"...in the big lie there is always a certain force of credibility; because the broad masses of a nation are always more easily corrupted in the deeper strata of their emotional nature than consciously or voluntarily; and thus in the primitive simplicity of their minds they more readily fall victims to the big lie than the small lie, since they themselves often tell small lies in little matters but would be ashamed to resort to large-scale falsehoods. It would never come into their heads to fabricate colossal untruths, and they would not believe that others could have the impudence to distort the truth so infamously. Even though the facts which prove this to be so may be brought clearly to their minds, they will still doubt and waver and will continue to think that there may be some other explanation. For the grossly impudent lie always leaves traces behind it, even after it has been nailed down, a fact which is known to all expert liars in this world and to all who conspire together in the art of lying. These people know only too well how to use falsehood for the basest purposes."
- Adolf Hitler, Mein Kampf Chapter 10 -
A companion piece to reflect upon:
Disarm Saddam Hussein (from White House)
The gravest danger we face in the war on terror is outlaw regimes that seek and possess nuclear, chemical and biological weapons.
* Twelve years ago, Saddam Hussein agreed to disarm all weapons of mass destruction. For 12 years, he systematically violated that agreement.
* Three months ago, the United Nations Security Council gave Saddam his final chance to disarm. He has shown his utter contempt for the U.N.
* The U.N. and U.S. intelligence sources have known for some time that Saddam Hussein has materials to produce chemical and biological weapons, but he has not accounted for them:
. 26,000 liters of anthrax—, enough to kill several million people
. 38,000 liters of botulinum toxin
. 500 tons of sarin, mustard and VX nerve agents
* Almost 30,000 munitions capable of delivering chemical agents
* From three Iraqi defectors, we know that Iraq in the late 1990s had several mobile biological weapons labs. But he has not disclosed them.
* The International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed in the 1990s that Saddam Hussein had an advanced nuclear weapons development program, a design for a nuclear weapon, and was working on methods of enriching uranium for a nuclear bomb. He recently sought significant quantities of uranium from Africa [lie], according to the British Government. He has attempted to purchase high strength aluminum tubes suitable for nuclear weapons [lie], according to our intelligence sources. Yet he has not credibly explained these activities.
* Thousands of Iraqi security personnel are at work hiding documents and materials from the UN inspectors.
* Iraqi officials accompany all inspectors in order to intimidate witnesses.
* Iraq is blocking U-2 surveillance flights requested by the U.N.
* Saddam Hussein has ordered that scientists who cooperate with the UN be killed, along with their families.
* Saddam Hussein aids and protects terrorists, including al-Qaida members. He could provide hidden weapons to terrorists, or help them develop their own. It would take just one vial, one canister, one crate slipped into this country to bring a day of horror like none we have ever known.
The United States will ask the UN Security Council to convene next week to consider the facts of Iraq’s ongoing defiance of the world. We will consult. But if Saddam Hussein does not disarm, we will act for the safety of our people, and for the peace of the world.
One final reflection:
"Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence"
- Donald Rumsfeld -
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