Iraq: 'terrorists' seize ex-chemical weapons site

joG said:

Actually, your assumption that everyone knew that the weapons had degraded was not widely held at the time and was not really logical.
It was not existential to Saddam that Iran believe he had chemical weapons. And since he would not show the destruction, though, Bush had said he would have to go, if he did not accept the resolution, it made sense to assume they were still functional. Of course Putin, Chirac and Schröder lead him to believe that Bush was talking big but held no stick, but the rick did remain, as the dictator found out.

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Simon W. Moon said:

Iraq’s Chemical Warfare Program
https://www.cia.gov/library/reports/general-reports-1/iraq_wmd_2004/chap5.html

While a small number of old, abandoned chemical munitions have been discovered, ISG judges that Iraq unilaterally destroyed its undeclared chemical weapons stockpile in 1991.
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Boo Radley said:

To our detriment.

As for belief, Iraq's infrastructure was devastated. There was every likelihood that the weapons were degraded. Nearly everything Bush said was getting push back from experts outside the administration. That's what caused me to doubt him before we invaded.

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joG said:

The link that Simon W. Moon connected right below your entry is interesting in respect to our little debate.

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Boo Radley said:

Check with Powell. He claims he was deceived.

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WCH said:

I suspect you were deceived.

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