Newsweek Spins Saddam Tapes

Michael Issikoff, as usual.

Let's concede that talking about WMD's is not the same thing as actually having them.

However, talking about WMD's does establish a few things:

It is not proven, but it is more likely, that Saddam had WMD's. If a man is caught on tape talking about a murder he committed, yes, there's always the possibility he's bullshitting, playing the hardguy for one reason or another. But you surely do not leap to that latter conclusion. You start looking for bodies with great seriousness.

Saddam, it seems, *thought* he had WMD's. This makes it harder to claim Bush lied. If even Saddam thought he had WMD's, what kind of intelliegence ever could have proven otherwise?

Saddam, as Bush has said, never gave up on his desire for WMD's, even if he didn't have them when we attacked. Charles Duelfer's report made it clear -- though the media kept it quiet, of course -- that while no stockpiles of WMD's were found in Iraq, Saddam kept all the scientists, equipment, infrastructure, and intent to begin producing WMD's as soon as sanctions were lifted and the UN wasn't looking over his shoulder. Discussing DC's vulnerability to a biological attack (even if Saddam follows this up with a disclaimer that of course Iraq would do no such thing) is certainly reason for worry, given his appetite for (Weapons of Mass) destruction.

It could turn out that Bush invaded at the perfect, golden moment -- the moment when Saddam actually had dismantled his WMD's, so they couldn't be used on our troops or Israel or given to Al Qaeada, but just before he planned on revving up his WMD program again.

Thanks to a really cool commenter named "Jack Straw" whom I like to think of as "Slublog."

There Is No Sanctuary Update: I just want to note that...

* When Saddam said he didn't have WMD's, the Left believed him, and called him truthful and Bush a liar.

* When Saddam said he did have WMD's, the Left didn't believe him, and called him a liar and Bush (who has admitted that Saddam seemed to have no stockpiles in Iraq) truthful.

It's getting kinda confusing.

posted by Ace at 01:24 PM

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