Wednesday, February 06, 2008
Never underestimate your opponent
A bluff is a bluff, no matter how high the stakes, and Saddam obviously lost this one.
Interestingly, he apparently always did intend to eventually re-institute those ugly weapons programs. To me, that justifies our intervention, even if it's not popular...
Interestingly, he apparently always did intend to eventually re-institute those ugly weapons programs. To me, that justifies our intervention, even if it's not popular...
The bluff is discussed in a New York Post opinion column:
"At the same time, Saddam never really expected a full-scale US attack: If Washington thought Iraq was hiding WMDs, he figured, the worst it might do is launch something like the four-day pinprick bombing President Bill Clinton OK'd under similar circumstances in '98.
Saddam could live with that.
It turned out otherwise, but who's to blame him for thinking so, given the US record - not just in Iraq, but in other places where Washington's response has been heavily tempered?"
