OK I have read the whole thread so far and I have a few things to say. In fact, I registered just to post this. First of all, I would like to hear from the anti-war people realistic alternatives to war that a body of elected officials with the responsibilty of protecting millions of citizens could possibly consider. But before anyone replies please read the rest of my post.
Keep in mind, persons with that responsibilty are require to base thier decisions on FACTS, not hopes, wishes, dreams, or idealisms.
Keep in mind the fact that Saddam has been caught several times with banned weapons he has claimed were not even there to begin with. By banned, I mean evidence of chemical and biological plants, and the long range missiles capable of delivering the said substances.
Keep in mind the fact that Saddam has dropped chemical and biological weapons on the Kurds, (who I have NEVER EVER heard ONE anti-war person speak up for ONCE in the years since Desert Storm).
Keep in mind Saddam took step #1 in the proccess to cripple the US, economically and militarily, by invading Kuwait and taking control of thier oil fields. If you think Saddam just wanted Kuwait, you need to get your head examined, because no other Arab nation had the ability, supplies, time, or manpower to field a military force capable of stopping him. The number one reason the U.N. actually pretended to have balls at the time was because the entire oil supply in the region, (at the time the fields the Russians discovered last year, or the year before were at the time unknown), was at high risk of being taken over, and controlled by, a force with 100% hostility to not just the US, but realisticaly and potentially, any country not in-line with Saddam's goals.
How many lies and threats are required before war is a viable option in your opinion? He has from DAY ONE done his best to deceive U.N. inspectors and today even admitted for the first time that he actually HAD THE WEAPONS THE WHOLE TIME as he rolled out a WHOPPING TWO banned missiles for the U.N. team to supervise the dismantling of. Twelve years is a slap in the face, not to the USA, but the whole United Nations, and the rest of the free world.
What does it take in your mind to justify force to protect OUR innocent civilians from the threat of these weapons? All I ever hear from anti-war people are gripes about the war, but never EVER a viable solution. Peace DOES work. But only if BOTH sides want it.
When this war does start, I pray to God that you take time to pray not just for our troops, but for all troops involved, and the innocents involved. If you still need to point a finger at whose fault this war is, let it be at Saddam, the ONE man on the face of the earth who did not want or facilitate peace in any way during the last twelve years.