bismi-lLahi-rRahmani-rRahiem
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
=== News Update ===
WMD search ends: Your reaction
The United States has stopped searching for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, according to Intelligence officials.
They say the chief US investigator, Charles Duelfer, is not planning to return to the country.
In a previous report, Mr Duelfer said there had been no stockpiles of chemical or biological weapons at the time of the US-led invasion.
What is your reaction to the announcement? Does the absence of WMD affect your views on the war? Will there be any political fallout over this? Send us your views.
The following comments reflect the balance of opinion received so far:
How much of our money have they spent finding out what we all knew all along? They could at least apologise.
Mark, London, UK
Most of the critical comments coming up after this US announcement do not target the American people, which are just as nice, human (and naive I should say) as the rest of the world's people are. The critical words do clearly blame the former and actual US government. I sincerely hope that the US and EU folks overcome their differences as soon as possible, and that we could welcome many US tourists in the EU again without this dumb matter shadowing our good understanding.
Jerry Klein, Hautcharage, Luxembourg
Comments such as "We've liberated millions" are a little unfounded. Yes a brutal dictator has been removed from power but there is nothing stopping rebels causing problems for many years to come. Look at the historic problems in Ireland with the IRA for example... WMDs were never going to be found, it was a poor excuse to try and gain support for the war in Iraq and another oil rich ally.
Ryan Haines, Cardiff, Wales
Most of us probably expected exactly this outcome
Volker, London, England
Most of us probably expected exactly this outcome. Including the government. They just had to wait to end the search until the people weren't interested in the issue anymore. It was used to start a war for which there was no rational reason. Hopping half way around the globe and flatten a country for its oil wouldn't have sounded so attractive in the tabloids.
Volker, London, England
WMD investigators going home empty-handed is not news. The Republican US administration has nothing to lose now that the election is over. Soon the troops will also head home and the artificially maintained Iraqi state will self-destruct.
Cedric Dodin, Victoria, Seychelles
Mr Bush's decision has already destroyed Iraq and snatched the peace. Even if Mr Bush apologises, will the lives of innocent civilians and US soldiers come back.
Rozat, India
After invading Iraq for having WMDs, and steamrolling over the rest of the world in order to do so, I would hope that even the most ardent supporters of the Bush administration might now admit that the US government made a mistake. Although, after watching the elections unfold, I sincerely doubt it.
Troy, Flint, Michigan
Will all the "we told you so" people please shut up. Not finding WMD is not the same as WMD not existing. There are any number of possibilities of why they weren't found and with the way the UN handled the inspections it certainly wouldn't be surprising to learn that Saddam had plenty of time, years in fact, to hide them.
Jeff, Cleveland, USA
There were better reasons to wage war on Iraq
William Cass, Denmark
There were better reasons to wage war on Iraq, and more credible ones. The US and Britain had been policing the country since the Gulf War, without ultimately being able to trust the regime there, as it had not begun peaceful and constructive coexistence with the rest of the world. Saddam had long since proven the kind of leader he was, and what he was capable of!
The coalition was right to suspect Iraq, and to act accordingly. The war was inevitable, as no country can be expected to continue to bear the cost of containing another, forever. The only real question then and now is whether it shouldn't have happened as a natural conclusion to the Gulf War. At that time the reason for going to war was not questioned, and the Americans were really true heroes!
William Cass, Denmark
Just because you have a sign saying "Beware of the Dog" does not mean to say you actually have a dog. Britain and the US would do well to think about that in future.
Adrian Mugridge, Chester, UK
Saddam himself was the biggest threat and could be classified as a Weapon of Mass Destruction. We have him and therefore all action is justified.
Julian, Corsham
Reading these posts, one would think that most BBC readers want the US and its allies to withdraw, to put Saddam Hussein and his cronies back in power and to place the tens of thousands of political prisoners of the Saddam regime back in jail.
Michael, Luxembourg City, Luxembourg
Makes no difference to me. We have created a new fledgling democracy in a part of the world that needs it and freed millions in the process. I for one would rather die in the struggle for self determination than spend one minute under a tyrant like Saddam. Would the anti-war liberals prefer to live in slavery? Of course not, the freedoms we have in Europe today are thanks to the strong military action of the US and not because of appeaser nations like France.
Roger, Whitwick, England
It is time the US and UK admitted they were only after a regime change and the WMD excuse was just a tissue of lies invented to justify an illegal invasion to save the US using its own oil reserves until they have bled the rest of the world dry.
Danny Cooper, UK
I think all of the WMD were moved on trucks to Syria before the war!
Shmuel Oliven, Jerusalem, Israel
We have been lied to on an unprecedented scale
Rei, Cork, Ireland
This confirms what has been said all along. We have been lied to on an unprecedented scale by our elected governments to further private interests. Is this democracy in action?
Rei, Cork, Ireland
The thing about the view from America is that they really do believe all the nonsense that their media puts out. Their view of history really is the Hollywood fantasy represented on these pages. Americans seem to live in a world of pure propaganda.
Steve, UK
The fact of the matter is, Saddam once had these weapons and has used them to kill his own people. That is enough to have him removed from power because, as he proved, he cannot be trusted.
Jay, Northampton, UK
Will Bush, Blair, Rumsfeld and Rice now please demonstrate some courage and responsibility for their decisions by setting up their permanent seat of government to run the US and UK from the centre of Baghdad.
Duncan French, Rome, Italy
I think that the UN should look in the US for WMD - I'm sure it would be successful then. Once we then find these weapons we should then "ask" America to relinquish these weapons. I believe that at this point other nations would then be less likely to hold these weapons. Think Peace not fear!
Mark Buchan, Rustington, West Sussex
Before the illegal invasion Iraq supplied the UN with a massive dossier of its weapons capabilities, which was appropriated by the Pentagon. Perhaps this dossier told the truth, but we will never know.
Nigel, New Zealand.
Don't blame Tony Blair for doing the sensible thing and acting on that information
Craig, London, UK
Could Trevor Smith and others wake their brains up please? We went to war on the basis that there were WMD, the intelligence services said so. Don't blame Tony Blair for doing the sensible thing and acting on that information. In his shoes, I and most sane people would have done the same. What should happen now is sackings for those that provided the incorrect information
Craig, London, UK
When the administration said, "We know for a fact that Saddam has WMDs," how can they now, after such a tremendous loss of lives on both sides, just say it was someone else's bad information? What happened to former president Truman's motto, "The Buck Stops Here"? Bush says he has no regrets. Nor, apparently, does the country that re-elected him. Would it have made a difference in the presidential election if this had been disclosed prior to the election?
Elizabeth, USA/Japan
A post on this page says we are US bashing - no one is USA bashing, the US people are well liked and we know what sacrifices they have made for Europe in the past. What we have a problem with is US foreign policy (i.e. Govt). Who do you think put Saddam where he was? Who do you think sold him WMDs? That is why the hypocrisy that we went to war because of WMDs or because he was a tyrant sticks so much in so many people's throats.
Gerry, Scotland
After those pictures of mass graves in Iraq, the requirement to find WMD became irrelevant. The removal of Saddam was justified on humanitarian grounds alone, end of story. Those calling for Blair's resignation should remember that Howard backed the Iraq war at the time and has only started to make out otherwise now it is expedient to do so. I have no doubt whatsoever that had we been under Tory rule we would have gone to war on exactly the same grounds.
Tim, Herne Bay, England.
This announcement is piteous acknowledgement that Mr Blix was right
Mary McCannon, Budapest, Hungary
The search for any WMD in Iraq ended a long time ago, and this announcement is piteous acknowledgement that Mr Blix was right. What the US administration will never ever admit is that the whole Iraq affair shed light on many weak points in US Intelligence and it has therefore lost its credibility in the eyes of the international community.
Mary McCannon, Budapest, Hungary
What a waste of money and manpower! If all these money were channelled into the disaster relief plan or some other social programmes, there might be a better outcome. Instead of inviting more hatred, the US can make friends with the world (with the right use of money). Will they ever learn a lesson?
F, Malaysia
Wrong evidence? It is sad to see so many people instantly buying the "mistake" version. Come on, honestly, what are the chances of this being some sort of a naive "mistake" rather than what we all know it really was: a deliberate deception. It looks like some sort of a collective denial. Snap out of it.
Mat, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Whether it was all a lie, or just tunnel vision on the part of every intelligence service on the planet, the fact remains that Saddam Hussein, his family and his cronies can no longer maim, torture, defile, or rule the people of Iraq. The President of The United States of America is a man of strong moral character, and follows the lead of his God well. We should be thankful that we are less one tyrant in this world today.
Steven H., La Crosse, U.S.A.
The whole war has been a travesty that will cost us dear in years to come
Carlos Cortiglia, London, UK
It proves the point that the weapons were not there in the first place and that the whole war has been a travesty that will cost us dear in years to come. Religious, ethnic and cultural hostility has never been greater and there are growing concerns in this respect. Tens of thousands of people died and continue to die as a direct consequence of the madness of our leaders. Because of the total waste created by the war, tens of thousands of people have lost their jobs and their livelihoods. We cannot take George Bush to court, but I believe Tony Blair should be taken to court and be answerable for his decision to take us to war.
Carlos Cortiglia, London, UK
Failure to find WMD does not change my view on the war. It was and remains justified and I applaud the US and those coalition partners that remain steadfast in finishing the job. Saddam did have weapons of mass destruction - he used them against the Kurds and the Iranians. If he had destroyed all his stockpiles after the first Gulf war, why did he go to such lengths to obstruct the investigators in the years that followed? Perhaps he wanted to avoid loss of face in the Arab world by convincing them that he was standing up to the western led calls to dispose of his WMD. Whatever the reasons, Saddam played a game of brinkmanship that ultimately led to his downfall.
Rob Lovett, Swindon, Wiltshire
Well I wonder how the "truly democratic" people of UK and US will react to the fact that their governments plainly misled them. My guess is that nothing will happen. The war and murder in Iraq will continue for years to come until Iraqi oil is completely drained.
IF, Russia
Three little words: France was right.
Michael, Nieul-sur-mer, France
After so much talk of WMDs, could Mssrs Bush and Blair now please publicly acknowledge that their arguments for invading Iraq were based on wrong evidence?
Andrea Krug, London, UK
I have no doubt that Saddam was posturing and had to be dealt with
Matt, Cambridge Ma, USA
I am sick and tired of America bashing. Who came to the aid of Europe when they needed it most, twice I might add. Who has done more to promote democracy and peace in the world. Where was Europe and the world to protest Saddam's brutal regime? It is always easy to look in the mirror. In a 9/11 world you have to react and not wait for something to tragic to happen before it is too late. I have no doubt that Saddam was posturing and had to be dealt with.
Matt, Cambridge Ma, USA
If Clinton can be impeached for lying about sex shouldn't Bush stand trial for lying about WMD?
Manish, California
The whole world has been coming to the conclusion that there were no WMD. It took some longer than others to reach this point and some never did think there was any. The bottom line is that there is no shock value in the announcement that the USA has discontinued the search. We would have been more surprised if they found any!
Gordon Jackson, Nanaimo, Canada
I feel disappointed of my country for giving up the search for the WMDs. I expected this President, whom I voted for, to complete the tasks and goals that were set by his administration. In knowing that the search will be stopped is another reason that I doubt my President and his evolving administration.
Jose M. Jr, Fayetteville, North Carolina
My two sons may have gone to war based on lies
Tony, Toronto, Canada
I am so glad I don't live in the United States. My two sons may have gone to war, based on lies, to liberate a Country which now hates it's occupancy. Where was the USA in Uganda, Rwanda, Cambodia, Croatia, etc. Is it a coincidence that Iraq and Kuwait have oil while other Countries in trouble don't. I'm proud of Canada for seeing through this facade.
Tony, Toronto, Canada
Does it really matter? The validity of the WMD argument only mattered before the war: as soon as troops moved in, there was no stopping any of it anyway. It was already widely expected that no WMD would be found, and Bush long ago switched his pitch to eradicating the ' evil' of Saddam. There will be no political consequences, and there will be no humility forthcoming from the US. Sadly, what is an important fact has been reduced by circumstance to a triviality.
Michael Moszczynski, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Most American's are so influenced by the corporate media machine that they really can't possibly have an objective opinion concerning anything in Iraq. The entire War is sugar coated and we rarely even see bloodshed on the Major Networks. Of course with the Bush administration's arrogance concerning the rest of the world I expect we'll get what's coming to us eventually.
William Gannon, Burlington, Vermont
When the arms inspectors were kicked out by Saddam Hussein, the world had no idea what weapons he had
Gareth Harris, Pensacola Florida
After December 1998, when the arms inspectors were kicked out by Saddam Hussein, the world had no idea what weapons he had. He allowed the inspectors back in only once there were a quarter of a million troops building for an invasion, by which time standing down those troops was not practicable. To have assumed that Saddam Hussein, who had invaded two of his neighbours, launched missiles at Israel, used chemical weapons extensively, and had a nuclear program, was not re-launching a WMD program in the absence of monitoring would have been extremely foolish (to put it mildly). That is the environment that Bush and Blair had to make their decisions, without the benefit of the hindsight so many are now waving in their face.
Gareth Harris, Pensacola Florida
Will there be a backlash? Of course not. The US invaded another sovereign nation and it will get away with it, eventually at least, because for now, its troops are paying the ultimate sacrifice for the Bush Doctrine. Lets force Christian values onto people, even when they prefer their way of life
Basic, MD, USA
Thousands of innocent people killed, torture of prisoners, complete disregard for human rights, state security cracking down on basic freedoms, invasion of other countries and ownership of weapons of mass destruction. I think we had better invade the US to stop this rogue state! It is sad that the United States has stooped to the level of Iraq.
Robert Cox, Vancouver, Canada
Shame shame shame! But let's be thankful that the US did not plant WMDs to perpetuate the lie. If not in the US administration, we can at least have faith in the US institutions. Let us see if these institutions can now find someone accountable for this costly lie.
Hrishi, India
We've liberated millions of people from decades of tyranny
Geode, USA
Is it so terrible that Saddam is gone and Iraqis have a shot at democracy? Sure war is hell, but we've liberated millions of people from decades of tyranny and far worse brutality in every way than our regime change. Unfortunately closed minds are impossible to liberate.
Geode, USA
The United States and UK took the case of Iraq WMD before the UN Council with all types of falsified claims. Now after all these economic, political and social catastrophes in Iraq; Are they ready to go before the UN ones more and this time apologizing to the world for being selfish in their decision to start a war that has caused thousands of lives and economic set backs for the Iraqis?
Dennis Mwaipola, Mbeya, Tanzania
Every one of the letters posted that laments the loss of life in 'post Saddam Iraq' fail to mentions the loss of life during Saddam's regime. They cry for the recent dead but not the past dead. These people need to understand that Iraq is the frontline in the war against terror. It is a battle and people die like they did on September 11 and in Madrid, Bali, East Africa, and Turkey. It's a war. Kill or be killed. It's that simple. Thank Goodness W was re-elected and is willing to fight.
RB Richter, Dallas, TX USA
That makes the war not only illegal, but unabashedly unjustified and immoral. The United States, Great Britain and the "coalition of the willing" owe the people of Iraq an apology, war reparations, and the withdrawal of their troops. The euphemisms of "war on terror ... rebels, insurgents" are no justification for the continued killing and destruction of people who are fighting to free their country from occupiers.
Ron LaFramboise, Rome, Italy
What a waste of good lives for the interests of a few
Daniel, LA, California
It didn't take the public two years to realize there were no WMDs in Iraq, we all realized this whole war was based on lies 6 months later. What a waste of good lives for the interests of a few.
Daniel, LA, California
I think that the only person who was surprised at the finding (or lack there of) was the common man in the streets of America. Everyone around the world (even American leaders) knew all along that there was nothing there to find.
Tito, Chicago, USA
Surely, this now has to be the point when Mr Blair resigns. His justification to the British people for the invasion of Iraq was to disarm Saddam of his weaponry. He said nothing about regime change being policy. No, it was the weapons and the terrible threat they posed to the British people.
Trevor Smith, Bakewell
Saddam had months leading up to the invasion to plan for weapons to be hidden
Brian, Tokyo, Japan
No, it does not change my view of the war. Note that Mr Duelfer stated that stockpiles did not exist at the time of the invasion. Saddam had months leading up to the invasion to plan for weapons to be hidden or transported out of the country. The boarders are not now and were not then sealed.
Brian, Tokyo, Japan
What a colossal waste of time, lives, and money. Now, more people have been killed in Iraq (mostly Iraqis) than would have been had Saddam possessed and used WMDs. And to think people re-elected Bush too...tragic.
J Roberts, La Mirada, USA
I just find the whole sordid affair hilarious, in a sad way. Bush refused to be patient with the UN weapons inspectors. Then he begged the world to be patient with him so his claims of WMDs could be proven. And now Bush's claims are shown to have been nothing but a sham. I continue to be ashamed of this President.
Andy Burke, Branchburg, NJ
What was coming has finally happened. They have admitted it. Now please clean up the mess you have created in Iraq.
Cheta Nwanze, Abuja, Nigeria
Do you mean they were still looking?
Gustavo Silva, Saint Etienne France
Bush's rush to war based on the false WMD claim has further eroded Americas credibility
Jason Dimmell, Ottawa Canada
Iran and North Korea are both breathing a little easier thanks to Bush and Blair's botching of the Iraq WMD affair. Let's face it, the next time America stands up to warn of another dangerous WMD arsenal in the hands of a madman, it will be much more difficult to appear credible in the eyes of the international community. Bush's rush to war based on the false WMD claim has further eroded Americas credibility in an era in which needs as much international support as it can get.
Jason Dimmell, Ottawa Canada
This should be no surprise to anyone. It is about time this administration gives up the charade. I am happy to know that the resources that were being used for the search can now be used for reconstruction and other worthwhile projects.
Tony Angelo, Anchorage, Alaska, USA
There no justification of war and the killing of all these poor soldiers from both sides and the civilians as well. Is it possible now to charge George Bush with war criminal acts because of his actions?
Naba Tangan, Tampa, Florida, USA
Because they didn't find them does not necessarily mean they were not there...
Dan, US
All along we knew it was a ruse
David, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
Something we knew all along, what is the worst of all, there seems to be little public outrage about the announcement. Maybe that's because all along we knew it was a ruse, and red states still don't seem to care.
David, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
Is this really news? The fact that Iraq had no WMD has been pretty obvious for a long time. Unfortunately I do not see any political fallout from this. One only needs to look at our election to see that invading countries on false pretences had no negative impact on Bush's ability to win the election.
Eric Ross, Oregon, USA
And what will happen to those who commissioned this search, wasting our time, money and human life? Not a thing. I wonder how their conscious works.
William J. McKinstry, Quakertown, PA, USA
No surprise. There is no way the US can leave Iraq now because after this occupation, "revenge" will take hold - as is the custom there - and instead of al-Qaeda the US will have to worry about "al-Iraq". Thanks to Bush and his Neocons, we are now more insecure over the long run.
Hasan Hussein, Cincinnati, USA
Justice will never be done for all of the soldiers and Iraqi civilians who lost their lives needlessly
Ryan Healy, Tucson, Arizona
There is only one thing more disturbing than this unnecessary war: the culprits, the leaders of the various governments responsible for this war, will get away with it completely unscathed. Justice will never be done for all of the soldiers and Iraqi civilians who lost their lives needlessly.
Ryan Healy, Tucson, Arizona
We told you so!
Jake Earnshaw, Victoria BC, Canada
I am not surprised. The Bush administration's words never said anything about having proof, only vague generalities and "maybes"
Bill, Birmingham, Michigan, USA
It was a mistake to ever make the war about WMDs. If they had them, they could have gotten rid of them. And if they didn't have them, then you just invaded a country on false pretence. I do believe that Saddam had to be dealt with in some way, but the failed strategy and Bush's inability to ever employ diplomacy suggests that perhaps he was not the man for the job. It's just too bad that our other choice lacked the spine it takes to stand by your convictions.
Jeff Stein, Purchase, NY, USA
===
-muslim voice-
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