Mideast and America were better off before Iraq invasion. What we have unleashed cannot go back into the box. "Secular" nations under dictators is preferable to Islamic regimes. The next rulers of Syria will become another enemy of America and breeder and exporter of terror. I hope I am wrong but history shows America has a horrible track record in the region by many administrations.
FWIW, I think that region would be fielding plenty of terrorists at us regardless of today’s bombing. 9/11 twin tower attacks were not retaliation. No “Why do they hate us...”.
I agree. Saddam was a tyrant, but he was tolerant of Christianity and most other religions (so long as they didn’t directly oppose him). Even his atrocities towards the Kurds were due in large part to their work towards separating. Does that justify chemical weapons use? Of course not. But as you said - Iraq was FAR better off pre-US intervention. Afghanistan is also in sad shape - and the world is seriously looking at how to hand that country back to the Taliban.
Libya - Was under a dictatorship yet now is run by Islamists.
And we could continue. The sad reality - there is no “WIN” for us in Syria. If we take on Assad, we open it wide for ISIS and other terrorists.
The closest to a solution would be to partner with the Russians and agree on a path. It would be a massively historic work - but is about the only possible path I can see - as we CANNOT create another power vacuum that will certainly be filled with the most radical of the radical.