Friedman is a bit of an odd-ball at the NY Times - he sometimes follows facts to their logical conclusion, regardless of the politics involved. He stated before the war that liberating Iraq is integral to the War on Terror. That oppression breeds resentment and there was no greater place of oppression than Iraq. A modern, well-educated populace. A land with both oil and fresh water. They should have been thriving but Saddam crushed the people and destroyed the country.
The most irritating thing about Friedman is his emphasis on cute phrases rather than letting ideas stand on their own. This is an example of that.
Interesting analysis - thanks. I hadn't been paying much attention to Friedman, but after his two recent Today appearances, perhaps I should.