I was there 20 years ago. It wasn’t worth it after we caught Saddam. That should have been the end.
RE: That should have been the end.
OK, what does the end mean? That we all go home and leave the Iraqis to sort what’s left of it out for themselves?
Jut because Sadam Hussein was executed doesn’t mean that there were no 9/11 related terrorists in Iraq. Remember Abu Al Zarqawi? he was just one of the many, including Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of ISIS ( Yes the other “I” in ISIS stands for IRAQ ).
To me, that is the best summary. He needed to be gone. Bullies only submit to counter force. If we didn't take him out he would just be emboldened to act elsewhere.
All of the 20/20 "hind sighters" forgot Kuwait and forgot the bluster saddam pumped out after we kicked his ass the first time but didn't take him out.