[Seascamp]

Thanks for the comments Larry, I appreciate that. For the most part I think we are on the same page with regard to the Iraq situation. However, I for one will not buy into the bleating, hateful and accusatory mouths during this political season. When the Dems and or Liberals get settled into to a more defined platform perhaps there may be some substance and reality to be put on the plate. But that time is not at hand presently and I pay them little mind except to see what the latest accusation or totally spiteful comment is all about.

As to WMD, I?m not at all ready to even begin to think there isn?t a stockpile of Iraqi killer bugs and chems around, probably and most likely in Syria or Jordan. In my mind, way to many scientists, production resources and associated paraphernalia has been rounded up to dismiss the issue as a ruse or some supposed concoction. That is real dangerous thinking as the odds-on probability are that we just could have a real sad day and the ?Oh shit? thoughts then become useless mumblings of the previous spitefully erroneous idiots. I base this opinion on a couple of things. First and foremost, it is pure idiocy to ever think Saddam or anyone like Saddam in the mid east is ever going to give up any positioning, leverage or intimidation rights. That would be diametrically opposed to the Arab mindset and centuries of cultural history and their perpetual desire to rule, subjugate and dominate and/ or eradicate anyone they can get their hands on. For exactly the same reasons it is highly unlikely Saddam or anyone like Saddam would hand killer bugs or chems over to regional revolutionary or terrorist outfits. If that happened, there is a 100% probability that the WMD would be used on the benefactor, post haste, especially if Al Qaeda got the hands on a sufficient supply.

So I?d say Saddam had every reason and motivation to eradicate a US City and had every intention of doing so given half a chance of getting away with it. To pull this off he could only trust his closest inner circle and to our good fortune he was slow and clumsy at developing Iraqi only international terrorist assets.

So all in all, my concern is exactly who is guarding and securing that stockpile, not if it exists or not.

And sure Larry, control of the Iraqi energy resources is a factor in the equation, that?s a given. All rolled into one big ball there are strategic and economic interests of a big bunch of countries, including the US. And if those mid east resources fall into the hands of the Islamic terrorists/radical fundamentalists, then start filling sand bags and digging in because mega thunder is coming, big time.

Salute!

Scamp

P.S.
Andy, Ya skiped one. While Imperial Japan was ripping pre Communist, pre WWII China to shreads it was the US that was suppling a large portion of the raw materials and fuel resorces that kept the IJA in the field and the IJN at sea. Thus the seeds of Pearl Harbor were planted, there and then........