Thank you for adding the thing about Gore selling his vote. I think it is safe to say the Clinton administration and Gore used Iraq as a political ping pong ball. They had information that confirms Bush's assessment, but they did not take it seriously. Gore adds the "for whatever reason" knowing full well no UN authorization in order to imply GHW Bush did something wrong in leaving Saddam in place. So, Saddam should have been removed, but eight years later there he sat because THEY weren't about to use political capital on such a gamble. Just as you point out.
With that I must sign off. Good night!
I didn't mean to jump into your post. That little factoid just makes me so mad I love to post it in case anybody around here doesn't know it!