[DWPittelli]

In late 2000 and early 2001, the Iraqi regime was trying increasingly hard to shoot down US planes enforcing the no-fly zones. That may well have opened up discussion about overthrowing Saddam...

And also remember that the position of the United States, formally voted by Congress in 1998 and backed by Clinton and Gore, was to seek the overthrow of Saddam. It would be absurdly negligent to not even have plans to do the same.

[adam_az]

In 1998 the "Iraqi Liberation Act" passed the Senate unanimously and with only 38 Noes in the House.

Bill Clinton signed it into law on Oct 31 1998.

Overthrowing Saddam has been official, overt US policy since that day.