Presidential determination

Why did we invade Iraq on March 19, 2003?

Well, according to the “determination” President Bush sent to Congress – as required – on that date, we invaded because Iraq posed “a continuing threat to the national security of the United States” by “continuing to possess and develop a significant chemical and biological weapons capability, actively seeking a nuclear weapons capability, and supporting and harboring terrorist organizations.”

As a condition of the 1991 Gulf War “cease-fire,” Iraq unconditionally accepted the destruction – under United Nations supervision – of all chemical and biological weapons; all stocks of fissile materials and chem-bio agents; all related systems and components; all related research, development and manufacturing facilities. Iraq also agreed to permanent on-site monitoring and verification systems.

By 1998, the U.N. “inspectors” were able to report that Iraq was in substantial compliance with the “cease-fire” resolution.

But, President Clinton disputed their findings. He claimed to have “intelligence” pinpointing dozens of nuke and chem-bio sites the U.N. inspectors had “missed.” So, out came the U.N. inspectors and in went the bombers. The periodic bombings never stopped, and the inspectors were never re-admitted.

President Bush decided bombing wasn’t getting the job done. He wanted to invade and occupy Iraq. Central to a major Bush speech last Oct. 7 advocating that were these charges:

Eleven years ago, as a condition for ending the Persian Gulf War, the Iraqi regime was required to destroy its weapons of mass destruction, to cease all development of such weapons, and to stop all support for terrorist groups. The Iraqi regime has violated all of those obligations. It possesses and produces chemical and biological weapons. It is seeking nuclear weapons. It has given shelter and support to terrorism, and practices terror against its own people.

The evidence indicates that Iraq is reconstituting its nuclear weapons program. Saddam Hussein has held numerous meetings with Iraqi nuclear scientists, a group he calls his “nuclear mujahideen” – his nuclear holy warriors. Satellite photographs reveal that Iraq is rebuilding facilities at sites that have been part of its nuclear program in the past. Iraq has attempted to purchase high-strength aluminum tubes and other equipment needed for gas centrifuges, which are used to enrich uranium for nuclear weapons.

The implied charge is that, since 1998, Saddam has reconstituted – or has attempted to reconstitute – the nuke programs the U.N. “inspectors” had destroyed. Furthermore, nukes might be given to terrorists for use against us.

(Note that there was no mention in the 1991 cease-fire agreement – a full decade before 9-11 – of “terrorism” or “terrorist groups.”)

Saddam insisted the nuke, missile and chem-bio charges made by Bush were unfounded and he agreed to have the U.N. inspectors come check him out. The missile, chem-bio and nuke inspectors returned to Iraq in December 2002 and began revisiting sites where they had begun installing verification and monitoring systems back in 1998, as well as dozens of new sites U.S. “intelligence” suggested they ought to visit.

By mid-March, what had they found?

Nothing.

No nukes.

No chemical weapons.

No biological weapons.

No ballistic missiles.

Worse still, no evidence that Saddam had attempted to reconstitute his “weapons of mass destruction” capability. Not since 1998. Not even since 1991.

In particular, the International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors reported that there was no evidence

• of resumed nuclear activities in those buildings that were identified through the use of satellite imagery as being reconstructed or newly erected since 1998;

• of nuclear-related prohibited activities at any inspected sites;

• that Iraq has attempted to import uranium since 1990;

• that Iraq has attempted to import aluminum tubes for use in centrifuge enrichment program;

• that Iraq imported magnets for use in a centrifuge enrichment program.

Worse, Hans Blix, chairman of the U.N. Monitoring and Verification Commission, observed that even if the Iraqis had made more anthrax and nerve gas for use in the Iran-Iraq War than they had declared, it would now be ineffective, its “shelf-life” long since passed.

So, what was President Bush – with 150,000 U.S. troops on the Kuwait-Iraqi border – to do?

Well, the same thing President Clinton did – dispute the U.N. inspectors’ findings. Tell Congress that he has “determined” that:

Nothing that has occurred in the past 12 years, the past 12 months, the past 12 weeks, or the past 12 days provides any basis for concluding that further diplomatic or other peaceful means will adequately protect the national security of the United States from the continuing threat posed by Iraq.