Are there any peaceful muslim nations?

There was no lie. People genuinely believed that Saddam possessed chemical weapons.

Oralloy, please do some reading into how the Global economy works, and why reserve currency, and in particular buying oil in US dollars, is important to the US economy.

People genuinely believed it. Neither the intelligence community, nor the Governments believed it.

Most of the 'intelligence' that govt used was either false, or 'sexed up' as the Blair govt later termed it.

Anyone who actually followed the rhetoric, saw how they changed their reasons for Iraq.

No. The world's intelligence communities and the world's governments did believe it.

It looked to me like it was a continuous focus on claims that Saddam had chemical weapons, and was trying to produce new chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons.

The claims that were exaggerated were the ones about him trying to produce new weapons. Everyone honestly believed that he still had chemical weapons from before.

oralloy wrote:

No. The world's intelligence communities and the world's governments did believe it.

Other than your own government reviews disagreeing with you...and other than intelligence agencies around the world subtly or outright disagreeing with you...

Don't forget that you are starting with the preposition that 'WoMD' = reason to invade...so the US needs to invade: Russia, GB, France, Germany, Pakistan, China...etc

So...it has to be more than that right?

Perhaps preparation to use them? There was no recent evidence of that.

WoMD simply wasn't the reason for the invasion of Iraq.

oralloy wrote:

It looked to me like it was a continuous focus on claims that Saddam had chemical weapons, and was trying to produce new chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons.

The claims that were exaggerated were the ones about him trying to produce new weapons. Everyone honestly believed that he still had chemical weapons from before.

No, not everyone.

And look into claims that Iraq was linked to Al Qaeda...which was the main claim that was first tried on the public when the focus shifted from Afghanistan to Iraq

If you care to, read up on the history of countries behaviours (regards to propaganda for their own public) as they lead up to a war, and then apply that to what you remember about the US' behaviour in the lead up to the Iraq war. I recall the US' adherence to such tried and true methods to be remarkably conforming.

Oralloy doesn't seem to understand the difference between facts and **** he'd like to believe because it makes him feel better, and it's the latter that he clings to.

He's not the first person to strenuously disagree with me. I do think it's very difficult to get a handle on everything, because of the incredible breadth of one sided 'history' out there (on both sides). I doubt I have a proper handle on it. And as I mentioned earlier, western media provides a very one sided view of the world.

I have been to Israel a couple of times, and have concluded you know very little to nothing about that country.

What's your background?

Also, Muslim's license plates are green, and there are armored checkpoints on the roads. They are restricted from using certain roads, and must travel miles out of the way to get to their destination.
It is not a democracy by any sense.

I have spoken to a Palestinian woman, and she told me she does not have the freedom to travel any place she wishes, and her family has lived in Israel for many generations.

I forgot about that one. Yes that was an exaggeration too.

Manchester Arena attack: 22 killed at Ariana Grande gig by bomber named as Salman Abedi

The suicide bomber who brought carnage to the Manchester Arena has been named as Salman Abedi.

Monday night's attack at a concert by US pop star Ariana Grande left 22 people dead, including an eight-year-old girl, and dozens injured.

Theresa May raised Britain's terror threat level from severe to critical and said the military could be deployed to support armed police officers at public events.

Abedi, believed to have been born in Manchester and of Libyan descent, studied business at Salford University but dropped out before completing his degree.

The 22-year-old is thought to have attended the Manchester Islamic Centre, also known as Didsbury Mosque, along with his parents and siblings.

A family friend, who asked not to be named, described him as "normal" and said they were known to the Libyan community in the city.

He said: "He was always friendly, nothing to suggest (he was violent). He was normal, to be honest."...

Muslim leaders clash in fiery debate on Sunrise

TWO prominent Australian Muslim leaders have clashed live on air during a fiery debate about extremism and Islam.

Appearing on Sunrise this morning, Dr Jamal Rifi and Imam Shaikh Mohammad Tawhidi condemned the terror attacks in Manchester which has claimed 22 lives.

Both leaders agreed the devastating act didn’t represent Islam, however this is where any common agreement ended.

Imam Tawhidi said the reality was young people were getting radicalised, even in Australia, “because of the Islamic scriptures that we have.”

“They push the Muslim youth to believe that if you go out there and you kill the infidel that’s how you will gain paradise,” the Imam said...

Dr Rifi also said the Muslim community had spoken out against the Manchester terror attack and the Prime Minster had also spoken for all Australians in doing so.

“But we are Australian, our Prime Minister has expressed the feeling of the nation and that’s good Australian Muslims,” he said.

“The Grand Mufti condemned it, we have shouted from the rooftops our condemnation of this act. What more can we do?”

But Iman Tawhidi shook his head and launched into the reasons why he disagreed.

“We have a situation where a month doesn’t go by without a terrorist attack happening somewhere around the world,” he said.

“For 1400 years we have had a religion of war, that’s exactly what we have had. This is not something I’m imagining,” he said.

He added Islam had spread from the Middle East to other parts of the world through war.

“The Islamic scriptures are exactly the thing that’s pushing these people to behead the infidel,” he said.

But Dr Rifi was having none of it.

“There is nothing in Islam that justifies killing innocent people,” he said.

Imam Tawhidi accused Dr Rifi of lying to the Australian people.

“Our books teach the beheading of people,” he said adding the Manchester bomber would have believed he was going to heaven for what he did....

Jakarta terorrism blast 'linked with I.S'

The two suicide bombers who attacked Indonesia's capital are believed to be linked to Islamic State and could have been inspired by recent attacks overseas, police say.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo has called for calm and unity hours after twin blasts broke out in Jakarta's east on Wednesday night, killing three police officers and leaving 11 people injured.

National Police spokesman Inspector General Setyo Wasisto said the perpetrators were believed to be 'related' to Islamic State.

Authorities are trying to identify them through forensic testing and the help of Indonesian anti-terrorism agency Detachment 88.

The attack comes just days after the suicide bombing at Manchester Arena in the UK, which killed 22 people.