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Nothing restrained Saddam Hussein from his pursuit of weapons that would kill millions -- no economic sanctions, or isolation from the civilized world, not even cruise missile strikes on his military facilities.

The UN Security Council gave Saddam Hussein many chances to disarm. He showed utter contempt for the UN and the opinion of the world. The 108 UN inspectors were not sent to conduct a scavenger hunt for hidden materials. But to verify Iraq had an explanation, refutation of claims or was disarming. It was up to Iraq to silence any concerns about banned weapons and satisfactory show there were none, or destroy them as directed.  Nothing like that happened.

The UN in 1999 concluded Saddam Hussein had biological weapons sufficient to produce over 25,000 liters of anthrax -- enough doses to kill several million people. He didn't account for that material or argue it didn't exist.

The UN concluded Hussein had materials sufficient to produce more than 38,000 liters of botulinum toxin -- enough to subject millions of people to death by respiratory failure. He didn't account for that material or suggest it didn't exist.

US intelligence officials estimated Saddam Hussein could easily produce as much as 500 tons of sarin, mustard and VX nerve agent. He made no refutation of this, or denial of any materials.

US intelligence indicated he had upwards of 30,000 munitions capable of delivering chemical agents. On one occasion inspectors turned up 16 of them -- despite Iraq's declaration denying their existence.

From Iraqi defectors in the late 1990s it was stated Iraq had mobile biological weapons labs designed to produce germ warfare agents, moved from place to a place to evade inspectors. Saddam Hussein did not deny these facilities or indicated they were destroyed.

The International Atomic Energy Agency stated in the 1990s Saddam Hussein had an advanced nuclear weapons development program, a desire for a nuclear weapon and was working on five different methods of enriching uranium for a bomb. The British government learnt that Saddam Hussein sought significant quantities of uranium from Africa. US intelligence sources discovered Iraq attempted to purchase high-strength aluminum tubes for nuclear weapon production. Saddam Hussein did not credibly explain these activities but hid information about them.

The dictator of Iraq was not refuting, denying or disarming. To the contrary; he was deceiving. US intelligence sources knew of thousands of Iraqi security personnel who were at work hiding documents and materials from the UN inspectors, sanitizing inspection sites and monitoring the inspectors themselves. Iraqi officials accompanied the inspectors in order to intimidate witnesses.

Iraq was blocking U-2 surveillance flights requested by the UN. Iraqi intelligence officers were posing as the scientists that inspectors were supposed to interview. Real scientists had been coached by Iraqi officials on what to say. Intelligence sources indicated Saddam Hussein has ordered that scientists who cooperate with UN inspectors in disarming Iraq will be killed, along with their families.

Year after year, Saddam Hussein went to elaborate lengths, spent enormous sums, took great risks to seek  weapons of mass destruction. The only possible explanation was to dominate, intimidate, or attack.

With such weapons Saddam Hussein could fulfill his ambitions of conquest in the Middle East creating havoc in that region. Before 9/11 US intelligence sources knew of secret communications and statements by people (now in custody) which revealed Saddam Hussein aided and protected terrorists, including members of al Qaeda. So secretly he could easily provide weapons to terrorists, or help them develop their own.

Before 9/11 many believed Saddam Hussein could be contained. But chemical agents, lethal viruses and shadowy terrorist networks are not easily contained. Terrorists and tyrants do not announce their intentions before they strike. Trusting the sanity and restraint of Saddam Hussein could never be a strategy or option, or all actions, words, and recriminations come too late.

Saddam Hussein used the world's most dangerous weapons on whole villages -- leaving thousands of his own citizens dead, blind, or disfigured. Iraqi refugees revealed how forced confessions were obtained -- by torturing children while their parents are made to watch. International human rights groups catalogued other methods used in the torture chambers of Iraq: electric shock, burning with hot irons, dripping acid on the skin, mutilation with electric drills, cutting out tongues, and rape. If this is not evil, then evil has no meaning.

The New Zealand government cared nothing about the oppressed people of Iraq or the real enemy ruling their country. Nor did they care if his regime was removed from power. While the USA waited 12 years for Iraq to account, declare, refute or disarm. Iraq's ongoing defiance of the world did not worry the New Zealand labour Party or the Green Party. They did not accept there was any serious mounting threat. They made no protest to the UN, or cared about the danger facing friends and allies of New Zealand. Russia objected to Saddam's removal (their historical record is disgraceful).  France also strongly objected, France has had a history of supporting dictatorships throughout Africa and ignoring human rights.