[originally written in response to Steven Johnson's post.]

So, the US supports Saddam Hussein through the worst of his atrocities, spends ten years bombing Iraq (every three days!) while dismantling its economy and exponentially increasing Saddam Hussein's power over the population. 500,000 kids die, and popular rebellions are crushed with US permission. Albright says "the price is worth it".

Now that we're 'liberating' a country that we systematically destroyed, it's an unambiguously good thing?

The only way US intervention can be said to be in any way "good" for Iraqis, is if we ignore our government's involvement in the region for the last two decades.

Which is what everyone seems to be doing. Why? I honestly don't understand.