We caught Saddam!

[Merryprankster]

dead end argument guys.

1:1 on the no one knows nothing about any of it.

closing

Here. Since Kung Lek decided to close the last thread on one of the biggest news items this year, I figured we could start over.

I'm sure we'll get shut down soon--after all, as we all know, this is a CMA FORUM, dedicated to CMA! Except when it's not. Which is frequently.

As usual, I anticipate a one-two week effort from our intrepid moderator(s) wherein they will angrily enforce the rules, crack down on whatever thread flavor they decide they don't like that month, then act as though there weren't actually any forum rules at all (again) for around 8 weeks. Then when we ask for an off-topic forum so we can actually interact like (virtual) normal human beings, and not MA zombies, we'll be told to zark off.

Ok. Now that that's over:

Some thoughts:

It's true that WMD and CBRN are not the same thing, but when laypersons talk about WMD they usually mean CBRN. It's just a distinction in terminology. So--whatever. Forgive them their terminology ignorance and discuss the issue.

Did Saddam have any active CBRN component programs--I'd say that based on open source reporting it looks sketchy. Now, a better question is--does SADDAM know if he had CBRN weapons! It's entirely possible he doesn't. A man who likes to kill people who bring him bad news doesn't exactly inspire subordinates to bring forth data he doesn't want to hear.

I don't believe Saddam, who has been on the lam for 8 months, is actually going to have much information we don't already have about Iraq. Unless he knows specifically where things are hidden. If they are hidden.

Wag the dog? Please. It would be naivete of the purest sort to believe the adminstration won't milk this success for all it's worth, but that level of silliness is just, well, silly. Mansion? Body guards? No way. No way at all. Tell us why this is a possibility.

That said, it is an undeniable FACT that Saddam had CB weapons. Whether he maintained a program after 1991 remains to be seen.

[Liokault]

The real question here is does he wish he had let the inspectors do there thing in the first place lol.

Also have the other autocrats in the middle east (who are closer friends to the USA) watching in fear? I hope so, for as I am against the way that this war took place and its motives, I feel that in the long run it will be a good thing for the majority.


I do question your statment MP that the USA did not put saddam in place! I thought it was well known and generally acknowlaged that the CIA helped get his party into power then keep him there.

[yenhoi]

That said, it is an undeniable FACT that Saddam had CB weapons. Whether he maintained a program after 1991 remains to be seen.

So what? Does any of it matter now?

[Merryprankster]

The Ba'ath party began as a socialist, pan-arab party, and Saddam joined it in the 50's.

There are some reports the CIA may have helped the Ba'ath party boys get some power in the 60's but:

1. They had little to do with trying to bring Saddam to power.

2. They were certainly not an expression of "Saddam's our man" and instead were "We don't like the current regime."

In any event true support to Saddam, in earnest, didn't begin until the Shah was deposed. I have no problems admitting that the CIA and the U.S. gov in general probably helped Saddam a great deal, but I hesitate to push this sort of heavy involvement/we put him in power from the word go theory when I think it's clear that history offers another, and IMO better, take on the issue.

We didn't put his regime in power. He was quite adept at party politics and thuggery long before we began offering support (and was certainly in power before we offered any REAL support). It's not as though the CIA made him his puppet and propelled him to power.

Edited for factual errors

[Merryprankster]

So what? Does any of it matter now?

I don't know. I don't think you do either. If that's ALL he ever had then we're going to look a bit like idiots.

Except that the world has already forgotten why we went in.

No offense, but there's no outrage about that any more--just a little from some angry leftists.

No, people worldwide are more concerned now with what the **** place is going to look like when we leave, than why we went it.

That's Geopolitics for ya.

[Volcano Admim]

yeh yeh
but you aint got me, suckas

you can watch a kenjustsu clip while you meditate on that
http://niten.com.br/videos/videos/6o_kyu.wmv

http://niten.com.br/videos/index.php

[MC Taiji Hips]

Here's a good question: How long will CNN have 24 hour coverage of Saddam Hussein Captured? I say a week or two. Maybe up to a year considering this is our biggest Military victory since WWII.

[old jong]

Hey!...We are stuck with a dictator right here in Quebec!....His name is Jean Charest,prime minister of the province.He is passing all kinds of crasy laws and won't listen to anybody.
I was wondering if Bush could send a couple or,maybe only one carrier in the Saint-Lauwrence river up here to take care of his regime?...(Now the he got what he wanted in Irak)

[Fen]

Well, we have an off topic forum at Fu-Ragz, and you're more then welcome to go over there and post whatever you'd like. In the off topic forum, there's no mods (unless it's due to porn, or something of the like) and it's used all the time. Why do you think Wen started the OT forum??? If you're interested go to Fu-Ragz and check it out. Don't forget to sign up to use it! Now, you can have the best of both worlds, Kung Fu Magazine, and your OT forum!!

Ok, now I'm done advertising!

On Saddam-
It's going to be interesting to see how they handle it. I'm just concerned that because of the election and everything, its going to be made a LOT bigger than what it really is. Can we as a country even prosecute him on war crimes??

[yenhoi]

I don't know. I don't think you do either. If that's ALL he ever had then we're going to look a bit like idiots.

Yeah but.... its not like we didnt warn him?

Wont this help make other people 'round there do what we say when we say it?

[Souljah]

to MP and Lio's comments

I didnt think that Saddam was helped by the US in being brought to power, I thought the main American support came when they wanted the Ayatola's removed from power in Iran, at which time they armed Saddam to the teeth. Biologically and Otherwise

[joedoe]

Originally posted by Merryprankster


...

Except that the world has already forgotten why we went in.

No offense, but there's no outrage about that any more--just a little from some angry leftists.

No, people worldwide are more concerned now with what the **** place is going to look like when we leave, than why we went it.

That's Geopolitics for ya.

I don't agree with you on this. I think a lot of people around the world remember the reasons given for going in and are watching very closely to see if those reasons were justified. I know a lot of people in Australia are watching very closely because the political survival of our illustrious leader depends on whether the populace felt they were lied to in justifying the war. I am sure there is a similar situation in Britain too.

[CaptinPickAxe]

Saddam is a "wiseass"

[Christopher M]

Originally posted by joedoe
I think a lot of people around the world remember the reasons given for going in...

Remember implies they knew in the first place, doesn't it?

[Liokault]

I don't agree with you on this. I think a lot of people around the world remember the reasons given for going in

I do not belive that anyone has forgoten that this is/was about stabalising oil supply to the west.