The problems in Iraq have been mishandled for years.  A good deal of the fault of that lies with the United Nations, who allowed the Iraqi government to violate the terms of the surrender of the first Gulf War.  For that reason alone, I was for going into Iraq back in the days of Bill Clinton.

And yet, we didn't.  We watched Iraq thumb their nose at the U.N. with regards to the weapons inspectors.  Finally, when they allowed the weapons inspectors back in, there's a great deal of question as to whether or not the inspectors were receiving full cooperation.

Given such a case, and given Iraq's defiance of the U.N., I could have - and did - support the United States going into Iraq.  If the U.N. will not act in defense of its resolutions, then the burden of responsibility falls upon the United States, as a superpower of the world.  Those nations who chose not to act should be ashamed of the way that they have effectively destroyed the belief that the U.N. will enforce its resolutions.

However, I was told we were going to find weapons of mass destruction.  I was led to believe our government had absolute proof, and even knew where they'd be.  What have we found?  A truck that could have served as a bioweapon lab.  Well, given what I was told going in to this war, then that's not enough.  Not for me.  I want the weapons found.  I want to see our government prove to me that our intelligence-gathering operations are not filled with bureaucrats and idiots.  I want to see that the money for defense is being well-spent.

I have no problems at all with the performance of our military.  They've done their job, and done it as best it could be done.  I have problems with the seeming incompetence of our intelligence operations, and I have problems with the way the White House sold me on this war.

The next time the government wants more money for defense, I want to be sure that it goes to the military and to research and development.  I don't want it going to bureaucracy or intelligence until they get their act together.

This page last updated 11/13/06 .