[dennisw]

Zinni's policy depended entirely on the predictability of a madman with WMD, programs, a history of using them, open support of terrorists, support of the Islamic suicide cultists who have repeatedly threatened the US, Israel, the West, Christians and Jews.

Key word being predictability. We did unto him (and his sons) before he did unto us. Or helped others do unto us. The war on terror focuses on preemptive action thus a huge statement was made to the ArabMuslimTerrorist world when we entered Iraq to put down some rabid dogs. Mad dogs that are considered the norm for rulers in the Arab world. We aim to change that thinking.

[okie01]

For the benefit of the benighted BDavis -- now, apparently, consigned to ZOTland -- I shall summarize his position on Saddam Hussein, as I understand it:

1. Saddam Hussein was not a "terrorist leader".

2. Nor was Saddam a supporter of terrorism.

3. Nor was he a harborer of terrorists.

Indeed, in BDavis' worldview, poor Saddam might be best characterized as an "innocent bystander". Something like "road kill", crushed by the evil Neocon SUV operated by George W. Bush (with Dick Cheney as the back-seat driver).

Presumably, he would feel the same about Yassir Arafat -- though I didn't get a chance to pose that question to him.