Freethought & Rationalism Archive

spurly · 03-24-2003, 06:04 PM

Our opinions really don't amount to much. What really matters is the truth and none of us are on the ground in Iraq to find the truth (unless I have overlooked someone here on the forum).

But in your opinion, do you think Saddam has biological and/or chemical weapons?

Buddrow_Wilson · 03-24-2003, 06:32 PM

I honestly do not feel certain either way. Lean towards yes, but not confidently. Also, Unlike most opinions I here, I'm not completely sure he will use them when his back is against the wall. If he is still hoping for swaying the international opinion, he may not, even towards the end. Or when/if he does, his men may refuse. Its really unknowable until it happens IMO.

Psycho Economist · 03-24-2003, 09:01 PM

He may not. But I see no reason yet to doubt that he does.

On the other hand, he clearly lacks the ballistic capacity to strike at the territory of the United States. (By that I mean the fifty states, D.C., Puerto Rico, Guam, et c. Not strategic military assets in the middle east like CENTCOM and Fifth Fleet Headquarters.)

Loren Pechtel · 03-24-2003, 09:06 PM

4a) He has them. He has very limited means of using them, though.

Vorkosigan · 03-24-2003, 09:13 PM

I'm with Loren. He has to have some. But he has no delivery systems.

Vorkosigan

Liquidrage · 03-24-2003, 09:36 PM

I agree with the last 3 posts.

Although I am probably a little more convinced Psycho Economist is.

Kamchatka · 03-24-2003, 11:35 PM

He has them and he has the delivery systems.

The systems are being degraded.

spurly · 03-25-2003, 09:52 AM

I heard on ABC radio news this morning that there is an imaginery red line around Baghdad, and if coalition forces cross it, the Iraqi military has been authorized to use biological/chemical weapons.

I really hope not. I guess we will know soon.

Kevin

Flynn McKerrow · 03-25-2003, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by spurly
I heard on ABC radio news this morning that there is an imaginery red line around Baghdad, and if coalition forces cross it, the Iraqi military has been authorized to use biological/chemical weapons.

I heard that last night on Fox News while channel surfing. Funny how none of the credible news sources (canoe.ca, bbc.co.uk) reported it. Funny how it's not even on the Fox news website anymore. You'd think this would be huge news if it were true.

Seems to me like it's another case of "We lied, you caught us, we're not sorry", as someone here (can't remember who) was saying yesterday.

Jesus Tap-Dancin' Christ · 03-25-2003, 10:17 AM

Without any evidence of him having any, I cannot say at all whether he has any or not. The US government has refused to give, well, ANYONE it's "evidence", including the security council and the weapons inspectors (whose job just got rendered moot).

Given this, I simply cannot say that there are. Nor can I say that there are none--to be honest, even Liechtenstein could have a few dozen without us knowing about it.

View Poll Results: Does Saddam have biological and chemical weapons?
He used to, but he destroyed them.	4	6.15%
He used to, but the inspectors found them and destroyed them.	5	7.69%
He has them, but he has lost the means of delivering them.	7	10.77%
He has them, and has the means and motive to use them.	21	32.31%
I don't know.	28	43.08%
Voters: 65. You may not vote on this poll

03-24-2003, 06:04 PM	#1
spurly Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Oklahoma City Posts: 710	Does Saddam have biological and chemical weapons? Our opinions really don't amount to much. What really matters is the truth and none of us are on the ground in Iraq to find the truth (unless I have overlooked someone here on the forum). But in your opinion, do you think Saddam has biological and/or chemical weapons?

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

03-24-2003, 06:32 PM	#2
Buddrow_Wilson Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Arkansas Posts: 1,589	I honestly do not feel certain either way. Lean towards yes, but not confidently. Also, Unlike most opinions I here, I'm not completely sure he will use them when his back is against the wall. If he is still hoping for swaying the international opinion, he may not, even towards the end. Or when/if he does, his men may refuse. Its really unknowable until it happens IMO.

03-24-2003, 09:01 PM	#3
Psycho Economist Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Peoria, IL Posts: 854	He may not. But I see no reason yet to doubt that he does. On the other hand, he clearly lacks the ballistic capacity to strike at the territory of the United States. (By that I mean the fifty states, D.C., Puerto Rico, Guam, et c. Not strategic military assets in the middle east like CENTCOM and Fifth Fleet Headquarters.)

03-24-2003, 09:06 PM	#4
Loren Pechtel Obsessed Contributor Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Not Mayaned Posts: 96,752	4a) He has them. He has very limited means of using them, though.

03-24-2003, 09:13 PM	#5
Vorkosigan Contributor Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Barrayar Posts: 11,866	I'm with Loren. He has to have some. But he has no delivery systems. Vorkosigan

03-24-2003, 09:36 PM	#6
Liquidrage Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Tallahassee Posts: 1,301	I agree with the last 3 posts. Although I am probably a little more convinced Psycho Economist is.

03-24-2003, 11:35 PM	#7
Kamchatka Regular Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Earth Posts: 157	He has them and he has the delivery systems. The systems are being degraded.

03-25-2003, 09:52 AM	#8
spurly Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Oklahoma City Posts: 710	I heard on ABC radio news this morning that there is an imaginery red line around Baghdad, and if coalition forces cross it, the Iraqi military has been authorized to use biological/chemical weapons. I really hope not. I guess we will know soon. Kevin

03-25-2003, 10:17 AM	#10
Jesus Tap-Dancin' Christ Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Heaven Posts: 6,980	Without any evidence of him having any, I cannot say at all whether he has any or not. The US government has refused to give, well, ANYONE it's "evidence", including the security council and the weapons inspectors (whose job just got rendered moot). Given this, I simply cannot say that there are. Nor can I say that there are none--to be honest, even Liechtenstein could have a few dozen without us knowing about it.

Freethought & Rationalism Archive

The archives are read only.