Regardless of semantics, which is what this comes down to in this case. Are they or aren't they of the proper specifications to use in a centrifuge? And why would the U.S. claim that they were if they weren't? Bottom line: The tubes, no matter what they're being used for, are on the list of items PROHIBITED by U.N. resolutions. It doesn't matter if they brought those tubes into Iraq to use them to build the worlds largest soda cans, fact remains that Iraq is NOT suppose to have them or be attempting to acquire them. If you're not suppose to do something, and you go do it anyway, no one really cares what the reason for it was - they just know you were doing something wrong.

The aluminum tubes were prohibited -- there's no doubt about that. However, the way Iraq intended to use them makes a very large difference. Going to war to prevent Iraq from developing nuclear weapons is one thing; I'm still against it at this time, but that's another argument. Going to war over a few aluminum tubes that were only going to be used for rockets is something different entirely. Is it really worth having American soldiers and Iraqi citizens killed for something like that? Bush is basing his case for war on the claim that Iraq is a threat to our national security. If we have no proof that even suggests Iraq is making nuclear weapons, then his argument collapses. Think about that before you accuse anyone of being stupid.


Sill Reading WoT .