The UN, US and Iraq IV

I most respectfully must point out that it is possible that President Bush is wasting American money and British money by utilizing such a large force for security.

Two members of the Pentagon's Defense Intelligence Agency involved in questioning scientists in custody told AP the Iraqis continue to deny the existence of illicit weapons programs in Iraq. Dozens of Iraqi scientists have been questioned and less than 30 remain in custody. All of them, including senior members of Saddam's regime, have been subjected to lie-detector tests, which have come up clean on weapons questioning, the DIA officers said.

Study: No sign Saddam transferred WMD

Nov. 16, 2003 | WASHINGTON (AP) -- A new study by an independent military and intelligence expert who toured Iraq recently found no evidence that Saddam Hussein tried to transfer weapons of mass destruction to terrorists.

Anthony Cordesman, a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, met with top U.S. officials in Iraq, including David Kay, the CIA representative leading the search for chemical, biological and other unconventional weapons...

"No evidence of any Iraqi effort to transfer weapons of mass destruction technology or weapons to terrorists. Only possibility was Saddam's Fedayeen, and talk only," Cordesman wrote of his briefing with Kay. The Fedayeen is the deposed leader's former paramilitary force.

Quote:

Study: No sign Saddam transferred WMD

Nov. 16, 2003 | WASHINGTON (AP) -- A new study by an independent military and intelligence expert who toured Iraq recently found no evidence that Saddam Hussein tried to transfer weapons of mass destruction to terrorists.

Anthony Cordesman, a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, met with top U.S. officials in Iraq, including David Kay, the CIA representative leading the search for chemical, biological and other unconventional weapons...

"No evidence of any Iraqi effort to transfer weapons of mass destruction technology or weapons to terrorists. Only possibility was Saddam's Fedayeen, and talk only," Cordesman wrote of his briefing with Kay. The Fedayeen is the deposed leader's former paramilitary force.

http://www.salon.com/news/wire/2003/11/16/wmd/index.html

"They didn't die for a noble cause, they died for Bush's political reasons, they were just sacrificial lambs."

This is as repugnant as it is obviously phoney.

What is a President expected to do in the way of comfort to family of killed service personnel?

Q: May I just begin by asking what you hope to take away from the visit? And, in particular, can I ask you what message you will have for families of the British servicemen who have been killed in Iraq?

THE PRESIDENT: Sure.

Q: Because I gather you'll get to meet.

THE PRESIDENT: I am going to meet some. Look, there's two messages. One, the prayers of the American people and the prayers of the President are with them, as they suffer. I believe in prayer. I believe that there is a comforting and healing Almighty, and I'll ask that their souls be comforted.

Secondly, that I will tell them that their loved one did not die vain. The actions we have taken will make the world more secure and the world more peaceful in the long run; that a free Iraq, free of weapons of mass destruction, free of tyranny, is not only good for the long-suffering Iraqi people -- which, in itself, is important -- but is going to be good for the long-term for countries which love freedom. Can you imagine the historic change, the landmark moment that is taking place now, where we've got a free -- a country which is emerging to be free and peaceful in the midst of a part of the world where violence and tyranny and terror have reigned.

And I view this as an historic moment, and I will share with them -- just like I share with our own families here -- a deep grief, my sorrow for the sacrifice, but the fact that what is taking place today is a noble cause.