great thread. a lively read and some good arguments on all 'sides'.

however. question: what would make Saddam (who we all agree is a wicked fellow and whose demise would indeed make the world a shinier happier place) more willing to create/buy/use/sell/give WOMD to anyone and everyone who would take them and use them against us/Israel/etc.?

1.) further containment and inspections

or

2.) attacking his country with the intent of complete annihilation of him and his regime

he may be planning mischief either way, but, again, what would make him more willing?

he already fired Scuds at Israel, during GW1. that was just a tiny warm-up for the coming chaos when we come for his head.

i'm a deckhand on the ferry boats that go between SF & Oakland. today, on the way past the Port of Oakland, i talked to some armed Coast Guard marshalls that rode with us. they inspect less than 2% of all those containers on all those ships. the land entrance to the port is fairly secure, but anyone could put anything in any one of those containers; nukes, chem weapons, bio weaps, etc etc etc. there is not enough manpower or time to inspect them all. the ships are tracked from port to port and some profiling and extra inspections do occur, but i'll be among the first vaporized when that nuke arrives...not to mention what one asshole with chem/bio materials can do in one subway or stadium full of people.

welcome to Pandora's box. this war will fling its lid wide open, and then we will all live as the Israelis do.

mazel tov.