[HIDEK6]

Saddam had lots of reasons to strike us, and terrorists groups gave him a plausibly deniable way to do it. We had to do something about Iraq instead of allowing the infection to spread, possibly in a deadly vector at the heart of America.

You make a good part about plausible deniability.

Do you remember, sometime the 80s, an Iraqui stinger missile struck one of our warships (can't recall her name).

At that time, Saddam said it was a mistake. As I recall everyone said, "Whew. That's a relief. After all, Saddam is our friend."

Maybe that episode was the Islamofascists' testing of Saddam.

If so, he passed the test.

[Valin]

The USS Stark and it was an exocet French built anti-ship missle. Saddam said it was a mistake but I have my doubts

FYI
USS STARK (FFG-31)
http://www.geocities.com/usshipstark/index_all.htm