powerclown

Humint is of critical importance I agree. Allies are important too. The biggest problem facing the middle east isn't the west, it's the middle east. I think that solving internal domestic issues there should be the #1 priority. They need to get their house in order first and foremost. Religious extremism is a by-product of a failed state. Removing Hussein was a positive step in addressing the issue of failed states as breeding grounds for religious extremism. Iraq as an ally and productive country would be an extraordinary American foreign policy success and a major step in the right direction for the rest of the middle east and the rest of the world by extension. I'm not a huge fan of France right now either. Did you know they STILL mourn Arafat over there, those silly people. Chirac made an interesting comment the other day about Iranian intransigence, saying basically that Iran would be "razed" if they were to fire off a nuclear missile. I think something strange is in the water supply in France. Wait, why would you want to attack France?Did you ever see the pictures circulating the net of the missile murals they found in one of Sadaam's palaces...he had gigantic wall paintings of nuclear missiles aimed at Israel, painted in Iraqi national colors, with burning phoenixes, comet trails, victory symbols, with himself as Saladin riding a white horse in flamboyant military kit. He sure seemed like he had bad intentions...I don't know that he was the unarmed choirboy that he was made out to be. Haha, but you know South Korea isn't doing too badly nowadays. Throw a little free trade into the mix, and like magic you have prosperity, jobs, a sound economy, fiscal discipline, peaceful citizens, and an ally of the west. Sounds like a good formula for bringing about some desperately needed change in the middle east.
Well, we seem to be stuck on this. Each of us sees something the other doesn't. It is as if we are talking about apples and oranges. It's quite a conundrum. I saw no signs of reconciliation from Hussein in the 10 years between GW1 and OIP. He was as belligerent and defiant as ever. I don't understand claims of innocence as applied to Sadaam Hussein. More like this: 9/11 originated in the middle east, Iraq is in the middle east, Iraq is run by a virulently anti-westen dictator, attacked Kuwait, attacked Israel, attacked the Kurds, a major cause of instability in the region, supports terrorism against an American ally, ambitions of regional dominance, invade Iraq, take him out. Iran, while possibly more dangerous than Iraq, was keeping a low profile then, not yet chanting Death to America, and letting Iraq take all the heat from the world community. Iraq was the bully in the region, perhaps thats why he got spanked hardest.

I don't know too much about the sith, but I do know that Sadaam had ambitions to dominate the region and its resources with an iron fist. I don't think there is any middle ground about it. You say yes, he was maybe sorta a real threat, but not totally a threat, I'm not sure what this means. I'm not sure you're sure what this means. Then you say that this sorta threat really wasn't a threat, that sponsoring terrorism shouldn't be seen as a threat anyway, and it really doesn't matter anyway or whatever. He didn't do anything to anybody, he was perhaps busy growing dates in his orchard or something, somewhere, it doesn't matter anyway really. Yes Im being sarcastic because I don't know what the heck you mean that he was somewhere between a real threat and no threat.