[Egregious Philbin]

Barone makes no mention of the 10 years we spent bombing Iraq before our decision to invade, or the silly inspections - the combination of the two would seem to have been a serious impediment to a large-scale weapons program.

He also does not ponder the tenuous connection a bunch of religious zealots might have with a secular tyrant.

And the "what if Clinton said it" point seems another argument entirely.

One can certainly make the case that we had to invade Iraq. Was the speed with which we went to war a 'no-brainer' though?

[Califelephant]

Was the speed with which we went to war a 'no-brainer' though?

What should we have been waiting for?

[bondjamesbond]

Was the speed with which we went to war a 'no-brainer' though?

Waiting 12 years seems quick to you?

What would further waiting have gained?

[muawiyah]

Regarding your statement: He also does not ponder the tenuous connection a bunch of religious zealots might have with a secular tyrant.

It is, of course, conjecture that Saddam Hussein was, in fact, "secular". The guy was building mosques left and right, and if anything, a late in life Mafia Don is a more appropriate comparison than "secular tyrant".

Seems to me that one of the things Saddam is going to be remembered for a few centuries from now is his construction of mosques. Specialists in Mesopotamia will also recall he rebuilt significant portions of the old city of Babylon.

So, Barone was probably correct in simply passing this part on by.

[RaceBannon]

What speed??

This war took 9 months to start...What speed??

[cksharks]

Depends on what you call speed ( your ten yrs ) statement makes your argument kind of suspect. If it would not have been for Powell, Cheney would have taken his ass out in 91 imo.