DFAIT logo partnership The logo for the by design elab, an independent research development and production think tank specializing in online forums for policy development, incubated in 1997 at the McLuhan Program at the University of Toronto
DFAIT Home Site Map Help Policies Partners Feedback Netcast Français
 
Welcome
Message from the Minister
Dialogue Paper
Answer Questions
View Answers
Discussion Forum
 

Security

Thank you for participating in the Dialogue on Foreign Policy. The interactive web site is now closed. The Minister's report will appear on this web site once it is released.

This Forum is bilingual, and participants post messages in their language of choice.

If Saddam uses Chemical/Bio weapons?

Contributor: Barretm82

Date: 2003-03-26 22:54:57


Some good points, but there is a substantial difference between Canada saying, "all bets are off", because we don't really have WMD in our weapon inventories in contrast to the U.S.

Perhaps the quote, “all bets are off” misses the mark; it has become an American expression that has come to represent M.A.D...

The context I am looking for is that WMD used by Saddam would alter our current policy to Iraq. (It’s been another long day and the words elude me at this moment).

As far as the Anthrax, I suspect that the FBI/CIA have concluded who is responsible but can't prove it. Although I know this isn't due to lack of effort, the evidence just doesn't hold up in court at this time.

Reply to this message

Show in topic

If Saddam uses Chemical/Bio weapons?

Contributor: Fleabag

Date: 2003-03-26 23:43:34


I understand what you mean by your euphemism. I would go so far as to say that it should deeply effect the position of the fence-sitters and indeed of those in doubt of the Iraqi capabilities. Intentions, however, were purely speculative(and projected) and now moot. One side is now going to be exposed as liars. Which one remains to be seen.
As for your comment regarding the WMD attack on the US, it is quite curious that lack of evidence would stop the US gov't from further investigation or the laying of charges, when they would spend (now forseeably) 100 billion dollars on an equal lack of evidence, and no proof of a crime(against the US).

Reply to this message

If Saddam uses Chemical/Bio weapons?

Contributor: Barretm82

Date: 2003-03-27 12:26:49


...As for your comment regarding the WMD attack on the US, it is quite curious that lack of evidence would stop the US gov't from further investigation or the laying of charges, when they would spend (now forseeably) 100 billion dollars on an equal lack of evidence, and no proof of a crime(against the US)....


A quick response would is that Saddam is recognized as a despot world wide by his documented public actions.

Whereas the suspect(s) in the Anthrax case can not be connected to other crimes to show overall intentions or too get a conviction on Basically there are no other criminal references for that individual(s), thus there is currently an uncertainty in that case.

At this point, no one disputes Saddam's brutal nature, Fleabag; you can’t deny that if Saddam was in Canada he would have been put away for a myriad of offences a long time ago.

Reply to this message