Don't you all get it.
We started with some semblance of legality...weapons inspections, UN sanctions, etc....
Bush then asked for the "authorization to use force".
That was quickly morphed into "regime change".
Once the bullets started flying it suddently became "operation Iraqi freedom" and a WAR that we were supposed to win, and in winning was everything.
But the ALL OUT WAR which has no regard for civilian casualties was specifically and as scientifically calculated (as well as a lifetime alcoholic and a bunch of Ronald Reagan inspired henchmen could possibly compute at the time) to get Saddam's head. That's exactly what this war was about....getting his head on a platter.
The WAR part of it was an excuse to bomb the chit out of anything, destroy the army, etc, in order to achieve that end.
All the crap about a reconstructed Iraq and bringing democracy and stability to the region was a very ill conceived afterthought.
The regime has been changed (defined as Saddam captured) and the Iraqi's certainly don't want us there. Take any poll you want. They knew us from the first go around and the 50,000 that were killed in that war. They know us from years of sanctions, hardship, and a history of playing both sides.
Without a doubt, based on those dead and every other possible analysis of the situation, they would want us out.
Ironically, those who have made these unwise decisions have done them most probably on a scale of "US threshold of pain" meter to see what they can pull off. They use vietnam and Desert Storm as probable indicators.
from
http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2001/gulf.war/facts/gulfwar/In June 1991, the U.S. estimated that more than 100,000 Iraqi soldiers died, 300,000 were wounded, 150,000 deserted and 60,000 were taken prisoner. Many human rights groups claimed a much higher number of Iraqis were killed in action. According to Baghdad, civilian casualties numbered more than 35,000.
The first war, Desert Storm, was an all out slaughter.
This war, is an abomination.