By denying that they had WMDs?
By allowing UN weapons inspections?
I thought that both of these things happened.
But also, Saddam Hussein wasn't particularly known for his rational behaviour.
( tangledupinblue hairy badge with moving eyes, Wed 11 Jul 2012, 10:48, 2 replies, latest was 13 years ago)

They did that at the last minute when they knew they were fucked.
They could have paid the War reparations to Quwait the UN told them to, sign a non agression pact with their neighbours, visibly reduce military spending and stop imprisioning so many of their own people.
(PsychoChomp, Wed 11 Jul 2012, 10:52, Reply)

Oh and stop supplying arms to whoever would pay.

(PsychoChomp, Wed 11 Jul 2012, 10:52, Reply)

Are those the arms which were originally supplied by us?

( tangledupinblue hairy badge with moving eyes, Wed 11 Jul 2012, 11:31, Reply)

I'm not sticking up for the Iraqi regime.
But Hans Blix was pulled out of Iraq so that the Allies could invade.
Also, regime change is not a legal reason to start a war.
As you said up there though, history might have been kinder if they had carried it out more effectively. Winning the war itself was always going to be easy. It is mind boggling that no one considered the consequences.
( tangledupinblue hairy badge with moving eyes, Wed 11 Jul 2012, 10:58, Reply)

Fluck you hans Blix

( Naked Ape call me Caitlyn, Wed 11 Jul 2012, 11:26, Reply)

Like most despots Saddam was OK while he was on "our side"
soon as he wasn't he suddenly became the enemy. See also Gaddafi, Idi Amin,etc. Plus the ones that go the other way.
One man's terrorist is someone else's freedom fighter.
If it's not about oil, but democracy, why haven't we invaded Zimbabwe?
(localboy purveyor of pisspoor puns, Wed 11 Jul 2012, 10:53, Reply)

'cos Mugabe will be dead in two years

( sporters I’m sincerely gratitude to you, Wed 11 Jul 2012, 10:56, Reply)

And he looks like a black Hitler's Dad

( sporters I’m sincerely gratitude to you, Wed 11 Jul 2012, 10:56, Reply)

That's so simplistic.
Politics is the art of the possible, especially so in international politics. If everyone didn't trade, meet or acknowledge the existance of any countrys rulers that we didn't agree with then the world would descend into another world war pretty quickly. Plus we need shit from them and they need stuff from us.
(PsychoChomp, Wed 11 Jul 2012, 10:58, Reply)

Diplomacy....
is the art of saying "nice doggie" whilst searching for a brick.
Forget who said that, but it sums it up nicely!
(localboy purveyor of pisspoor puns, Wed 11 Jul 2012, 11:01, Reply)

Barbara Woodhouse.

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Wed 11 Jul 2012, 11:20, Reply)

Hahaha

( tangledupinblue hairy badge with moving eyes, Wed 11 Jul 2012, 11:21, Reply)

haha!
S-IT!
( sporters I’m sincerely gratitude to you, Wed 11 Jul 2012, 11:22, Reply)

Very good!
click
(localboy purveyor of pisspoor puns, Wed 11 Jul 2012, 11:23, Reply)

"Now take your country and bring it to heel".

(localboy purveyor of pisspoor puns, Wed 11 Jul 2012, 11:26, Reply)