Invasion produces WMD's

In one of the ironies of history, it now turns out that although U.S. troops found no biological and chemical weapons in Iraq when we overthrew Saddam in March 2003, there is evidence that insurgent groups began production of chemical and biological weapons after the invasion to attack U.S. forces there. Thus, we may have inadvertently chosen a policy that led to the production of the very WMD's we fought the war to destroy. The Washington Post reports:

U.S. troops raiding a warehouse in the northern city of Mosul uncovered a suspected chemical-weapons factory containing 1,500 gallons of chemicals believed destined for attacks on U.S. and Iraqi forces and civilians, military officials said Saturday. . . .

The operation was the biggest suspected chemical-weapon lab found so far in Iraq, Boylan said. A lab discovered last year in the insurgent stronghold of Fallujah contained a how-to book for chemical weapons and an unspecified amount of chemicals.

The spokesman said the operation was new, not dating from before the U.S.-led invasion. The Bush administration used allegations that Hussein's government was manufacturing weapons of mass destruction as the main justification for the invasion. No such weapons or factories were found.

If these reports are true, it would not be the only bitter irony of this ill-advised war.