If I may jump into the fray...
Hubert,
It's clear that Saddam posed no threat to the US , which was the only rational justification for an offensive invasion of another country. Sure, it's easy to say that now in hindsight, but do you remember when the entire world was urging more time for inspections? Initially I felt some sort of intervention was warranted (after inspections confirmed what was touted) since our government was absotively certain he was cooking up tons and tons of weapons. But now that the truth of the matter has become clear, and Bush's pre-war maneuverings highly suspect.
Secondly, the people of - as dissatisfied as they were - were not so discontent that they organized a substantial rebellion. It's easy for us to have a cultural disconnect being thousands of miles removed, but in Saddam’s own sadistic way, he kept rivals in check and kept a relative order. Compare that to the civil war that's brewing now, and is almost certain to explode as the withdraws. If the civilian population did not see fit to revolt then, why are we to fighting their (apparently unwanted) battle for them? The fact remains, despite everything, most Iraqi's want the the hell out of their country.
Lastly, imagine if all the resources poured into were instead poured into , and within the . Instead of a hardened, sophisticated terrorist breeding ground (Iraq), they would merely be a harmless, discontented populace, uninspired to change their lot.
Sure I agree would we need to stay a little longer to see if we can salvage something, but in the process more needless American and Iraqi deaths will occur all because an illegitimate war was launched on a society ill prepared or motivated to change.
I suspect is set to unravel as Bush yields to pressure to get the hell out cuz we're not making progress. I think right now is "as good as it gets", soon to be followed by a sustained shoot-n-bomb civil blood-fest that will cause Americans even more shame for electing this moron of a President.
Simon, what's up with the editing problems?