[Bonaparte]

"We made a preemptive strike against a rogue nation."

There is no doubt that, in sacking Saddam's regime, we spared ourselves and the world much pain. But I see what we did in far simpler terms --

Saddam persisted in gross violation of the terms of cease-fire he signed with us. Accordingly, he forfeited the privilege of continuing in power. We did the same thing to him that should have been done to Hitler when he violated the terms of Versailles by occupying the Rhineland.

[StriperSniper]

gross violation of the terms of cease-fire he signed with us

Thanks for that clarification. Even FReepers are now calling this preemptive, Syria, Iran, or North Korea may end up being preemptive, Iraq was resumption of hostilities.

[Quix]

Great point.

[Susannah]

"Saddam persisted in gross violation of the terms of cease-fire he signed with us. Accordingly, he forfeited the privilege of continuing in power. We did the same thing to him that should have been done to Hitler when he violated the terms of Versailles by occupying the Rhineland."

SO TRUE! And the League of Nations merely condemned the Japanese invasion of China. I can imagine Hitler must have felt emboldened by that lack of action too.

Why PM Neville Chamberlain never heeded Churchill's warnings about Hitler, I'll never understand. Churchill nailed it when France and England gave Germany the Sudentland in an effort to appease Hitler. Chuchill said something like, "They had to choose between dishonor and war. They chose dishonor; they shall have war.