Anti-Climacus

QUOTE: James S. Robbins, writing on NRO, about the Dossier:

"It is true that much of the same information was covered by a report from the International Institute of Strategic Studies, released a few weeks ago. And the new material (such as the 45-minute deployment window for Iraqi biological and chemical weapons) is not clearly marked as such, though the phrase "we now know" seems to indicate a more recent vintage. But even if everything in the report was something previously known, simply saying "there is nothing new" is not an argument against the validity, veracity, or importance of the document. Violations are violations, whether newly discovered or previously noted. What this position does show is the critics' perspective, one of acceptance. They are willing to allow Iraq to violate arms-control agreements and do nothing about it. The report is comprehensive — it is hard to deny the charges — so these critics do not even try. They do not say the facts are wrong, they simply are not interested in them. Since the opponents of taking resolute action against the emerging Iraqi threat have no case to make, they make a virtue of their resignation.

Some have challenged the factual basis of the report. For example, the Iraqi government called the document a "sheer fabrication" and is offering to let British journalists tour the named WMD development sites to see for themselves. To see what, one wonders? Would journalists — or congressmen for that matter — be able to identify tanks of banned anhydrous-hydrogen-fluoride gas (used in nuclear-weapons production) if they were sitting right in front of them? Or a "filament winding machine which could be used to manufacture carbon fiber gas centrifuge rotors?" I doubt I could, but that's what we have inspectors for."