Alex, the Al Somud (sp) missiles were not destroyed because they went "15 miles further than they were supposed to". I am not sure what you read, but its clear you did not watch or read the report to the UN of Hans Blix.
They were destroyed according to Hans Blix in his report to the UN because they not only exceeded the limitations imposed by the UN BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY because they also could be "easily modified" as he put it, to go even further. that was the issue. that was why they were destroyed after full documentation and information was made available about them.
so what is "wrong with that statement" is that it is not correct and it is missleading... further, it downplays the issue of Iraqs failure to account for the weapons and weapons programs that are the real issue. (VX Gas stockpiles, Chemical weapons stockpiles, Biological weapons programs and stockpiles of Anthrax, Smallpox etc as well as thousands of chemical bombs that turned up missing, 300 illegally imported rocket engines etc. etc. etc. etc. whether those things exist today or can be found does not change the fact that Iraq has staunchly refused to answer those questions and provide any verifiable information on those things which has been demanded repeatedly.
Furthermore, those missiles were fully declared by Iraq, were previously known to exist and were not in any way shape or form connected to the other issues at hand. They were not "found" as you suggested. and still, the questions that were being asked... namely those regarding their refusal to fully account for Chemical weapons stockpiles and programs, Biological weapons stockpiles and programs, thousands of missing chemical bombs, illegally imported weapons (300 rocket motors etc) and the numerous descrepencies in their 2nd declaration to the UN which was no more informative than their previous declarations... though it was clearly said to be their "last chance" which was the 4th such "last chance" out of 16 Resolutions.
whether you agree with it or not, the chemical shells that were found were not declared. meaning that once again, Iraq lied and said "these things dont exist... only to be later found to exist. simple fact. they said they provided a full declaration of everything they had and it was a lie. just as previously. nothing new. if anything, it lends more credibility to the fact that they cannot be trusted to comply even when they were knowingly facing certain destruction with about 300,000 troops and the worlds most advanced fighting forces sitting in their front yard, waiting to strike.
Since there seems to be a far greater focus of world governments and the UN on "post Saddam Iraq", humanitarian aid and the end of a regime which even Russia and Germany only yesterday said they supported, i highly doubt that world leaders will be lining up to say "see i told you so". That does not include the current 49 Nations which now support in some way the war in Iraq which clearly wont.
Given the political value of finding more info about weapons in Iraq, i think its a safe bet to say that more information, testimony, documents, interviews with scientists and probably weapons will definately turn up in a very well publicized manner and it is something that will be pursued very agressively.
I personally think that finding nothing is just as significant as finding something. either way, there is verification... the same verification which Iraq has intentionally failed to allow or provide in 12 years of lies and deception and 16 failed UN Security Council Resolutions.
|