Evidence against B*sh's Iraq war . Pre 9/11

[RollergirlVT]

Case against GW Bush
There are two important reports both from early 2001 that should be widely read and carefully examined by all Americans. These reports include: Patterns of Global Terrorism 2000 US Department of State April 27, 2001, http://www.state.gov/s/ct/rls/pgtrpt/2000/2441.htm
and "Worldwide Threat 2001: National Security in a Changing World" remarks by George Tenet Feb. 7, 2001 http://www.fas.org/irp/congress/2001_hr/s010207t.html

The assessments made by our government intelligence agencies prior to 9/11 demonstrate that our intelligence was in fact right on track. Both reports outline the most likely threats posed to America and American interests from around the world. Both reports also clearly prove that GW Bush’s decision to make Iraq central to the war on terror was erroneous in terms of both strategy and efficiency. These reports reveal in terms of immediate danger to US citizens as of 2001 Iraq was very low on the list. Thus, attacking Saddam was merely pet project for GW Bush having NOTHING to do with the war on terror.
Consider these excerpts from George Tenet’s remarks on Feb. 7, 2001:
On Al Qa’ida:
“Usama bin Ladin and his global network of lieutenants and associates remain the most immediate and serious threat. Since 1998, Bin Ladin has declared all US citizens legitimate targets of attack. As shown by the bombing of our Embassies in Africa in 1998 and his Millennium plots last year, he is capable of planning multiple attacks with little or no warning.”
and ….
On Iraq and Saddam:
“There are still constraints on Saddam’s power. His economic infrastructure is in long-term decline, and his ability to project power outside Iraq’s borders is severely limited, largely because of the effectiveness and enforcement of the No-Fly Zones. His military is roughly half the size it was during the Gulf War and remains under a tight arms embargo. He has trouble efficiently moving forces and supplies—a direct result of sanctions. These difficulties were demonstrated most recently by his deployment of troops to western Iraq last fall, which were hindered by a shortage of spare parts and transport capability.”
then…
On WMD proliferation: “…The three major suppliers of missile or WMD-related technologies continue to be Russia, China, and North Korea.”

Iraq was a state sponsor of terror. However, the primary terror network Saddam sponsored was MEK, an Iranian terror group intent on unseating the current Iranian regime. After analysis of the greatest terror threats to US National Security it is clear that technically, Iraq’s sponsorship of MEK was actually more of a help to US security concerns than a danger.
This assertion is demonstrated with the following excerpts from the State Department report: and the statements of George Tenet in early 2001:
“ Iran remained the most active state sponsor of terrorism in 2000. It provided increasing support to numerous terrorist groups, including the Lebanese Hizballah, HAMAS, and the Palestine Islamic Jihad (PIJ), which seek to undermine the Middle East peace negotiations through the use of terrorism.”
- State Department April 30, 2001
“Beyond Bin Ladin, the terrorist threat to Israel and to participants in the Middle East peace negotiations has increased in the midst of continuing Palestinian-Israeli violence. Palestinian rejectionists—including HAMAS and the Palestine Islamic Jihad (PIJ)—have stepped up violent attacks against Israeli interests since October. The terrorist threat to US interests, because of our friendship with Israel has also increased.”
Iran has one of the largest and most capable ballistic missile programs in the Middle East. Its public statements suggest that it plans to develop longer-range rockets for use in a space-launch program, but Tehran could follow the North Korean pattern and test an ICBM capable of delivering a light payload to the United States in the next few years.
And given the likelihood that Iraq continues its missile development work, we think that it too could develop an ICBM capability sometime in the next decade assuming it received foreign assistance.
- George Tenet Feb. 7, 2001

Please note these are just a few excerpts from the aforementioned sources. When you read the reports in full, you will see that there were several nations known to pose a far more immediate and serious threat to our national security that did Iraq. Please read the reports in full.