good post and I agree with your above statement wholeheartedly....
I have caught flack for what i am going to say but here goes again.....
A nations people are responsible for their goverment. The Iraqi's ALLOWED sadam to rule. They lived in fear of his brutal tactics true.....but they are responsible for not having enough back bone to stand up to him. How long would America's "southern boys" go along under that type of regime before rising up. How many American males would stand by and watch as their daughters were drug off for the Kings pleasure.
History is full of rebellions against dictators as well as full of peoples who stuck their head in the sand as their people were brutalized. The arabs are particularly bad about following whomever is the most brutal. Go along to get along. Look at this conflict.....when we came in they were all cheers and hugs for us.....as soon as the insurgency/terrorists got going they stuck their heads in the sand.....waiting to see who comes out on top.
A citizenry that stands aside for a leader such as sadam, has no character and is part of the problem and are not innocent.
We are not or should not be the U.N's armed force. Take out terrorist supporting leaders by all means and any means needed? Yes with prejudice.
Jerry Ford made a critical mistake and started state supported terrorist in the Middle East by eliminating the fear of loss of life of thug dictators we all knew in the late 70's early 80's. Do covert military ran ops to take out the rest. In the mean time put Iraq back to 1950 so maybe the people of other nations will take matters into their own hands not wishing a similar fate if their leaders go against us in an act of war. Namely Yemen!!!!!