[optimistically_conservative]

This war was begun on three premises:

1. Iraq had violated its cease fire obligations and numerous UN resolutions over 12 years, posing a threat in its continued pursuit and suspected stockpiling of WMD.

2. Iraq had ties to terrorists, including Abu Abbas, Abu Nidal, Palestinian terror groups and AQ.

3. Iraq was committing human rights abuses that rivaled those in Nazi Germany and Stalin's Russia.

Those were the three sections of Powell's brief to the UN and were made repeatedly by Bush and his administration.

[billbears]

1. Iraq had violated its cease fire obligations and numerous UN resolutions over 12 years, posing a threat in its continued pursuit and suspected stockpiling of WMD.

To date have not been found. Of course this is the President's man who said that he did not believe there was a massive buildup in the 90s and still couldn't find the weapons from before the first Gulf War

2. Iraq had ties to terrorists, including Abu Abbas, Abu Nidal, Palestinian terror groups and AQ

Of course one meeting and a supposed visit from one terrorist ties this altogether does it?

At the same time, however, the letter, excerpts of which were published by the Project for the New American Century (PNAC) and the Weekly Standard, tends to debunk several of the neo-conservatives' own myths.

First, it contains no suggestion at all of any preexisting cooperation or relationship between ousted Iraqi president Saddam Hussein and either Zarqawi or al-Qaeda, as the neo-conservatives have long contended.

It expresses great disappointment at the absence of al-Qaeda in Iraq, a disappointment that undermines the administration's insistence that it is that group that is behind a growing number of attacks in Iraq.

Neocons Undermined By Zarqawi Letter

Letter in reference

3. Iraq was committing human rights abuses that rivaled those in Nazi Germany and Stalin's Russia.

And so are China, North Korea, probably a few Southeast Asian nations, and more than a few African nations as well. Have the Wilsonians drawn up an invasion plan for all those nations too?