In the Murk of It

This chapter discusses the forceful arguments made in good faith by foes and proponents of the Iraq war. The consequences of the war are what matter most. Collateral damage in a war is often visible quickly; collateral benefits may take years to emerge. One undeniable good is self-evident: Saddam Hussein's murderous rule is over. The chapter concludes that most of the arguments against it were significantly wrong, but the arguments for it were palpably not all right. It went on to enumerate the elements that constituted a coherent case for the use of force against Saddam's regime, regardless of one's views of Bush II. This chapter gives the opinion that Bush II mishandled a great deal in Iraq and made many bad, even obtuse, political decisions that may combine to produce potentially grave long-term consequences but had there been no war, Saddam would still be in power.