LOL, OK you've established your bona fides, you're definitely the Danny Ainge I watched.
As for the article, Hitchens is correct about Iraq and Pat is wrong.
Buchanans first instinct is always isolationist and it blinds him to certain realities. The realities in Iraq are as follows:
Saddam Hussein will do anything in his power to put WMD's in the hands of those who can deliver them to the lower 48.
His history of supporting terrorists and terrorism is undeniable. Abu Abbas, Abu Nidal, Hamas, Hezbollah, Zwahiri. Answar al Oslam, the list is endless.
Add them up and the US has no choice but to disarm and remove the current regime. Coincident with this being in the US national interest is the fact that we rid of the world of a genocidal and homicidal maniac.