[kabar]

What many also fail to remember is that we were maintaining no-fly zones over Northern and Southern Iraq, which was costing us over $8 billion a year. I was able to see the operation firsthand during a visit to the region. The great fear was that one of our planes would be shot down and the pilot used by Saddam for propaganda reasons. We had been maintaining those NFZs for over 10 years, i.e., 1992 to 2003.

[rodguy911]

Exactly!! For sure!
No one but those of us here ever brings that point up and its key and reason enough to send troops to Iraq.

[Alas Babylon!]

I was there enforcing that NFZ back while on duty.

Al Qeada got it start and heavily recruited by declaring the “Holy Land” (Saudi Arabia) as being occupied by the Crusaders. Blowing up Khobar Towers was just one result.

It would have been far better had we disposed of Saddam on 25 February, 1991, when we had the chance.

George H.W. Bush screwed up because he listened to Colin Powell who was all flustered by the “Highway of Death” media videos. I was there in the Pentagon when that happened. We were this close (holds finger and thumb almost together) to forcing his abdication at least.