Talk:Iraq as an imminent threat


 * After shooting up the day-care center, the killer explained: "I heard the guy who runs this place might attack me. I needed answers: Did he have a gun, a knife -- or nothing?" The cops roll their eyes -- another nutball. "So," says an officer, humoring him, "did he have any weapons?" The killer shakes his head. "Nah, don't look like it. But he could have had some. What's the difference? -- Say, you fellas aren't going to lock me up, are you? It was an honest mistake. I just got bad advice, that's all."

Hmmmmm ... In his February 17, 2004, speech at Fort Polk, Louisiana, yesterday, President Bush addressed pre-war intelligence and refashioned the "threat" as follows:

"My administration looked at the intelligence information and we saw danger. Members of Congress looked at the same intelligence, and they saw danger. The United Nations Security Council looked at the intelligence, and it saw a danger. We reached a reasonable conclusion that Saddam Hussein was a danger. We remembered his history: He waged aggressive wars against neighboring countries and aspired to dominate the Middle East. He cultivated ties to terrorists. He built weapons of mass destruction. He used weapons of mass destruction against his own people. He hid those weapons."

Also: "It is the nature of terrorism that a few evil people can bring grief to many. Here in the Fort Polk community, you have sent brave men and women to confront this evil, and you have said farewell to some of your best."

And this: "Freedom is not America's gift to the world; freedom is the Almighty God's gift to every man and women in this world."

And this: "America has been given great responsibilities, and they have come to the right country. We don't shirk from any challenge. We're rising to the call of history. Now and in the future, this great republic will lead the cause of freedom and peace."