[TeddyIke]

I believe the worst thing would be to leave before we finish this now, but I knew it would be a giant tar baby in the beginning. I believe that legally and morally the war was justified. Not strategically however. I knew the American people would not have the will for the occupation. Not yet. They don’t feel the hands around the throat that would be needed to focus our fat apathetic nation. Just because a nation is in the right to take action it doesn’t mean it is compelled. I believe we could have bombed Saddam out of power. But thats the arm chair general in me and perhaps I’m wrong.

[MNJohnnie]

Not strategically however

Look at a map. Where is Iraq? Stategically he who holds Iraq holds the ME. You lever apart the two major baddies, Iran and Syria plus open up another axis of attack into Syria, Iran or Saudia Arabia as needed. Plus it gives you a chance to deal with the long term instablity caused by the Kurdish Nationalists in Turkey. Strategically going into Iraq was the only option open to the USA after Afganistan.