I just cannot help but think that the stupid diplomatic dance we performed with the UN resolutions, was a perfect time for Saddam to get his house in order, and to either transport the weapons to Syria, or something else like that.
Colin Powell insisted that we get the international community behind us, which was as slow as molasses. All those weeks of delay were a gift to Saddam.
Think back to Bush's appearance throughout that stupid UN fiasco. I remember thinking he was fighting an unbelievable amount of rage within. Now we know why.
I suspect your explanation is valid. I'm wondering if the delay wasn't time to win over a few more Iraqui military leaders.
The problem with that is, if they no longer existed, it negated the reason given to be there in the first place. And, the next thing, liberating the Iraquis...well, I doubt letting a Shiite majority vote for their government was on the screen.
This incursion and the one in Afghanistan will be up to history to judge. But, it'll be hard. You can't evaluate what didn't happen. I suspect that disrupting the flow of things in these Mideast hotbeds stopped at least some terrorist acts.
Meanwhile, something has to be done to stabilize the region. I'm glad GWB is now bringing up the Palestinian issue and insisting the Israelis come along for the ride.