Quote Originally Posted by Ice
In hindsight, we should have left Saddam in power. He countered Iran and kept order.
I quite agree. However, what's done is done.

It seems to me that the most important thing to ensure in the country is stability. Not an easy prospect, by any means. The way we are attempting to bring this about doesn't seem to be working, but were we to withdraw, I have no doubt that the situation would become a great deal more chaotic.

It worries me that the sensible option might be to pick the most moderate warlord we can find, and raise him to the top. It worries me, because this would completely compromise the ideals that we (supposedly or not, this is not a point to argue) went in on. Question is, who would be suitable, or at least, who would be least unsuitable?

And, once the country is stable, perhaps some purges &c. will take place, and we'll wring our hands at what we've done for a while. But in time, in time, we might be able to very gently sway matters towards what we think of as the right and proper way for a country to operate.

Whatever way it happens, I doubt peace will come in our generation. Probably not the next. This will take a lot of time to heal.

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Time to get on with my hangover.