Re: Doing the right thing the wrong way
Look at the alternative if the U.S. military just went home and left Saddam alone. First, the inspectors would get kicked out on their ass again. Who would prevent it? Second, given an Iraq ruled by a totalitarian dictator with proven territorial ambitions, and the motives and methods for acquiring nuclear weapons, what do YOU think would "trickle" into neighboring nations over the next twenty years? Sure as hell wouldn't be democracy. Most likely it would be the Iraqi army.
At least this way there's a good shot at making the Mideast a better place.