Cleaning Up Saddam's Mess?: I have been consistently dubious about Gulf War II, especially given the administration's slipshod attempts to promote it. Support of a war, a war promoted by a President I personally find more distasteful than not, would have been hard for me at any rate. I'll be honest. Nonetheless, war should always be only commenced when it can be defended to a degree that even those on the fence are convinced. This is surely the case when it is a war of this magnitude. And, it does not help when it is promoted by those whom appear to have a troubling case of amnesia.

It is actually is amazing how I can still be so pissed when I read yet another example of this. Charles Krauthammer, who some might be surprised to realize once worked for both Jimmy Carter and Walter Mondale, explained how this time the US is rebuilding a mess not of its own making, unlike after WWII. As is sadly de rigueur from certain parts, he ignores how the U.S. helped Saddam build and retain his power for so many years, including during the Iran/Iraqi War, which Iraq was in danger of losing quite early on. And, said support came at the time when he was guilty of all those war crimes Charles Krauthammer sneers at "the left" for selectively being concerned about. And, given the administration's support (or lack thereof) of international treaties protecting the environment or human rights, "the left" has a right to sneer a bit themselves at the administration's supporters honoring it for attacking Iraq for humanitarian reasons. Finally, sanctions, two wars, and various bombing campaigns surely helped this "mess" as well.

It just is not honest to pat ourselves on the back for being so idealistic and "noble," when our actions are a bit more mixed. This is true even if you believe on the whole, our actions were necessary and overall honorable. It is noble to note that we overturned a despicable dictator, but one who did much of that despicable stuff while getting our support. When did we remove this threat to human rights? After his control of Northern Iraq (Kurds) is removed, his military might greatly diminished, his vast number of WMDs (guess where he got them) is nowhere to be found, and most of his victims already died or suffered much of their injuries (again, when?). This was done via a war that caused further destruction, thousands of casualties (including many civilians, who continue to die via cluster bombs, broken infrastructure, random disorder, etc.), and a questionable future.

So, if we accept that he is right that "It is fine to carp about our initial failures at reconstruction. It is well to remember, however, the nobility of the entire enterprise," said nobility is a bit less clearcut as some might think, and "it is well to remember" that fact as well.