Polish Prez: We were "misled" about WMD

[mactastic]

Link (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4555592/)

Poland, which has about 2,400 troops in Iraq and was a strong supporter of the U.S.-led invasion, was “misled” about the threat from Saddam Hussein’s weapons of mass destruction, its president said Thursday.

Earlier in the day, Kwasniewski said Poland may start withdrawing its troops from Iraq early next year, months earlier than the previously stated date of mid-2005.

“Naturally, one may protest the reasons for the war action in Iraq. I personally think that today, Iraq without Saddam Hussein is a truly better Iraq than with Saddam Hussein,” Kwasniewski told the European reporters.

“But naturally I also feel uncomfortable due to the fact that we were misled with the information on weapons of mass destruction,” he said, according to a transcript released by the presidential press office.


Looks like the 'coalition of the willing' is cracking. Two major supporters, Spain and Poland, are voicing opposition to the war in Iraq. Gee, maybe international opinion of us is slipping.

[numediaman]

Its all about lies. No one would argue that Iraq is better off without Saddam -- but Bush didn't use this argument as his main reason for going to war. It was all about the threat, the weapons. How many times did we hear the line "he's used WMDs in the past"?

So, Bush goes in, claims victory, but in the end, the U.S. loses. We lost because the credibility of the nation has been compromised. We lost because we can no longer count on our allies (because they can no longer count on us).

The consequences are going to be enormous: the Arab countries might start using the Euro to price their oil, we can not influence their output the way we once did, the Europeans will continue to exclude U.S. firms in sensitive procurements, etc.

A military victory has resulted in a political defeat.