Rachman in UK Financial Times : WMDs did not exist?

Chicago Tuesday AM 12 May, 2009

Editors, Financial Times

Gentlepeople:

In his Sunday, May 10 book review "A tale of two conflicts with Iraq" Gideon Rachman writes "The second Gulf war was ... fought to pre-empt a threat of attack from weapons of mass destruction that turned out not to exist."

That statement is not provable. All that's been proven is that when we looked in certain places we thot they had been. they weren't there anymore. Unfortunately the only thing that could be proved is if they are dropped on a population center's doorstep sometime, then they did exist, we just didn't know where.

What's important is the US Congress' thots when they passed House Senate Joint Congressional Resolution of October 10, 2002 for "Use of Military Force Against Iraq." Its 1300 words contain 22 statements justifying invading Iraq , including the words 'September 11, 2001' (5 times,) 'nuclear' (4 times,)'al Quaida' once, and 'weapons of mass destruction' (7 times.) This resolution was passed by 2/3 majorities of both houses of Congress (2/3 of Senate Democrats, too.)

Even though the US Congress had not seen such weapons with their own eyes, thot the possibility of their existence high enough to justify recommending the President invade, and most important, paid for that invasion.

The international press throws more than enough conventional wisdom. It is unfortunate that a Financial Times commentator would feel the need to add to it.

Arnold H Nelson 5056 North marine Drive Chicago IL 60640 USA