Saddam Sowed Confusion About Iraq's Arsenal as a Tactic of War

[Rose Siding]

WASHINGTON, Oct. 6 - Saddam Hussein hid behind ambiguities and evasions about whether Iraq possessed unconventional weapons - when in fact it had none - partly as a deterrent to Iran, according to a report by the chief American arms inspector in Iraq.

The former Iraqi leader never discussed deception as a policy and did not adopt a formal written directive outlining his orders, the report said. But privately he told aides, like Ali Hasan al-Majid, a close adviser, that "the better part of war is deceiving,'' the report said. Mr. Majid said Mr. Hussein "wanted to avoid appearing weak and did not reveal he was deceiving the world about the presence of W.M.D.,'' or weapons of mass destruction.

The report by the chief arms inspector, Charles A. Duelfer, described Mr. Hussein's posture on prohibited weapons as "a difficult balancing act between the need to disarm to achieve sanctions relief while at the same time retaining a strategic deterrent.''

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/07/politics/07saddam.html

[PartyPooper]

1. But, he had the capability to produce WMD's for terrorists.

And, he gassed his own people.

:wow:

[aquart]

2. Is that the new excuse? "Saddam confused us!"???

[MSgt213]

3. tell other countries not to try and defend themselves from their

enemies by confusing us. Because they will be attacked by us.

[Rose Siding]

4. Maybe it explains why he didn't do more to dispel the charges

I always believed that he used the impotent threat to control factions within Iraq. That he was unable to convince the world that they were gone (when he needed to) is sad. Being the only thing that might have stopped Bush, I guess that never could have been allowed to happen.

I remember some reports of calls from Iraq, through other countries, not being taken in the days just before the invasion. It was a done deal and had been for years.

[caledesi]

5. This is the repukes new talking points. Heard it twice tonight.

SH bluffed. Uh, ok.

[RapidCreek]

6. So Saddam Hussein is smarter than George Bush....hmmm

never have I heard a man use "I'm stupid" as rational for his stupidity before. This has to be a first.

RC

[MisterP]

7. Duelfer is a Chimpire stooge--and even he can't forge WMDs

[wellst0nev0ter]

8. Talk About Flip-Flops

"Saddam had weaponsofmassdestruction!"

"Saddam had weaponsofmassdestruction programs!"

"Saddam had weaponsofmassdestructionrelatedprogramactivities!"

"Uh, Saddam. . .punk'd us. . .?"

[wellst0nev0ter]

9. In Any Case, I Love How Duelfer Tries To Distort History

The report said Mr. Hussein refused to dispel the impression that he still had such weapons even though the report concluded that his specialized weapons programs were nonexistent or mothballed in the early development stage because of international sanctions.

Yeah, Iraq DIDN'T hand over to the UN a 12,200 page declaration how they DIDN't had any weapons and the Bush administrations DIDN'T http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/01/20030123-1.html">summarily dismiss such assertions, because they KNOW Hussein had the weapons all along.

[MrPrax]

10. I recall this 'version' of history as well...

Good to see someone else followed the year 2003 ...

Saddam even rolled out the killer drones for photographs if I recall. If I recall he was destroying missiles only a day before the invasion. He went so far as to have Dan Rather interview him...

"Do you have weapons, Sir?"
"NO, the US is simply using this as a pretext for invasion"

Then Saddam The Mastermind was so wiley he managed to lock himself, all drugged up, in a hidey-hole...

Brilliant strategist!!

[Moderator]

11. Duplicate

This is a part of the Iraq Survey group findings. Please post in the older thread ( if it is not already there)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=887558&mesg_id=887558