Originally Posted by onetime2

And, since I haven't said this in the last couple of days, one of the main reasons Iraq was invaded was because its defiance of the UN and US accords were an example to every country who was considering ignoring world efforts to stamp out terrorism. If the worst that the world can do to you is sanction you while allowing you to retain power over your country and continue to fill your pockets through things like the oil for food program there isn't all that much of a consequence if you decide that you'll allow Al Quaeda or other terrorist organizations to operate within your borders (or do not do much to root them out).