Iraq War - propaganda versus truth

Propaganda: Liberals say Bush lied to the American people about Iraq having Weapons of Mass Destruction.

Truth:  We know Saddam had WMDs, because he used them against Iran in the 1980s Iran-Iraq war. He also used them against his own people. The whole world new Saddam was working on nuclear and biological weapons. This is not in dispute.  Because of Saddam's willingness to use WMDs, Israel destroyed Iraq's French built nuclear reactor in June, 1981. Despite this setback, Iraq continued research in nuclear, biological and chemical weapons right up to the Gulf War of 1991.

During the Gulf War, we destroyed a lot of Saddam's WMD program. In April 1991, as part of the permanent cease-fire agreement ending the War, the UN Security Council ordered Iraq to eliminate under international supervision its biological, chemical, and nuclear weapons programs, as well as its ballistic missiles with ranges greater than 150 kilometers. The Security Council declared that economic sanctions imposed in 1990 on Iraq after its invasion of Kuwait would remain in place until Baghdad had fully complied with the Security Council's requirements.

Baghdad agreed to these conditions but for eight years deceived, obstructed, and threatened international inspectors sent to dismantle and verify the destruction of its banned programs. This obstruction started almost immediately, when Baghdad lied about the status of its programs in its initial declarations and obstructed an inspection team. Finally, in late 1998, the inspectors withdrew from Iraq just hours before the US and Britain launched three days of military strikes against Iraq for its noncooperation. 

Shortly after leaving Iraq in 1998, weapons inspectors of the UN Special Commission (UNSCOM), and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) described their work as unfinished. For example, Iraq had failed to account for thousands of chemical warheads that it claimed, without any proof, to have used, lost, or unilaterally destroyed.

Sanctions against Iraq began unraveling steadily since 1998. "In the 4 years since the inspectors, intelligence reports show that Saddam Hussein has worked to rebuild his chemical and biological weapons stock, his missile delivery capability, and his nuclear program. He has also given aid, comfort, and sanctuary to terrorists, including al-Qaida members, though there is apparently no evidence of his involvement in the terrible events of September 11, 2001. It is clear, however, that if left unchecked, Saddam Hussein will continue to increase his capability to wage biological and chemical warfare and will keep trying to develop nuclear weapons. Should he succeed in that endeavor, he could alter the political and security landscape of the Middle East which, as we know all too well, affects American security. This much is undisputed."(2) Sen. Hillary Clinton, Oct 10, 2002

So was there a legitimate reason to believe Iraq still had WMDs prior to the US invasion on 2003. Every country in the world, without exception, believed Saddam still had WMDs hidden somewhere in Iraq. So this was not some conspiracy by Bush to deceive the American people.

Prior to 2003, Egypt and Jordon, two Arab countries, both said Iraq had WMDs.  Russia - Iraq’s chief arms supplier for decades strongly stated that Iraq had WMDs. To assume that Iraq no longer had these weapons would have been the height of irresponsibility.   There is also the possibility that Iraq destroyed their weapons before the start of the war or sent them to Syria. We know for a fact that Iraq was hard at work on WMDs prior to the Gulf War of 1991. Without absolute knowledge that Iraq’s WMDs were destroyed, it was prudent to assume that Saddam still had them.  

Propaganda: Liberal democrats says Bush’s actions are responsible for our bad standing in the Muslim world.  

Truth:  Moslems hated the US long before before George W. Bush ever became President.  The US acted on behalf of Moslems on 2 separate occasions.  The US armed Moslem fighters in Afghanistan in the 1980s in their successful fight against the Soviet army.  The US went to war in what used to be Yugoslavia in the mid 1990s to keep the Moslem people from being destroyed.  The US should be loved and admired in the Moslem world.  The truth is Moslems hate us because their religion teaches them to hate the “Infidels” - non-Moslems.  Moslems have a long history of aggression and mass-murder against non-Moslems.

Propaganda: Liberals says the US rushed to war with Iraq without exhausting all diplomatic efforts.

Truth: Diplomatic efforts with Saddam would have gone on forever and NEVER succeeded.  It should be obvious to everyone that Saddam would never negotiate in good faith and military force was the only real option.  Saddam was a living WMD.  The world is a far safer place without Saddam.  Iraq is no longer a terrorist state.

Propaganda: Liberals say sanctions against Iraq were responsible for killing thousands of children.

Truth:  The food for oil program allowed Iraq to earn more then enough money to take care of everyone in Iraq.  But Saddam spent all this money on himself, his palaces and his military.  Saddam is 100% responsible for the deaths of any children in Iraq.

Propaganda: Liberals says there is no link between Saddam and 9/11.

Truth:  NO ONE can prove that Saddam was not linked to Bin Laden or 9/11 in some way.  It was known Saddam supported world terrorism. Dozens of wanted international terrorists were living in Iraq under protection by Saddam. All of these terrorist organizations and terrorists states are linked and cooperate and help each other out. They all have the same mindset and goals.