappropriately should read the entirety of these reports.

On their findings, El Baradei's report was unequivocal as this part makes clear:

At this stage, the following can be stated:

One, there is no indication of resumed nuclear activities in those buildings that were identified through the use of satellite imagery as being reconstructed or newly erected since 1998, nor any indication of nuclear-related prohibited activities at any inspected sites.

Second, there is no indication that Iraq has attempted to import uranium since 1990.

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An OEN Editor, Steven Leser specializes in Politics, Science & Health, and Entertainment topics. He has held positions within the Democratic Party including District Chair and Public Relations Chair within county organizations. Steven Leser (more...)

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