What if the difference is split: I do not believe that Saddam was responsible for 9/11, since there is not sufficient evidence, but I do believe that Al- Qaida is weaken, for various reasons, by our invasion of Iraq. For one thing, by knocking out the threat from Saddam, we have reduced the overall threat level in Saudi Arabia, and made it easier for them to challenge Al- Qaida. By knocking out the threat to Israel of Saddam, we have made the Palestinians less intransigent, and therefore made progress in that area possible, which would undermine a prime issue.
By eliminating the threat of Saddam to Iran, we have made it less likely that the mullahs can gain cooperation by citing security concerns, and therefore more likely that reform elements will challenge the government. Thus, we are on a path where we may see general moderation in the Middle East, which is inimical to Al- Qaida, since it only flourishes when the Muslim states are at least willing to look the other way.
There are other reasons too, but those are ones we may commonly agree upon. |
