[lendaddy]

It always amazes me how quickly everyone forgets what Iraq was even about. I don't even see it mentioned in this thread. WMD's were a factor, they were not the reason. Spreading freedom and democracy were factors( more so side effects), they were not the reason. Oil was a factor, it was not the reason.

We invaded Iraq because we made the very bold and IMHO proper statement after 9/11 that the US was done fukcing around when it came to our national security. That when we say something or give an ultimatum by god we mean it.

We were lost after 9/11 wondering how we got to a point that this could happen and our image as a paper tiger/pushover was a huge factor. Saddam called what he thought was a bluff and there we stood before the world...do we continue with our empty threats that have emboldened our enemies or do we seize the opportunity to show them we're serious again?

Now we can argue tactics, strategy or even if we should have rebuilt them at all but the above was what it was really about. We did the right thing in taking Saddam down, the rest is certainly debatable.

In the future I would like to see us involved much much much less in world affairs like this, but the ball was rolling on this one before Bush even took office(UN resolutions).