Having been somewhat "personally involved" as a reminder:
After the first Gulf War in 1991 Iraq was obliged by the U.N. to get rid of ALL its biological and toxic weapons. This Security Council Resolution also demanded the restoration of Kuwait’s independence and the implementation of sanctions against Iraq. The United Nations Special Commission (UNSCOM) performed inspections in Iraq to make sure that the conditions of the peace agreement that followed the first Gulf War were carried out. The weapons inspectors were thrown out of Iraq in December of 1998, which lead to Operation Desert Fox, a three-day bombing campaign on Iraqi targets. Numerous violations of the 1991 cease fire, murder of Iraqi Kurds, and frequent violation of the no fly zone set Iraq on a collision course with the United States with or without the specter of WMD.
As a result, there was an ultimatum given Mr. Hussein by the U.S. president to allow inspectors and comply with the 1991 peace agreements. It was refused as it was believed to be a bluff. Unlike the current administration, Mr. Bush was not in the habit of drawing imaginary "red lines".
The coalition mission was to strike military and security targets in Iraq that contributed to the country’s ability to produce, store, maintain and deliver weapons of mass destruction. The disagreement concerned the U.N. inspectors’ access to various ‘sensitive sites’ and presidential palaces. The weapons inspectors were not let back into Iraq until November 2002, after the U.N. Security Council had passed its resolution 1441.
Since the time of Mr. Clinton's presidency, the official U.S. policy was to remove Saddam Hussein and his regime from power. After September 11th, U.S. focus was first and foremost to secure the physical well -being of the American people. Since Iraq was believed to possess WMD, the removal of these became the top priority for the U.S. government. By and large, the United States was operating with two simultaneous goals: the elimination of both the (alleged) WMD and the Iraqi Regime. The former goal proved elusive the latter was achieved.
If anyone is interested in serious study of the subject, read Jakobsen, Tor Georg & Jo Jakobsen (2009) “The Game: A Rational Actor Approach to the US-led Invasion of Iraq, 2003” Strategic Analysis, 33(5) 664–674.
It might just be more useful than the name calling.
