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Simplistic perhaps. But 3 countries were grouped into the Axis of Evil. Do you think Iraq was the largest short-term threat? No matter what reports you believe, Iraq is light years behind Iran and NK in nuclear capabilities. Beyond some devestating biological attack, that is what I fear the most. But the case against Iraq was much easier to make due to the UN sanctions, Saddam's history and the fact that the average American knows much more about him than the others. On your arguments:

Remove a dictator who is supplying the terrorists

This does not separate Iraq from Iran or NK (for Iran, replace dictator with mullocracy). By all accounts it pushes Iran immediately up to the top of the list, far beyond the others. So why Iraq if not mainly b/c it would be far easier than the other two?

Instill a democratic republic in a muslim country

On the surface this does not separate Iraq from Iran, Iran could have fit this goal. However, I realize that with the Shah disaster and with Iraq being secular, this goal was much easier to reach in Iraq. Also, Saddam's genocidal history is well-documented and thus easier to sell on the American people (which adds to my "long hanging fruit" comment).

Use Iraq as a central base for the USA so that we can influence the rest of the region

We can debate how much of a reason this was, but Iraq is more centrally located than Iran, that much is obvious. We'll see how much benefit we get here.

I want to believe you on Iran, but they are not getting anywhere near the help they need from us. They are pleading and begging and we are not doing enough.

I realize every encounter has risk vs. reward associated with it, and Iraq probably scored highest due to the short-term risk. A war with a genocidal dictator with limited WMDs and who was openly challenging UN authority (barf...oxymoron alert) is an easier sell on Joe American. And a large part of the population is not up for war after war. So I fear that in going after Iraq first, then quieting down for an election year, we will allow the greater threats to foster until it is too late. But giving 2004 to the Dems also falls under the "it is too late" category, I guess.

No doubt, Iraq was definitely the easiest sell to Joe American for a good reason; these guys were dangerous. Where to you think the Anthrax came from that was spread around post 9/11?

NK is the big problem now. As I said earlier, I do not pretend to have a solution.

Iran will take care of itself, with a little help.

Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt and Saudia Arabia better get their house in order as there is a big 800 pound gorilla sitting in Iraq waiting for them to screw up.

Battling terrorists in not a short term propsition. These vermin will have to be slowly weeded out and emlimnated where ever they hide. You can't reason with them or get them to like you. They have to be terminated, terminated with extreme prejudice. That is the only thing they understand.