If I recall correctly, Pres BJ Clinton declared regime change in Iraq to be official US policy. This may be one reason why W was eager to jump into it.
A question to FReepers who know more that I:
Did W ever actually claim that Saddam had a connection with OBL and 911? I remember Saddam passing out huge gifts of US dollars to terrorists, but was OBL one of them? Did W ever claim that OBL’s 911 terrorists were trained in Iraq? Or is that all leftist media BS?
IMO the major point debatable is whether or not Bush should have had the US Military enforcing UN resolutions...The UN...the most corrupt and useless body on Earth.
“Did W ever actually claim that Saddam had a connection with OBL and 911? .. Did W ever claim that OBL’s 911 terrorists were trained in Iraq?”
I’m not aware of GWB ever making that claim.
I don’t know of anyone with more connections to terrorism than Saddam during that time. He was up to his elbows in terrorism, so to speak. I found it noteworthy that one terrorist training camp in Iraq had commercial planes with which to practice hijackings.
Our liberal press quickly concluded that there was no connection between 9/11 and Saddam Hussein. This undermined Bush, which I think was the point.
It’s important to remember that President Clinton sought regime change in Iraq, a tribunal for judging Saddam Hussein, and democracy (they already had elections) in Iraq. Clinton declared war on Saddam Hussein. 9/11 may have been his (hidden) response.
“whether or not Bush should have had the US Military enforcing UN resolutions”
I’m with you on that. No President needs UN permission.
I don’t know what GW was thinking. He may have felt he was merely strengthening his case (the US case) by getting UN support.