So what is so wrong with asking questions, especially since it is beginning to appear that the Administration may well have adjusted the truth about Iraq's WMD's just a wee bit?? Molly Ivins wonders why Conservatives are focusing less on the fact that the Administration may have lied than those who are asking the questions. It's a good question, one that has yet to be answered.
To get off Orwell and back to the facts here, we were told that we were going to war because Iraq had 5,000 gallons of anthrax, several tons of VX nerve gas, between 100 tons and 500 tons of other toxins (including botulinin, mustard gas, ricin and Sarin), 15 to 20 Scud missiles, drones fitted with poison sprays and mobile chemical laboratories.
The ex post facto development of tender concern on the part of hawks for human rights is delightful to see.
To repeat, there was always a good case to be made for taking out Saddam Hussein on humanitarian grounds alone -- those of us who work in the human rights movement were making that case back when the Reagan administration was arming Saddam. It was not, however, the case made by the Bush administration, in part because we are still supplying weapons to other monsters.
There's an old newspaper saw: "Error runs around the world before the truth can get its boots on."
This is an Administration that has demonstrated a willingness to play fast and loose with the truth in order to achieve it's ends. Why shouldn't we be asking questions about the "evidence" they used to make the case for war? As Ivins says, there was more than enough reason to take out Saddam on humanitarian grounds- so why would anyone feel the need to prevaricate in order to make a compelling case?
The sad thing about this episode is that the electorate is so caught up in it's Toby Keith-fueled, chest-thumping pride that nothing will likely come of this episode, even if it is proved inconclusively that Shrub and his minions lied. Apparently, lying to us is acceptable if it's done for the "right" reasons. ("Sure, you lied to us, but we DID get to kick some Iraqi butt, didn't we??")
