Was the Bush Admin Right About WMD’s in Iraq?

The definition of Weapons of Mass Destruction is “a chemical, biological, or radioactive weapon capable of causing widespread death and destruction.”

There are over 50 categories of WMD’s in the United States. Six of the most used are listed below:

•  WMD as nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons (NBC)
•  WMD as chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear weapons (CBRN)
•  WMD as CBRN and high explosive weapons (CBRNE)
•  WMD as CBRN weapons capable of causing mass destruction or mass
• casualties
•  WMD as weapons, including some CBRN weapons but not limited to
• CBRN, capable of causing mass destruction or mass casualties
•  WMD as weapons of mass effect capable of causing mass destruction or
• mass casualties or that cause mass disruption.

George W. Bush was honored this week when the library in his name was opened in Dallas, Texas. Of course we can always rely on the lapdog media and its biased coverage of this historic occasion.  It didn’t matter that despite their differences, the five living presidents, including Obama, stood together today in a display of unison. Instead they had to take pot shots at former President Bush for his “failures in Iraq and the weapons of mass destruction claims”.

For example, David Gregory and Matt Lauer of NBC took the opportunity to Bush bash the night before the library opening, which MRC.org discusses:

Gregory described how Iraq War intelligence failures ‘formed the backdrop to criticism that the President underestimated the challenges he faced…. And grew stubborn in the face of mounting setbacks.’ Matt Lauer was his usual NBC lackey who wondered: ‘Do you want people to look at some of the information you had, and do you think you’ll convince the people who thought that was an unjust war, the wrong war at the wrong time, that perhaps you were right?’

It is obvious that all of the liberal media outlets forgot the long list of Democrats (including Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden) who not only agreed that there were WMD’s in Iraq but that war was the proper decision.  Part of their decision was based on Saddam Hussein’s historical use of such weapons between 198-1991.

Rolf Ekéus, former United Nations Weapons Inspector, wrote in a June 29, 2003 Washington Post article titled “Iraq’s Real Weapons Threat“:

“Chemical weapons were used by Iraq in its war against Iran (1980-88). Arguably that use had a decisive effect on the outcome: It saved Iraq from being overwhelmed by a much larger Iranian army. Furthermore, Iraq made use of chemical bombs in air raids against the Kurdish civilian population in northern Iraq. Nerve gases, such as sarin, and mustard gas immediately and painfully killed many thousands of civilians. More than 100, 000 later died or were crippled by the after-effects.”

Additionally, US Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense (USAMRICD)stated in its July 2000 edition of the “Medical Management of Chemical Casualties Handbook”:

“Widely publicized reports of Iraqi use of chemical agents against Iran during the 1980s led to a United Nations investigation that confirmed the use of the vesicant mustard and the nerve agent GA [synthesized tabun, an extremely toxic organophosphate compound]. Later during the war, Iraq apparently also began to use the more volatile nerve agent GB, and Iran may have used chemical agents to a limited extent in an attempt to retaliate for Iraqi attacks. Press reports also implicated cyanide in the deaths of Kurds in the late 1980s.”

Not exactly a decision made by just one person on a whim now, is it Mr. Lauer and Mr. Gregory?

So the million-dollar question is:  Where did those weapons go once we invaded Iraq?

James Clapper, then National Intelligence advisor, reported that satellite images showing a heavy flow of traffic from Iraq to Syria “unquestionably” show that illicit weapons were moved out of Iraq. Another frequently cited believer in a Saddam smuggling effort is former Iraqi general George Sada, an adviser to the late dictator.

“They were moved by air and by ground, 56 sorties by jumbo, 747, and 27 were moved, after they were converted to cargo aircraft, they were moved to Syria,” Sada told Fox News in 2006.

That account differed from Clapper’s version, that the smuggling occurred in March of 2003, not 2002, as Sada claimed. While Sada’s story perhaps just adds more confusion to the theory, one thing is definitely clear: There was a large buildup of traffic between Syria and Iraq in March 2003.

This week Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel confirmed that intelligence reports suggest Bashar Assad used weapons of mass destruction in Syria against civilians.  Secretary of State John Kerry also confirmed that at least two incidents of chemical weapons were used as per intelligence reports.

If Assad was culpable, is this the “red line” that Obama touted would not be crossed without severe actions by the United States? The White House stressed that this was “not enough to confirm how the nerve gas was released” although it is “very likely” to have originated with the regime of Bashar Assad.  They pressed the United Nations for a “comprehensive” investigation asking the United Nations for more research.  Of course the White House urged caution, invoking the Iraq war as an example of why the administration should be absolutely certain before going forward (which apparently infuriated Senator John McCain, who feels as though Obama will look for caveats not to assist).

What will be interesting is how the lapdog media will cover this story. It is my prediction they will use the term “weapons of mass destruction” in their reporting with ease.  I will also call this further validation for President Bush, that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. They were used against thousands of innocent people by an evil dictator who met his fate when our great men of the military arrived on the scene and freed Iraqi citizens of a mass murderer. The liberals and liberal media can spin and deny all they want, but now “their guy” is sitting in the driver’s seat with this neon sign in his path. Maybe now Jay Z will see fit to wear a t-shirt celebrating Hussein since he seems to have a liberal fetish for those types?

Democrat Quotes on Iraq Weapons of Mass Destruction:

“One way or the other, we are determined to deny Iraq the capacity to develop weapons of mass destruction and the missiles to deliver them. That is our bottom line.”
–President Bill Clinton, Feb. 4, 1998

“If Saddam rejects peace and we have to use force, our purpose is clear. We want to seriously diminish the threat posed by Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction program.”
–President Bill Clinton, Feb. 17, 1998

“Iraq is a long way from [here], but what happens there matters a great deal here. For the risks that the leaders of a rogue state will use nuclear, chemical or biological weapons against us or our allies is the greatest security threat we face.”
–Madeline Albright, Feb 18, 1998

“He will use those weapons of mass destruction again, as he has ten times since 1983.”
–Sandy Berger, Clinton National Security Adviser, Feb, 18, 1998

“[W]e urge you, after consulting with Congress, and consistent with the U.S. Constitution and laws, to take necessary actions (including, if appropriate, air and missile strikes on suspect Iraqi sites) to respond effectively to the threat posed by Iraq’s refusal to end its weapons of mass destruction programs.”
Letter to President Clinton, signed by:
— Democratic Senators Carl Levin, Tom Daschle, John Kerry, and others, Oct. 9, 1998

“Saddam Hussein has been engaged in the development of weapons of mass destruction technology which is a threat to countries in the region and he has made a mockery of the weapons inspection process.”
-Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D, CA), Dec. 16, 1998

“Hussein has … chosen to spend his money on building weapons of mass destruction and palaces for his cronies.”
— Madeline Albright, Clinton Secretary of State, Nov. 10, 1999

“There is no doubt that … Saddam Hussein has reinvigorated his weapons programs. Reports indicate that biological, chemical and nuclear programs continue apace and may be back to pre-Gulf War status. In addition, Saddam continues to redefine delivery systems and is doubtless using the cover of a licit missile program to develop longer-range missiles that will threaten the United States and our allies.”
Letter to President Bush, Signed by:
— Sen. Bob Graham (D, FL), and others, Dec 5, 2001

“We begin with the common belief that Saddam Hussein is a tyrant and a threat to the peace and stability of the region. He has ignored the mandate of the United Nations and is building weapons of mass destruction and th! e means of delivering them.”
— Sen. Carl Levin (D, MI), Sept. 19, 2002

“We know that he has stored secret supplies of biological and chemical weapons throughout his country.”
— Al Gore, Sept. 23, 2002

“Iraq’s search for weapons of mass destruction has proven impossible to deter and we should assume that it will continue for as long as Saddam is in power.”
— Al Gore, Sept. 23, 2002

“We have known for many years that Saddam Hussein is seeking and developing weapons of mass destruction.”
— Sen. Ted Kennedy (D, MA), Sept. 27, 2002

“The last UN weapons inspectors left Iraq in October of 1998. We are confident that Saddam Hussein retains some stockpiles of chemical and biological weapons, and that he has since embarked on a crash course to build up his chemical and biological warfare capabilities. Intelligence reports indicate that he is seeking nuclear weapons…”
— Sen. Robert Byrd (D, WV), Oct. 3, 2002

“I will be voting to give the President of the United States the authority to use force — if necessary — to disarm Saddam Hussein because I believe that a deadly arsenal of weapons of mass destruction in his hands is a real and grave threat to our security.”
— Sen. John F. Kerry (D, MA), Oct. 9, 2002

“There is unmistakable evidence that Saddam Hussein is working aggressively to develop nuclear weapons and will likely have nuclear weapons within the next five years … We also should remember we have always underestimated the progress Saddam has made in development of weapons of mass destruction.”
— Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D, WV), Oct 10, 2002

“He has systematically violated, over the course of the past 11 years, every significant UN resolution that has demanded that he disarm and destroy his chemical and biological weapons, and any nuclear capacity. This he has refused to do”
— Rep. Henry Waxman (D, CA), Oct. 10, 2002

“In the four years since the inspectors left, 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 Qaeda members … It is clear, however, that if left unchecked, Saddam Hussein will continue to increase his capacity to wage biological and chemical warfare, and will keep trying to develop nuclear weapons.”
— Sen. Hillary Clinton (D, NY), Oct 10, 2002

“We are in possession of what I think to be compelling evidence that Saddam Hussein has, and has had for a number of years, a developing capacity for the production and storage of weapons of mass destruction.”
— Sen. Bob Graham (D, FL), Dec. 8, 2002

“Without question, we need to disarm Saddam Hussein. He is a brutal, murderous dictator, leading an oppressive regime … He presents a particularly grievous threat because he is so consistently prone to miscalculation … And now he is miscalculating America’s response to his continued deceit and his consistent grasp for weapons of mass destruction … So the threat of Saddam Hussein with weapons of mass destruction is real…”
— Sen. John F. Kerry (D, MA), Jan. 23. 2003