[Onkel Neal]

Originally Posted by scandium

As to the weapons inspections, I guess we have a different take on how that played out. I'm not disputing that it involved a lot of arm twisting, but the results were what mattered and it looked to me like they were getting results - right up until the US had them pulled from Iraq.


When you have an appointed official from a foreign occupying power issuing such decrees I call it as I see it. International law also stipulates that an occupying power is required to respect existing laws unless absolutely prevented and that doesn't look to be the case there. Most of this moot now anyway, but its still interesting how two people can look at the same events and reach such different conclusions on them.

The weps inspections were getting results only because Bush Jr was
effectively posturing for military-imposed enforcement of the UN resolutions. Honestly, Saddam would have never backed up without this threat of force from the US. Exactly how Iran has treated the EU Three (France, UK, Germany) over uranium enrichment. Stalling, phony negotiations, utter disdain.

Certainly there has to be someone making the decisions, and in many cases, they are unilateral. But my point about Dictator Bremer is that you and I both know that is temporary. It's understood, and it has historical precedent. The US sets up an interim government and takes steps to turn power over to the indigenous people.

Yeah, it is interesting, how people can see the same issue with vastly different conclusions.