There are a few problems here - because this article is in direct conflict with multiple years of National Intelligence Estimates - let alone recent history.  Iraq: was known to be a nation that was no threat to the US or its allies in 2001, 2002, and 2003;  had no WMD to speak of, and according to the CIA, the British, NATO,  and Germans (amongst others), the UN had done a thorough job of removing WMD from Iraq.  Furthermore, the CIA announced that the job was so thorough, that the only remaining WMD, if there were any, were "residual, and of no strategic consequence".

 

While Saddam harbored small time terrorists, he was in no way involved with Al Qaida (as was repeatedly claimed by the Bush Administration, and most infamously by Richard Cheney, long after the claims had been debunked).

 

Saddam was small time, and no threat to his neighbors - he was in his box with no where to go.

 

His removal caused, in conjunction with the addition of Iran to the so-called "axis of evil", the largest foreign policy blunder in US history, and according to the 2005 and 2006 NIE's, created a huge national security problem for the US and its allies.  That "policy" created a new cadre of terrorists (and funders of terrorism), and while it killed a lot - it didn't kill all of them. And the ones that survived are now battle tested.

 

Because we stupidly invaded Iraq (turning the local balance of power into the hands of the Iranians), the focus on AFghanistan was lost, causing the resurgence of the Taliban and Al Qaida (recruiting for money and volunteers).   According to the British, the AFghan campaign was lost the day it was decided that it was more important to invade Iraq than it was to finish the job in Afghanistan when we had the Taliban and Al Qaida on the run, and we were ont he trail. 

 

The entire fiasco (also the name of a book regarding the invasion of Iraq - now required reading for all command staff at the Pentagon), was the greatest terrorism recruiting tool ever devised, which in the end when combined with the economic collapse of the US (let alone the western world), garnered Al Qaida and the Taliban (and their ilk) the largest victory imaginable (according to these NIE's, and for that mater, the world press).

 

We might of learn a good deal - but we destabilized the entire region, and were massively indebted to a communist dictatorship in return for a phyrric victory.  And as if that wasn't bad enough - that same communist dictatorship - the Chinese - were the ones that got the lions share of the oil deals with Iraq.   

 

The USA won nothing from this escapade - except for mountains of money, many thousands of lives wasted, families destroyed, international reputation in ruins, the world united against us (the USA was voted the worst threat to world peace - even over IRAN by the rest of the planets population).

Chris, I agree with your WMD and harboring of small time terrorists, but to say "he was in his box with no where to go." is a bit much.  Remember he attacked Kuwait, and the US was alarmend, but didn't get involved in that.  It was only after he massed his troops on the Saudi border that the US became militarily involved.

 

Yes, prior to all of this the US aided Saddam in his war against Iran.  Only when he invaded one country and stood to invade another did US get involved.

 

In my opinion, doing nothing would have been a collosal foreign policy blunder.  History repeats itself, and everyone remembers Hitlers appeasement in the hopes that WWII would be prevented.  Sadly, we know that.  If Saddam had captured all of those oil fields would he have been a fair business man?  He wanted power and wealth, and this would have given him all of that.

 

The balance of power has shifted, and now Iran and Turkey appear to be squaring off.  We'll see.....

Thanks Chris, enjoyed your response, and can't really argue with anything posted.  I agree the failure to follow up on the rebellion cost Amercian troops lives in the second invasion.  Yes, I did get confused first invasion versus second invasion.  Looking forward to seeing more posts!  Take care