Nicholas Kristof of the NY Times points out this morning(Missing in Action: Truth), as others have, that this war was conducted under false pretenses if we do not find weapons of mass destruction (WMD’s). He says:

I rejoice in the newfound freedoms in Iraq. But there are indications that the U.S. government souped up intelligence, leaned on spooks to change their conclusions and concealed contrary information to deceive people at home and around the world.

Let’s fervently hope that tomorrow we find an Iraqi superdome filled with 500 tons of mustard gas and nerve gas, 25,000 liters of anthrax, 38,000 liters of botulinum toxin, 29,984 prohibited munitions capable of delivering chemical agents, several dozen Scud missiles, gas centrifuges to enrich uranium, 18 mobile biological warfare factories, long-range unmanned aerial vehicles to dispense anthrax, and proof of close ties with Al Qaeda. Those are the things that President Bush or his aides suggested Iraq might have, and I don’t want to believe that top administration officials tried to win support for the war with a campaign of wholesale deceit.

I join in Kristof’s hope and his fear. He also points out that this administration (and it isn’t alone), doesn’t seem to have a problem relying on information they know to be false, if it agrees with what they think to be true. Picking and choosing your own truth to agree with what you believe is certainly not a trait of good government.

Of course, the natural extension of Kristof’s discussion, is what are the ramifications if we don’t find these weapons? Even if the American people want to ignore it, because the Iraqi people have been freed, there are millions of citizens of the world who will have another example of American hubris to add to their growing animosity against us. Even if the American people want to act like it doesn’t matter, the difficulties experienced in forming a coalition for this war will pale next to what we will experience the next time.

If anyone believes that it’s okay to continue to allow that list to grow, we will never remove the spectre of imminent terrorism from our shores.