And yet, you brought it up.
Here is the way the reasons for using force in Iraq were OFFICIALLY given to the American people via our congress:
Iraq’s past war of aggression and illegal occupation of Kuwait in 1990.
Iraq’s failure to abide by the unequivocal sanctions agreed to after 1991.
Iraq’s history of possessing chemical and biological weapons and advanced nuclear weapons development program (and failure to prove complete destruction of such weapons)
Iraq’s flagrant violation of the cease fire
Iraq’s attempt to thwart efforts of weapons inspectors up until 1998
U.S. Congressional resolution conclusion that Iraq was continuing WMD programs in 1998
Iraq posed a continuing threat to the national security of the U.S, international peace and security in the Persian Gulf regions
Iraq continued to possess and develop a significant chemical and biological weapons capability
Iraq supported and harbored terrorist organizations
Iraq engaged in brutal repression of its civilian population
Iraq refused to release, repatriate or account for non-Iraqi citizens wrongfully detained by Iraq, including an American serviceman
Iraq failed to return property wrongfully seized from Kuwait
Iraq has demonstrated capability and willingness to use weapons of mass destruction against other nations and its own people
Iraq has demonstrated hostility toward and willingness to attack the United States by attempting to assassinate former President Bush
Iraq has demonstrated hostility toward and willingness to attack the United States and Coalition Forces by firing on many thousands of occasions on US and Coalition Armed Forces enforcing United Nations resolutions
Members of al Qaida are known to be in Iraq
Iraq continued to aid and harbor other international terrorist organizations, including organizations that threaten the lives and safety of American citizens
The attacks of September 11, 2001 underscored the gravity of the threat posed by the acquisition of weapons of mass destruction by international terrorist organizations
Iraq’s demonstrated WMD capability, willingness to use WMD and the risk to use or provide such weapons to terrorists
UN Security Council Resolution 678 authorized the use of all necessary means to enforce UN SC resolution 660 and subsequent resolutions
The Iraq Liberation Act (Public Law 105-338) expresses the policy of the US to support efforts to remove the current Iraqi regime from power and promote the emergence of a democratic government to replace the regime
It is in the national security of the United States to restore international peace and security to the Persian Gulf region
Add:
Taking out the leaders of two nations put the thugs of the world on notice that the US was prepared to take action to defend itself.
Thugs understand force.