[Byron_the_Aussie]

...and it is clear that just hitting him with a few cruise missiles will not do the job....

Clear to who?

I think that's the ideal exit strategy, on this one. Saddam taken out, the Left undercut, and $50 billion saved.

[MadIvan]

Clear to who?

Byron, think about the recent past. Since when has a cruise missile campaign taken out any regime?

Ivan

[bootyist-monk]

It is not the job of the UN, the US, the Brits, or anyone else for that matter to "find" the Iraqi's WMD's. The UN mandate is clear. The Iraqi's must account for the weapons that the inspectors had previously detailed. The fact that they haven't has put them in material breach.

You are with us, or you are with the terrorist. We will treat those that harbor and support terrorism the same as the terrorist. Saddam brags about the money he sends to families of homicide bombers. Guilty by his own admission. WMD. Supports Terrorists. Murders his own. Threatens the region and beyond.

Welcome to Pax Americana. The US is the only country left that can project the kind of power and influence neccessary to wipe this scum from the face of the earth. And we intend to do it. Saddam is finished. Period.

Bootyist

Ps. I thought you Aussies had pulled your collective heads out of your butts after Bali?

[maui_hawaii]

Tomahawk Saddam? That will definately not be appreciated by the nieghbors. If the US merely kills Saddam, then Saddam Jr will take over...or the place will fall apart and refugees will be all over the place. There could also be ethnic and civil unrest. Turkey and Saudi will be full of refugees.

In the end the Tomahawk alone theory won't work. It will just add more complexities to the problem but not remove it.

I say take the place over and set up a government that is moderate so that the Iraqis can have their own country and resources (in the long run). We are not trying to subjigate them, just eliminate a threat. If we do it right, the Iraqis can stay right where they are at, and then everyone is happy.

Your over simplified version will cause more problems than it fixes.