<I maintained this then and I will continue to repeat it for as long as it takes: we made a big big mistake in removing Saddam. Both Bush Sr. And Bill Clinton recognized his importance for the geopolitical balance in the region. <
Agreed 100%. In the late 80's early 90's I traveled for business in this region. I remember arriving in Cairo on Jan 3rd, 1991. As I walked down the arrival hall towards immigration, this attractive BA representative walked up to me in a crowd, which I thought was odd, (how did they know it was me?), and way she approached me and said ... "Mr. XXXXX" can I see you return ticket please.. (when we still had physical tickets). She looked at my return ticket and she said. "Oh, very well.. Your return flight is on the 12th (Jan). I have to tell you that this will be our last flight from Cairo, and we are not sure when we will resume flights from Cairo.. So MAKE SURE YOU ARE ON THIS FLIGHT. But, I can't tell you anything more. I made the flight, and Operation Desert Storm began several days later.
Anyway.. Saddam was a brutal dictator. He ruled with an iron fist, and regularly hosted public executions. Fear among the citizens of Iraq was their one binding ideology. When I visited Iraq, it was typically a tranquil safe environment as long as you knew where not to go. Sure there was a ever present "assault weapon" in clear sight. But, that was never really a concern, as it was typical fare for anyone who traveled to countries in South and Central America.
Saddam was the quintessential "Sometimes you have to burn the village to save it" kind of guy. Kind of like a Pinnochet or Fujimori. Fear was his primary tool.
The Societies in Countries like Peru and Chile are FAR BETTER off today due to the "atrocities and human rights violations" committed by the likes of Pinnochet and Fujimori. Just as Iraq was far better off with Saddam. Some societies just aren't ready for democracy. The biggest mistake in US policies and been attempting to create democracies for a society that perhaps doesn't want one, or ins't ready for one.
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