No, it doesn't surprise if you follow the history. Iraq was a secular state, where the minority Sunnis controlled. Iraq fought a little war against the Shiite-majority Iran. Saddam brutally suppressed the Shiites in Iraq. Saddam and the Shiites were blood enemies. So, no, it is not even mildly surprising that Saddam did not have links to the 9/11 attack.
Yes, we should have taken Saddam out. But, when we didn't, we sure as heck should not have incited the Shiites to rise, then not support them. That bit of duplicity has come back hard to bite us in the behind.
How should we handle bin Laden? Well, we missed him at Tora Bora because Bush didn't want to commit the troops necessary, because he wanted to hold them back for Iraq. Now, we should have the necessary troops in Afghanistan to control the country, REALLY kick out the Taliban, and be right up on the Afghanistan/Pakistan border. Then, we should be telling Pakistan that either they commit the troops to finding bin Laden, or we will.
We should be tough. Unfortunately, we're being tough with the wrong enemy, and in the wrong country. |
