In many ways, Iraq was in the same situation as Lebanon but on a much more grand scale. Just as the Lebanees had to endure the war initiated by the Hezbozos, the people of Iraq were forced to bear the brunt of the ‘Global Communities’ effort to ‘contain' Saddam. Saddam shot at our airmen (hence attacked our country) on a daily and the US delivered  ‘aproportionate and measured’ responses in much the same way as Israel. And predictably, the results were the same; those in power remained in power, and those who responded to attacks (the US and Israel) were condemed by the 'World.'

Whether through sanctions, tommahawks or Screaming Eagles (F-15s), Iraqis were systematically pummeled, and the tyrant Saddam remained defiant and empower. Morevover he emerged stronger than ever in the eyes of the fabled ‘Arab Street’ following each US response. 

Saddam in essence was a rouge state within a state. Given his passion for funding suicide bombers, it's inconcievable that he would sit idly by as Iran and Syria drive events. And as was the case in Lebanon, nothing short of a full-scale ground invasion could have possibly had any significant impact on changing the reality on the ground. 

The Iraqiis have been given an unprecedented 'gift' in the history of the world, the 'opportunity' for true freedom from an outside country. What they do with this opportunity is likely to take several lifetimes to understand. They've lived under tyranny that is simply incomprehensible to us in the US. This knowledge of ture horror, is what empowers them to fight the cowards that seek to replace Saddam with thier version of 'peace and stability.' They've been through 30 years of Saddam, faced the prospect of another 40 years of his sons rule, 8 years of war with Iran. They can and are handling the 'violence.' Unfortunately for those of us who would revel in seeing the vision come to fruition, this fight will take generations, not months to win. Life is always worth the wait.