Ford Disagreed With Bush on Iraq

Originally Posted by Rupert Pupkin

I think there were actually numerous reasons why we invaded Iraq: 1. I think they thought Saddam had WMDs. 2. I think they thought Saddam was a long-term threat to the region, even if he wasn't an imminent threat. 3. I think they thought he was trying to develop nuclear weapons. They didn't really know what the time-table was for him geting them, but even if it was 10 years, they figured we would be much better off taking care of him now because it would be too late in 10 years. 4. Another reason we invaded was because Saddam was not agreeing with the terms of the cease-fire of the first Persian Gulf War. He was shooting at our planes over the no-fly zone. He wasn't cooperating with the inspectors. Etc.

Anyway, there were numerous reasons as to why we invaded Iraq. 5. We thought that a democracy could work in Iraq and having a democracy there would be a huge positive for the region. 6. I think the human rights element gave them an additional justification for invading. You had a guy(Saddam) who was murdering tens of thousands of people.

So I think there were numerous reasons for wanting to get rid of Saddam. I think that all these reasons were in fact mentioned. However, when you're trying to sell something, it can be more effective to focus on your most powerful selling point. Focusing on your most powerful selling point is usually more effective than focusing on 8 different selling points. I think the Administration thought their best selling point to the Amercian people was the WMDs. And I think the Administration believed there were WMDs. But I don't think that WMDs were the only reason they went into Iraq.

The American people were given reason #1 (and reason #3 which falls under reason #1). We went in with huge numbers of units to detect biological weapons (which could be highly mobile facilities) and those searching for various gases, etc... The British clearly went with us because of reason #1. I dont think I read anything about the British wanting to nation build.

We were therefore woefully unprepared for #5 and #6, and by the type of forces sent in, we had NO plans for #5 and #6.

The other reasons were lauded well after #1 detected nothing (except a few minor gases that were far from ready to be launched)