[princess leah]

Well, why not look at the glass as half=full: Who should be THANKED for this war? I imagine that is the view of the average IRAQI citizen who is finally looking at a better world than they've had under SH...

[DannyTN]

Thanked is the wrong word, but Osama was the causative agent for change. Not the kind of change Osama wanted but change none-the-less. Osama will go down in history not as the Arab hero he wanted to be, but as an infamous terrorist, the perpetrator of 9/11. Likewise Saddam will go down not as an Arab hero, but as a cruel evil despot, who gassed his own people and jailed children.

Osama's Accomplishments

Afghanistan

• Overthrow of the Taliban (the most perfect Muslim government)
• Introduction of Democracy into Afghanistan.
• Relative peace in Afghanistan for the first time in 20+ years.
• Massive casualties of Taliban and Muslim Jihad fighters.
• Destruction of terrorist camps
• Destruction of cave networks used by terrorists
• Loss of major ammunition stockpiles

  Pakistan

• Government crack down on extreme teachings in Masdras
• Government crack down on Al Qaeda groups operating out of Pakistan
• General denunciation of Terrorist activity
• Democratic elections held in Pakistan (may or may not be related, but I think it speeded up the timetable)

  Iraq

• Overthrow of Saddam
• Introduction of Democracy in Iraq
• American increasingly seen as good in Middle East.
• Disruption of Iraqi financial and logistical support for AlQaeda and Palestinian terrorists.

  Iran

• Now surrounded by democracies on either side.
• Government stability already questionable.

  Saudi Arabia

• Identification of dirty dozen financial supporters of AlQaeda
• US now critical of Saudi Arabia Human Rights record.

  Israel

• Palestinian suicide bombers no longer viewed as sympathically in the world
• Israel has freer hand in crushing Terrorist organizations
• Bush more committed to establishment of a Palestinian state.
• Bush also committed to democracy without Arafat governing a palestinian state.

  The West

• UN has been shown to be a debating society.
• Increased tensions between US and France, Germany, & Russia
• US completely over vietnam complex. Willing to use force when justified.
• US still leading massive coalition of nations.
• Negative effect on stock markets, but not the crash and financial collapse that Osama had hoped for.