Jim said:
No but it is our leaders' responsibility to thwart hostile, unstable leaders who are friendly with terrorists and either have WMDS or can acquire them. Saddam ..., even worse, he was not capable of rational calculations.
However, what puts him in an absolutely unique position is that he invaded an ally of ours and lost and then failed to comply with his obligations.
Now, put yourself in the shoes of a foreign despot
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I would not feel to comfortable in foreign despot shoes but let me use my imagination and put myself in the President’s shoes (just don’t call me Bush, rather give me no name, no party.) And let me say a few words for Saddam. Saddam for me is a very smart, experienced, pre-calculating his moves, and taking risks person, acting in a role of a dictator in Middle East.
Why would I start a war with him?
He inherited a 3 tribe country and did a lot killing in order to unite it, make it and keep it competitive under his leadership. I cannot judge him, because I don’t know, what would happen to those tribes without him. Could it be worse? Very much possible.
I am not even sure, that his cruelty and suppression exceeded many other dictators in the region.
Did he have confrontation with my friend Israel? Who of them did not? And, I bet there were even worse enemies of Israel around him! It is like a Muslim tradition.
Was he acquiring WMD? Of course! Now or later, - it was his duty, his job. Like Iran and all others around. I just had I little bit more useful better intelegence against him.
He also had women and Christians in the government and quite secular education.
Kuwait? It could be his mistake, but I don’t know about his rights. The borders in Middle East were drawn by the West in a very artificial way. And even if it was a mistake, he paid for it. As a good player, he turned it into his victory in view of his people, and should be given a credit.
Was he going to cooperate with terrorists? Sure, - at his will and need... It is a rule of the region. But he certainly was not the worst one. Syria looks a lot more relentless to me.
May be even Jordan, pretending to be my friend.
So, should I start a war with him?
Yes! Sorry, I don’t have a choice. I have to do my job, I have to bit terrorists as soon as possible.
He knew I did not have choice, when Powell did his first talk. The cards were dealt, Saddam picked up his cards, and the game, - war started. For me it was the moment when the war started, and I know he was quite smart to figure out that, too. I must accept he was an excellent player. He played his bribed friends, organized allies in UN, rallied Public Opinion in Europe and US. After Vietnam he knew he had a chance to bit US, even if US army defeated him. He kept me at his borders until the weather started working against me and Army was getting nervously relaxed. He strained my food and water supplies, my tanks were wearing off. If I did not do good job in UN and in America, if restrained by UN, or public opinion in US, I hesitated any longer, it would take a huge toll on troops and the whole war. If I ever retreated under any circumstances or resolutions He would have a victory bigger than Vietnam. He moved again to show everything to the inspectors, to make me stay still for another 6 months, and I had to command the attack. I was doing my job, he was doing his job, nothing personal. But his is good, SoB, he still has cards to play.