It was more for the here and now stability of the Gulf and for Israel.  Saddam was problematic for all parties, so he had to go.  Cheney and the boys like endgame strategies; they are not much for uncertainty. It was supposed to send a message about American power as well. No doubt it was deemed a win-win situation with little downside.  They took pressure off the Gulf states and Israel.  They could create a laissez-faire utopia to prove their ideology.  They could now focus attention on the other "contained" state in the region- Iran and they set themselves up in a forward position for the future. They can protect the resources and keep them flowing West and they can get in on lucrative oil deals as supply and demand head in opposite directions.

Hi, Elras! Welcome to ET!

Hope to see you around...

"Dieu se rit des hommes qui se plaignent des conséquences alors qu'ils en chérissent les causes" Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet