"Hussein's purported possession of weapons of mass destruction was accepted as established fact"
The CIA was lied to by a foreign intelligence about WMD. Colin Powell admitted so on Tim Russerts Nightline. Those that wanted to go to war were going to force the issue regardless of substantiated facts. We were told the reason for going to war was based solely on WMD. Now we are told its because we're spreading democracy and got rid of a bad dictator. If thats the case where country is next?
I believe in fighting terrorism. Why did we not go into Saudi Arabia where a lot of terrorists cells are born? Weren't most of the hijackers Saudis?
B.S. This is one of those Big Lie things, which if told enough times takes on the aura of truth. It was one of the reasons, but not the only, nor the most compelling.
We went to war in Iraq because they refused to abide by the post Gulf War agreements, refused to account for KNOWN SUPPLIES of WMDs, refused to give unimpeded access to inspectors, continued to sponsor terrorists as a State policy both with money and training, continued to develop WMD delivery systems, continued to fire missiles on NATO and US aircraft, attempted assassinations of US politicians, continued to acquire and attempt to acquire nuclear materials (both refined and unprocessed), gave medical support and asylum to know Al Queda members and other internationally wanted terrorists, committed mass murder on their citizens who weren't Sunni, ripped off all the money from the UN "oil for food" program to reestablish and fund a military they were supposed to dismantle, AND were in multiple violation of multiple UN resolutions, including the one authorizing us to do what we did.
Saudis are not harboring terrorists. If we find a criminal they go after him. Saddam was told many times to round up known terrorists and he ignored us.