Has Tariq Azziz or Saddam Hussein ever been able to explain to their Arab brethern, or anyone else for that matter, what on earth Israel had to do with a oil squabble between Iraq and the Gulf Arab states that erupted into the Gulf War?

On the issue of leaving Saddam in power in 1991, yes it was a mistake, but we had no way of knowing that at the time. I guess it's a classic case of hindsight being 20-20. Bush #1 relied a bit too much on the input of moderate arab 'allies' in the region who wanted Iraq cut down to size but not dismembered, and Saddam not forcibly removed.

The real mistake of the Bush Sr. administration was going way overboard in the demonization of Saddam (totally unnecessary, given the tyrant's actions), then not taking action would would logically follow, if they truly believed everything they were saying...you don't call someone a second Hitler then leave him in power.