The Unbearable Absence of Weapons of Mass Destruction
Recently, a number of hawks (Jon Chin for example) have responded to the absence of WMDs in Iraq by saying that the war was about more than weapons of mass destruction. While they are right, they are missing the point. I myself supported war and for me, weapons of mass destruction were of secondary importance, but I am deeply disturbed by our inability to uncover any. This war was sold to the senate, the American public and the world on the basis of the "imminent threat" of Saddam's WMD program (and the even more ridiculous claim that he had close ties with Al Qeada). For this reason, the fact we have been unable to find any and even more disturbing, reports are coming out that our intelligence agencies were pressured by the Administration to exaggerate Iraq's WMD capabilities, is very important. It means that the Bush administration duped the country into a war. Some might say that it was worth it, that lying about the danger posed by Saddam to advance the great cause of Iraqi freedom was acceptable. However, I find this view alarming elitist. It is the argument of a fanatic more committed to his blessed aims than to democracy. Such secrecy, mendacity and deception is entirely incompatible with a free society.