I've noticed recently that no-one on this forum has made much of a comment (well, not that I've noticed anyway - I might have missed something) about possible impending war with Iraq. I don't know whether this is a taboo subject or anything, or if everyone's sick to death of it. However.

What really struck me about the possibility of attacking Iraq is that one of the main reasons for action is that "Hussein is developing weapons of mass destruction." Everyone appears not to have noticed the fact that about 40 or so other countries are thought to have nuclear capability, and I'm sure that, of these, quite a few are developing some form of chemical weaponry too. Never underestimate the capability of the military to build a system that seems completely barbaric. (For example, the American military developed a balloon based attack system after WWII after the Japanese had done the same. The only Japanese balloon weapon to kill anyone killed children when they found it in a park.)

Anyway, the point I'm making is that these 40+ countries are allowed nuclear (and other) weapons, while Iraq obviously isn't. This seems to indicate that Iraq is outside the group of "trusted" nations, probably because of its past (Gulf War) and its breach of UN resolutions. If it was to allow weapons inspectors back in, and build up its reputation (the only way it can go is up at the moment, as it is hated by pretty much all of its direct neighbours, let alone other countries), then it would eventually reach the point where the so-called "community of nations" acepted it again. And then? Well, then it would be trusted to develop nuclear capability. In other words, to develop weapons of mass destruction.

Is it just me, or is there an enormous irony here?

Si-"Has more issues to discuss, but thinks he'd better deal with them one at a time"-gi