Fact: There were no WMDs between the end of the 1st gulf war and now. Saddam was effectively dismantled. Anything before that "doesn't count" because he was our ally until he invaded oil, i mean kuwait. This is important because it changes the nature of international law. He most certainly violated UN resolutions. And then Colin Powell wipes his with the UN charter on national TV when the UN wouldn't edorse the use of force. This makes the use of force illegal under international law in the same sense that Saddam committed crimes. The most tragic consequence is the practical abolition of the UN. It was the legacy of WWII and all the people who died in that madness.
Fact: Iraq does not have links to al-qaida. Bin-Laden doesn't like Saddam because he invaded fundamentalist Iran and received military aid from the US. Saddam fought fundamentalist Iran because he feared a similar uprising being inspired in Iraq's shiite population. The truth is al-qaida recruitment has increased since the beginning of the war and more troops have died since Saddam was captured. National security?
It is interesting to point out that in 1982 Iraq was considered a terrorist state and in 1983, in order to sell arms, it wasn't. At that moment Nelson Mandela was then put on the terrorist list. Define terrorism again.
Debateable point: We are there bringing democracy and stability to Iraq. We can't compare this situation to Japan or Germany. Japan is probably the most industrious nation in the history of the world, their recovery was inevitable. Germany was at the time of Nazism probably the most culturally and scientifically advanced nation on earth, again their recovery was inevitable. Iraq doesn't have these qualities. The one defining condition for democracy and peace will be in Iraq's soveriegnty. If Iraq's resources are nationalized and the poverty situation improves, then we did well. If Iraq's oil resources are sold to international businesses the people of Iraq won't get a dime. That will lead to civil war, and if the poverty situation becomes worse than Iraq will effectively become Iran. This is the more likely situation. Just ask the Kosovars.
