Before I reply, let’s just look at the phrase “WMDs has nothing to do with mass destruction” and think for a while. Maybe we should taboo the phrase “WMD”.
Was it supposed to be bad for Saddam to have certain objects merely because they were regulated under the Chemical Weapons Convention, or because of their actual potential for harm?
The justification for the war was that Iraq could give dangerous things to terrorists. Or possibly fire them into Israel. It was the actual potential for harm that was the problem.
Rusty shells with traces of sarin degradation products on them might legally be regulated as chemical weapons, but if they have no practical potential to be used to cause harm, they are hardly relevant to the discussion. Especially because they were left over from the 80s, when it is already well known that Iraq had chemical weapons.
Saddam: Hi Osama, in order that you might meet our common objectives, I’m gifting you with several tonnes of scrap metal I dug up. It might have some sarin or related breakdown products, in unknown amounts. All you have to do is smuggle it into the US, find a way to extract the toxic stuff, and disperse it evenly into the subway! Just like the Aum Shin Ryku attack. Except, this time, maybe you will be able to disperse it effectively enough that some people actually die.
Osama: WTF dude?
I know this discussion is off-topic, but I hope people won’t mark it down too much, as it is a salutary example of the massively degrading effect of political topics on quality of discussion.
Before I reply, let’s just look at the phrase “WMDs has nothing to do with mass destruction” and think for a while. Maybe we should taboo the phrase “WMD”.
I don’t think that’s enough for clear communication on this issue. People have different views about which kinds of weapons are bad, and for what reason, and what the implications of this badness are.
So, the most constructive thing to do at this point would be for each participant to spell out exactly which weapon production methods (be specific!) you would classify as a “WMD”. Explain its functionality, the difficult parts in making them, and how a terrorist or government would go abount procuring those parts.
Once you’ve explained exactly how these so-called “WMDs” are produced can we come to any agreement about who’s correct regarding Saddam Hussein and the Iraq War.
I don’t think you’re taking this discussion seriously, and that hurts my feelings. I’m not going to vote your comment down, but I am going to unbend a couple of boxes of paperclips at the office tomorrow.
Before I reply, let’s just look at the phrase “WMDs has nothing to do with mass destruction” and think for a while. Maybe we should taboo the phrase “WMD”.
Was it supposed to be bad for Saddam to have certain objects merely because they were regulated under the Chemical Weapons Convention, or because of their actual potential for harm?
The justification for the war was that Iraq could give dangerous things to terrorists. Or possibly fire them into Israel. It was the actual potential for harm that was the problem.
Rusty shells with traces of sarin degradation products on them might legally be regulated as chemical weapons, but if they have no practical potential to be used to cause harm, they are hardly relevant to the discussion. Especially because they were left over from the 80s, when it is already well known that Iraq had chemical weapons.
Saddam: Hi Osama, in order that you might meet our common objectives, I’m gifting you with several tonnes of scrap metal I dug up. It might have some sarin or related breakdown products, in unknown amounts. All you have to do is smuggle it into the US, find a way to extract the toxic stuff, and disperse it evenly into the subway! Just like the Aum Shin Ryku attack. Except, this time, maybe you will be able to disperse it effectively enough that some people actually die.
Osama: WTF dude?
I know this discussion is off-topic, but I hope people won’t mark it down too much, as it is a salutary example of the massively degrading effect of political topics on quality of discussion.
I don’t think that’s enough for clear communication on this issue. People have different views about which kinds of weapons are bad, and for what reason, and what the implications of this badness are.
So, the most constructive thing to do at this point would be for each participant to spell out exactly which weapon production methods (be specific!) you would classify as a “WMD”. Explain its functionality, the difficult parts in making them, and how a terrorist or government would go abount procuring those parts.
Once you’ve explained exactly how these so-called “WMDs” are produced can we come to any agreement about who’s correct regarding Saddam Hussein and the Iraq War.
But what does this have to do with paper clips?
Absolutely nothing. Therefore, there is no danger in telling me how to build WMDs.
I believe that one point MacGyver unfolded a paperclip to disarm a WMD. Clearly you should do your best to minimize WMDs so no one needs to do that.
I don’t think you’re taking this discussion seriously, and that hurts my feelings. I’m not going to vote your comment down, but I am going to unbend a couple of boxes of paperclips at the office tomorrow.
You’re a bad human.
It’s a good thing that, despite your obvious desire to obtain WMD capability, you’re just an AI with no way to control a nuclear weapons factory.
Unless… Clippy, is that Stuxnet worm part of you? ’Fess up.