bogie, I'm going to respectfully disagree with most of your reply:
Iraq was an example to the rest of the middle east
Uh, which countries were saying "I wanna be like Iraq"?
actively using weapons of mass destruction.
Internally, against Iraqis. Very bad, but way different than exporting the same. Normally we don't bother about internal thuggery, like Darfur, or Rhodesia (whatever it's called now, Zimbabwe?), or Idi Amin having his fun, or Tutsis killing Hutus (or was it the other way round?). Why are we suddenly interested in a country's internal affairs?
you think that it's permissible to treat women like property, or worse
I'll have to try that, see how the wife reacts
Is that why we invaded Iraq? Treatment of women? And the newly elected democratic Shiite / Ayatollah / Talibanista government, they're going to give a rat's rectum about women's rights? (Apologies to Art's grandma).
stabilizing a region that's been unstable
I hope so. That's a good goal. But, now that we've gotten Saddam out of there, it's like we're performing brain surgery on an ant hill. The skull is open, and we're spending our energy and money and men trying to keep the ants out of the head, while trying to repair and replace the government. I'm just not sure we're up to the task, how's our track record of regime-building? So the best I hope for is a secular thug to ride herd on the rabble, and keep the lid on. And get our soldiers home safe.
what else do you have to say?
Lots. But I don't think bogie and I are gonna ever see eye-to-eye on the Iraq issues. I think Prez Bush should have just left it alone. And I mean GHWB, back in 1990. GWB is just trying to clean up Dad's mess.
Regards.