[scandium]

Have to disagree with you Neal, point by point:

Originally Posted by Neal Stevens

We enforced a UN resolution

Only the UN security council has the authority to enforce security council resolutions. The usual retort to this is that the UN doesn't have the capability to enforce its own resolutions, but history says otherwise: the Persian Gulf War of 1991 was done on a UN mandate. To the other typical retort that the US doesn't need the UN to 'defend' its sovereignty, two points: (1) US Sovereignty wasn't being threatened by Iraq, and (2) Iraq didn't need the UN to invade Kuwait back in 1991, either.

made sure there were no WMDs

UN inspectors were on the ground looking for these WMDs when the US had them abruptly yanked to begin its invasion.

deposed the dictator

Only to setup an interim dictatorship of its own under the helm of Viceroy Paul Bremer that, during its short reign, privatized Iraqi industry, destroyed the country's economy, and disbanded the Iraqi army - all of which arguably poured fuel over the emerging insurgency.

helped the natives set up a democratic government

I would characterize it instead as powerless government presiding over a failing state that resembles an anarchy more than a democracy.

Plus we killed a lot of terrorists

Estimates I've seen put the number of killed civilians between 35,000 to 100,000 - so far. Undoubtedly some of them were terrorists. I suppose you could chaulk the rest up to "collateral damage", or even argue under the ideology of pre-emption that they've been pre-emptively killed to ensure they don't become terrorists. In either case I'm not sure this is the best way to fight terrorism.

No one will ever appreciate all we've done for them.

Depends on who the "them" is. If its Halliburton you're referring to who's making a killing off this through their no-bid contracts, then I'm sure you have their gratitude ($3/gallon gas may be a funny way to show it, but maybe they'll send you a xmas card); if you've had your life turned upside down by this though, losing friends, family members, your job or your business then you probably appreciate that too - after all, to quote Rumsfeld from 3 years ago, "freedom is messy".

The longer we stay there, the more it will look like we "lost" when we do pull out, just like Vietnam. Let the Iraqis have what they say they want, control of their destiny.

To have that you need opportunity and for that you need some measure of economic prosperity (no matter how meagre) and security. Since Iraq has neither, I don't see them having control over their destiny any time soon.

Iraq, you're on your own. Best of luck to ya!

I think they'll need more than luck.