[fatidic]

So, are saying that the U.S. should reward Iraq for Sept 11th by spilling American blood and spending billions of dollars to modernize that backward, hate-filled, superstitious country after we took out their vicious leaders?

[ReleaseTheHounds]

Well, since you asked, I guess I'm saying that it is in our national interest to fight terrorism in the Middle East and that one field of that battle is Iraq. One of the worst possible outcomes is for terrorists to have access to sophisticated WMDs and that had to be a concern re: Iraq following 9-11. And I guess I would also say that it is in our national interest to have a liberated, democratic Iraq in the heart of the Middle East -- a region that continues to be of significant strategic importance given our economic depedence on oil. I don't like spending US blood and treasure any more than most (obviously not as much as you, I guess), but this seems to me to be an investment worth making. Sort of like Reagan's build-up of defenses to win the Cold War. I know that sustaining a democratic system in Iraq isn't going to be an easy task -- but it could have a transforming effect in that region and the world.

And another unintended "consequence": the fact that the victory in Iraq has led to the disarmament of Libya and the uncovering of the nuclear proliferation through Pakistan's nuclear head was also a HUGE accomplishment and step toward a better world.