To: Cacophonous
You would be if I did not already know it to be true. But you do know it to be true. We have systematically been pursuing this goal for over 12 years and under three different presidencies. We have step by step as a nation put Saddam exactly where we wanted him to be to lead up to this moment. That's a fact- regime change has been the de facto policy for so long in the US that it hardly bears thinking about. The war with Saddam obviously had to end at some point. This is true. We couldn't just go on fighting with him for the end of time. Everything we have done regarding Iraq up to now has been directed towards the eventual overthrow of this man. I don't see how one could see it any differently.
To: Prodigal Son
Oh it's been de facto policy, but not official policy. Important distinction.
To: Prodigal Son
We went after Saddam because unlike our other stated enemies, the military option was guaranteed to work - at acceptable cost. We knew most of Saddam's troops wouldn't fight for him and sure enough, they didn't. The Iraqi people clearly hated their regime more than they distrusted us.
We won't invade Iran, North Korea or even Syria for the simple reason that they probably won't be such pushovers.
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