> > 4. Saddam has known ties to international terrorist groups, including al Qaeda.
> >
> > Not yet conclusively proven.
>
> Yeah, this one I'm with MANGO and wintermute on. These ties are very specious -- I'd like to see hard evidence for them. Even if Al Qaeda dudes are chillin' in North Iraq, it doesn't mean that Saddam is helping them, as I understand he has very little control over that part of the country.

Just to be clear, I don't doubt that Iraq (and Hussain in particular) has links to Islamist terrorist groups. I just don't believe that al-Qaeda is one of them.

> > Those torture methods you have heard about have not been proven to be true. Just because the president says something doesn't make it a fact. I think that Bush's speech was just cleverly crafted enough to make people like him, and then make people agree with his dislike for Iraq. I'm going to say it now. BUSH'S SPEECH WAS NOTHING BUT ANTI-IRAQ PROPAGANDA!!!
>
> Also, you claim that claims of torture haven't been proven. You need to do some research before you make these claims. Check out Amnesty International, an organization not particularly fond of the U.S. or the idea of a war on Iraq.

Thanks for saving me the effort of digging out AI quotes on that. It was my first instinct, when I read MANGO's post.

winter"clarification"mute