[geoschmo]

Originally posted by Mephisto:
Can anyone honestly believe that giving the UN just a bit more time would have meant any harm to the cause?

Yes, honestly I believe that. As you conceded the threat of force was the only thing motivating even half hearted compliance from Sadaam. A delay would have weakened our ability to project that force and so would have rendedered the threat impotent.

I disagree with you that with more time we would known whether he has WMD or not. The inspectors were not capable of finding things that the regime did not want them to find. They are ineffective when presented with passive non-cooperation, and useless when faced with active concealment.

Geoschmo