[fr_freak]

You must have more reasons to doubt our going into Iraq than what you've listed, becasue your sole reason - that we are not sufficiently committed to bringing democracy into Iraq (and the Iraqis are not committed at all) is completely illogical.

Your concern would be valid if our sole justification for going into Iraq were to bring democracy, but that wasn't even high on the list. Our main reason for going in was the threat Saddam and his terrorist-supporting regime presented to the US, a threat we laughed off until 9/11/01. We went there to take him down, destroy the Iraqi ability to support terrorism at a state level, and, something that so many people overlook, to establish a military foothold in the Middle East. Think about it - if we feel that we need to take another regime down (Syria, Iran) we have a couple of divisions within driving distance, including heavy armor. Just the threat alone is enough to make those countries watch their step.

Our current efforts in Iraq to turn that country into a democracy are for two reasons: 1) so we don't have to come back in 5-10 years and do this all over again, when the next fundamentalist or otherwise tyrannical loser takes over, 2) hopefully to spread democratic philosophy throughout the Middle East, in a domino effect (democracies have by far been less aggressive in history).

Your doubts seem to stem from a misinterpretation of our true objectives with Iraq and a confusion between our current goals and our original ones.

[Check_Your_Premises]

You are right. I should have been more clear. I do not think removing Saddam was a mistake. All thumbs up in that regard. I do think trying to bring democracy might be, because THE AMERICAN PEOPLE (not me) do not have the will to do what is necessary.