“The first Iraq War was one of necessity because vital U.S. interests w...” — Richard N. Haass Quote

The first Iraq War was one of necessity because vital U.S. interests were at stake, and we reached the point where no other national-security instruments were likely to achieve the necessary goal, which was the reversal of Saddam Hussein's invasion and occupation of Kuwait.

September 11, 2001, was a terrible tragedy by any measure, but it was not a historical turning point. It did not herald a new era of international relations in which terrorists with a global agenda prevailed or in which such spectacular terrorist attacks became commonplace.

There is no way to know for certain what accounts for North Korean decisionmaking, given how closed a country it is.

Not every threat to America's national interests can be addressed with military power.

America was cool with Saddam Hussein when he was killing Iranians.

But, as you have intimated, I am among those who would be very wary of any military action in the light of Saddam Hussein's willingness to allow the weapons inspectors to go in.

Saddam Hussein was the one person after whom the United States went, and they ruined the country.

For all who love freedom and peace, the world without Saddam Hussein's regime is a better and safer place.

That was one of the great successes of removing Saddam Hussein, as we took Iraq out of the picture of having a sovereign nation from which the terrorists could operate. But this war has not gone perfectly.