Today, after four years, we mark the dubious anniversary of this very public lie. One of my oldest friends was standing on the deck of that carrier when the little man made his big boasts. In four years of obfuscation, what has really been accomplished?

1. Iraq is no longer a threat to US interests.
2. Al Queda no longer has a country they can use as a training and planning base.
3. Al Queda has lost many of their senior personnel.

Iraq is an ongoing threat. If it were not, we would not be there now would we?

Oil contracts are not signed, government is not solidified and has not really taken power and or respect necessary to lead the people, terror gestates essentially everywhere, etc...

Other nations could move in and secure it, and the oil, for themselves.

#2 was not happening before we invaded. It's happening now.

#3 is questionable. Just how many number two and number three guys are there? Let's just say a lot of them are dead though. I'm up for that!

The mission is not yet accomplished, and that's Littles point.

Actually it was, Al Queda and the Talib were like blood brothers.

Iraq had 3 Armored Corps, of republican Guards, they were capable of retaking Kuwitt and the next time would have gone through Saudi Arabia.

Plus Former CIA director Gates, states in his book, Iraq would have had nukes by 2007, right about now, if we hadn't done something.

It wasnt about Iraq's oil, but the free flow of oil from all through the gulf. IE trade routes.

Nwokie old pal, you just offered three strikes against your own argument
1. Iraq is no longer a threat to US interests.
2. Al Queda no longer has a country they can use as a training and planning base.
3. Al Queda has lost many of their senior personnel.

The first two are completely wrong and the third makes no difference, knock one down and two take his place.

4. Rape rooms & torture centres in Iraq are gone.
5. Iraqi women are now able to attend school.
6. Iraqi oil is no longer used to fund terror.
7. Kurds are no longer being gassed.
8. Saddam, Uday & Quesay are gone.
9. The Iraqi people now have a shot at democracy.
10. Nearby terrorist countries like Syria are now on notice that freedom-loving interests are in their neighborhood and a credible threat to their evil-doings.
11. Israel and europe are no longer vulnerable to Saddam's rockets.

Herb

The first is completly right, the Iraq army, can not, and wont be able for years to cause trouble in neighboring countries, regardless of what happens in Iraq.

Before the invasion, there were several terrorist groups in Iraq, including the mastermind of the Achille Lauro.

And a few minor ones, saddam is no longer giving money to familes of terrorist bombings, and he will never be able to begin production of poison gas.

Herb and Nwokie, I agree with all you say, but let them now handle their own problems and bring our troops home.

The excuses for invading Iraq are like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get.

Iraq women were always able to attend school under Saddam. The Shia are oppressing Iraqi women more and more now.

Also, Saddam was very good to Iraqi Christians. He used them as a buffer to fend off Islamic fundies.

Now it's very dangerous to be an Iraqi Christian.

Thank God saddam had those weapons of mass destruction because it was the only way Bush could have gotten Americans to go ahead to invade iraq.

Thank God I trusted my president when he told me iraq had weapons of mass destruction instead of listening to anti-military distractors or else we'd be hit by terrorists here again and again.

Thank God for the United States of America, a country the whole world looks up to when leadership on world peace is called for.

Here's another way to look at it!

Look at the contradictory information presented here and elsewhere.

If, there was a solid case for Iraq having been a success, don't you think it would be a lot easier to sort it all out? If we've gotta work that hard, it's not solid.

Therefore, Mission Not Accomplished.

"1. Iraq is no longer a threat to US interests."

Au contraire. Judging by the countless bombings and attacks on US personnel and other Iraqis, and the hate and venom the Iraqi people are developing towards Americans, it is MORE of a threat to US interests than it was under Saddam!

"2. Al Queda no longer has a country they can use as a training and planning base."

Why is Al Qaeda USING it as a training base and proving grounds for their young recruits NOW when under Saddam, Al Qaeda was almost nonexistent in Iraq?

"3. Al Queda has lost many of their senior personnel."

... and they plug the holes with young recruits willing to die for the cause.

I can't believe that you actually BELIEVE the crap coming from the White House. Lemme guess - you buy into Dick Cheney's "The war is in its last throes" racket too?