Seanad debates
Thursday, 6 February 2003
Iraq Crisis: Statements (Resumed).
I understand the emotion in America but we should also consider the results of recent opinion polls there. One poll showed that over 70% of Americans were opposed to war. I have visited America many times, including during the Libyan bombardment when I could find hardly anybody who disagreed with it. It is normal for the American people to consolidate at a time like this, but why is it different now? Why are the American people doubting that this is the right course of action? One reason is the markers which America itself has put down, including the undiplomatic language about the smoking gun. They have admitted there is no smoking gun, although that does not mean that there are not weapons of mass destruction but we have UN inspectors to check that. Even in the preliminary reports we received from those inspectors it is quite clear that they are not over-oriented towards the regime in Iraq but they are trying to do their job in a responsible, accountable and transparent manner. It is wrong to be aggressive towards those people who seem to me to be trying to do what is right for everybody in this case. It is clear, however, that there is no smoking gun. As of now none has been found.
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