Could the war have happened without the WMD fraud?

[a_unique_person]

Interesting question raised in another thread. Could the war have been 'justified' without the WMD argument?

If this was not presented as being valid, was there any other argument that would have worked?

[fishbob]

Justified - maybe.

Implemented and carried out, sure.

If Bush had explained to the public that he felt Saddam should be removed, and had gone ahead and sent the military in, as he did, and then we had found mass graves and torture chambers, as we did, I think the public might have accepted his decision.

The after the fact justification that is currently being spun may get Bush off the hook with the hard core Bushophiles and some voters with tiny little short memories, but it just won't wash with the voters that dislike being lied to.

Just my opinion.