I admit that I thought defeating Saddam was useful for several reasons:
1) Weapons of mass destruction in the hands of an avowed opponent (since somewhat disproved by events)
2) Reminder to Islam that destroying two of our BUILDINGS will result in the destruction of two of your COUNTRIES
3) Demonstrate that democracy can exist within islam as a demonstration project for others to aspire.
I was wrong about #3. Had it been possible, I think it would have been useful. It wasn’t, given the nature of islam, Iraq and 0bama. And, it has now been shown to me to be a less than useful goal of American foreign policy.
I been bit. I now agree with Cruz.
Before the Iraq war, the conventional wisdom was that Iraq was a largely secular, modern country that was being held back by a brutal dictatorship. Few foresaw the religious extremism that would emerge after Saddam was toppled.