Letter: It’s too soon to assume WMD don’t exist in Iraq

Friday, Feb. 6, 2004 | 4:40 a.m.

WEEKEND EDITION

Feb. 7 - 8, 2004

As to weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, please keep in mind that there is no evidence that such weapons do not exist, but only that former chief weapons inspector David Kay and his associates were unable to locate them.

It is still premature to assume that simply because the inspectors have been unsuccessful, that with more time, new and even more thorough inspectors won't succeed where their predecessors failed.

In addition, David Kay's sudden resignation has been publicly stated to have occured not out of frustration with the weapons search, but because the funding for the search was being reduced to allow for greater funding for military activity in Iraq.

Therefore, it is not unreasonable to believe that emotion, based on resentment of the funding reduction, may have played a significant part not only in his resignation, but also in his subsequent and repeated public denunciations of the intelligence community.

JORDAN H. BODENSTEIN